Rory Keenan

Rory Keenan
Born
Dublin, Ireland
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
OccupationActor
Years active1999–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​
Children2

Rory Keenan is an Irish actor. On film and television he has starred in Somewhere Boy, The Duchess, Birdsong, Versailles, War & Peace, The Guard, and Peaky Blinders.

Career

Keenan has performed in many National Theatre productions,[1] as well as at BAM, New York, and Wyndhams Theatre in the West End as Jamie in Long Day's Journey into Night, directed by Sir Richard Eyre.[1] He starred at the Donmar Warehouse in Saint Joan and Welcome Home Captain Fox![2]

Previous work at the National Theatre includes The Kitchen, Damned By Despair and Liola, and Philadelphia, Here I Come![3] and Dublin Carol at the Donmar Warehouse.[1]

He has performed many leading roles in Ireland, having worked from an early age at Abbey Theatre, as well as the title roles in Hamlet and Macbeth, the latter of which landed him Best Actor at the 11th Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards.[4]

In 2010, Keenan appeared in the short film The Crush, which was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Live Action Short Film.[5]

On television he was seen in Channel 4's Somewhere Boy, Netflix's The Duchess, BBC's Versailles, War & Peace and Peaky Blinders.[1]

In 2022, Keenan wrote and directed his debut film Bump, which starred his wife Gemma Arterton, and was screened at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in San Jose, California, and Cleveland International Film Festival.[6] He was awarded Best Director at the British Short Film Awards 2022. [7]

Personal life

In 2019, he married actress Gemma Arterton.[8] The couple's first child, a son, was born in December 2022.[9][10]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999AristocratsGeorgeTV mini series
2001–02On Home GroundKevin King16 episodes
2003The ClinicMichael6 episodes
2005ShowbandsKeithTV mini series
2011PrimevalMichael1 episode
2012BirdsongBrennanTV mini series
2014Peaky BlindersDonal Henry3 episodes
2016Stan Lee's Lucky ManSimon2 episodes
War & PeaceBilibin4 episodes
2017 VersaillesLeopold8 episodes
Come HomeTomlinson2 episodes
2017–18Striking OutEric10 episodes
2020 The DuchessShep6 episodes
2021 Rules Of The GameHugh3 episodes
2022 Somewhere BoySteve8 episodes
2024 BlackshoreGarda Cian Furlong6 episodes
TBC The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾[11]Mr. LucasTV mini series

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002Reign of FireDevon
2003IntermissionAnthony Lowry
Benedict Arnold: A Question of HonorMalitiamanTV movie
2004Ella EnchantedOtto
2005ShowbandsKeithTV movie
Still LifeManShort film
2006Pride and JoyRory Lawlor
2009One Hundred MorningsMark
ZonadGuy Hendrickson
2010WindowsTerryShort film
The CrushBoyfriendnominated Academy Award Best Live Action Short Film[5]
2011National Theatre Live: The KitchenKevin
The GuardMcBride
2012EarthboundGordon
Keys to the CityPaul
2016The Young MessiahLucifer
GrimsbyJames Thurbeck

Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre Notes
2007Don CarlosDon CarlosRough Magic
SavedFredAbbey Theatre
2009MacbethMacbethSiren Productions/The Empty SpaceBest Actor In Supporting Role, Irish Times Theatre Awards
The Last Days of the Celtic TigerRonanLandmark Productions/Olympia Theatre, Dublin
2010The Big FellahRuairiLyric Hammersmith
The Importance of Being EarnestJackRough Magic/Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
2011The KitchenKevinRoyal National Theatre
Lakeboat/Prairie du ChienFredArcola Theatre
2012Damned by DespairPedriscoRoyal National Theatre
Philadelphia Here I ComeGar PrivateDonmar Warehouse
Dublin CarolMarkDonmar Warehouse
2013LiolaLiolaRoyal National Theatre
2015Someone Who'll Watch Over MeEdwardChichester Festival Theatre
2016Saint JoanThe InquisitorDonmar Warehouse
The SeagullTrigorinDublin Theatre Festival
Welcome Home Captain FoxGeneDonmar Warehouse
2018Long Day's Journey Into NightJames Tyrone Jr.Wyndham's Theatre / BAM, New York
2019PlentyRaymond BrockChichester Festival Theatre[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Spotlight - Rory Keenan". spotlight.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Rory Keenan Interview". londoncalling.com. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Review Round-Up: Critics crow for Philadelphia, Here I Come". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "New talent saluted and new awards - for best supporting dad and feng shui". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 "NI film 'The Crush' is shortlisted for an Oscar". BBC News. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Bump". mubi.com. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  7. ↑ British Short Film Awards 2022.
  8. ↑ Bond Girl Gemma Arterton secretly marries Irish Peaky Blinders star Rory Keenan in exclusive Co Wicklow ceremony, 15 September 2019
  9. ↑ "Gemma Arterton pregnant with first child", Yahoo, 4 November 2022
  10. ↑ "Gemma Arterton reveals she welcomed her first child in December", Yahoo, 8 February 2023
  11. ↑ "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ first look and casting revealed". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Supercool (25 September 2019). "Plenty". Chichester Festival Theatre. Retrieved 25 September 2019.