SO PROUD OF MY SPECIAL BOY
YOU South Africa|22 August 2024
Colin Farrell's experience of life with his disabled son has made him a passionate advocate for change
MAXINE PETERS
SO PROUD OF MY SPECIAL BOY

HE'S an award-winning actor who disappears into every role he takes - unrecognisable as Penguin in The Batman, dashing as the otherworldly detective in Sugar and charming as the amiable Irish cow herder in The Banshees of Inisherin.

But for Colin Farrell, his greatest role has been an unscripted one: that of a father to two sons, one of whom was born with special needs. It's a role that made him quit his bad-boy ways and saw him become an inspiration to parents of children with disabilities the world over.

It also led to the recent launch of his new endeavour, the Colin Farrell Foundation, which provides support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The foundation advocates for funding, changes to healthcare policies and accessible community-based housing for special needs children.

Driving Colin to start the organisation is the fact that his son James, who has Angelman syndrome, turns 21 in September and will no longer be part of support systems for special needs kids.

"All the safeguards that are put in place, special education classes that all goes away," Colin (48) tells People magazine in a new interview.

"So you're left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind."

All he wants for his son is a life that's as easy as possible. "I want the world to be kind to James," he says. "I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect."

James, who's non-verbal and has a fulltime carer, is one of the reasons Colin quit booze nearly 18 years ago.

"James was about two when I got clean," the Irish actor says. "He was a big, big part of me putting the bottle down.

"I don't want to make out like I'm the perfect dad - I f*** up left, right and centre - but at least you have to be present to f*** up so I'm around. But they're very conjoined, my sobriety and my children."

Esta historia es de la edición 22 August 2024 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición 22 August 2024 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE YOU SOUTH AFRICAVer todo
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
YOU South Africa

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 September 2024
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
YOU South Africa

HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY

Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache

time-read
10+ minutos  |
5 September 2024
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
YOU South Africa

THE GROWN-UP BRAIN

If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!

time-read
3 minutos  |
5 September 2024
THE eyes HAVE IT
YOU South Africa

THE eyes HAVE IT

They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area

time-read
1 min  |
5 September 2024
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
YOU South Africa

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry

time-read
4 minutos  |
5 September 2024
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
YOU South Africa

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!

Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 September 2024
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
YOU South Africa

'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'

When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 September 2024
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
YOU South Africa

SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!

A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 September 2024
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
YOU South Africa

READY TO SMILE AGAIN

A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 September 2024
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
YOU South Africa

HARRY AT A CROSSROADS

As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life

time-read
8 minutos  |
5 September 2024