Saltburn star Barry Keoghan recently opened up about his challenging childhood and his hopes to inspire young people with similar backgrounds.
Keoghan, who spent much of his youth in foster care after his mother struggled with drug addiction, said he aims to show kids that “no matter where you come from, you can achieve what you put your mind to.”
Keoghan, who spoke about his past on The Louis Theroux Podcast, addressed misconceptions and online rumors about his family life.
Reflecting on his mother’s battle with heroin addiction, he said it “caught her” as well as his uncle and father, leaving her unable to care for him and his brother.
He shared how the foster care experience still haunts him: “You don’t forget waiting on the social worker steps and waiting for a new family to come and play with you.”
By the time he was nine, Keoghan had been through 14 foster placements, including with his grandmother.
This turbulent upbringing left Keoghan with trust issues, making it hard to believe in others’ affection.
He recalled painful memories of his mother’s struggles, including her last attempts to see him before her death when he was 12.
Yet, these challenges eventually led him to discover acting, a passion he pursued at Dublin’s Bow Street Academy.
Since finding success in films like The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn, Keoghan has faced intense scrutiny online, with critics targeting his appearance, family life, and relationship with singer Sabrina Carpenter.
“If I didn’t have tough skin,” he said, “I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
He’s also chosen to keep his son out of the public eye to protect him from negative narratives, despite online trolls labeling him an “absent father.”
He responded firmly, “I’m not an absent father…it sickens me, makes me furious.”
Keoghan also spoke about Carpenter, calling her a “strong, independent lady” and expressing gratitude for their relationship.
Despite the media attention, he feels “incredibly blessed” to have her support.
Now preparing for his role in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film, Keoghan channels his life experiences into his work. “I try to bring real emotion into it,” he shared, describing acting as a form of therapy.
While he feels “lucky to get out” of his tough Dublin neighborhood of Summerhill, he still holds affection for the area and hopes to give back by setting up a youth club there.
“It’s full of gorgeous people,” he said, highlighting his pride in his roots.
Also read: Drake And Demar Derozan Trade Barbs As Raptors Beat The Kings
