BACK ON SCREENS AS BATMAN'S NEMESIS THE PENGUIN COLIN FARRELL

ON THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL OF TRANSFORMING HIMSELF FOR THE DARK ROLE

- GILL PRINGLE

Among the first to get a sneak peek at Colin Farrell’s transformation into the Penguin – Batman’s disfigured criminal nemesis – were the actor’s two sons.

Not that they were necessarily impressed, laughs Colin, who first took on the role in 2022’s The Batman, in a performance that has now earned him his own eight-part TV spin-off.

Following three hours in make-up to give the Penguin – aka Oz Cobb – his signature beaky nose and pockmarked skin, Colin would be dressed in an enormous body suit.

But in between takes, he would overheat, so a special tent known as the igloo was created on set, so that perspiration didn’t ruin his make-up.

“Three industrial air conditioners would pump into the tent. I would sit there, bored, and stare into space. So I’d leave messages for my kids on the phone: ‘How you doin’? What’s up, kid?’” he says, using the Penguin’s brash New York accent.

But his sons – James Padraig, 21, and Henry Tadeusz, 14 – soon tired of their dad’s calls and FaceTimes.

“I’m sure maybe they liked the first one. But then they’re like: ‘Here he is again, yeah, the f*****g Penguin, very good. Impressive,’” says the Academy Award-nominated actor with typical self-deprecation.