Brian Gleeson

Brian Gleeson is an Irish film, television, and theatre actor recognized for his compelling character performances across drama and comedy. Born on November 14, 1987, in Dublin, Ireland, he belongs to one of Ireland's most distinguished acting families as the son of veteran actor Brendan Gleeson and brother of actor Domhnall Gleeson. Since embarking on his professional career in the mid-2000s, Gleeson has established himself through a diverse array of roles in acclaimed Irish television productions, major Hollywood feature films, and prominent West End stage plays.

About and Early Life

Growing up in Malahide, County Dublin, Gleeson developed an early interest in performance arts and joined the Gaiety's Youth Theatre Company during his youth. He made his feature film debut in 2006 appearing alongside his father in John Boorman's drama "The Tiger's Tail," filmed shortly after he completed secondary school. Rather than following a traditional drama school route, Gleeson refined his craft through practical experience in independent cinema and regional theater, earning early critical acclaim for his performance as Hughie in the hit Irish crime drama series "Love/Hate" in 2010, which earned him an Irish Film and Television Award nomination.

Career Highlights

Over the next decade, Gleeson built an impressive body of work across various entertainment mediums. In film, he appeared in major productions including the fantasy action film "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012), the video game adaptation "Assassin's Creed" (2016), Steven Soderbergh's heist comedy "Logan Lucky" (2017), Darren Aronofsky's psychological horror "Mother!" (2017), and Paul Thomas Anderson's period drama "Phantom Thread" (2017). On television, he gained widespread international visibility portraying the ruthless Glasgow gang leader Jimmy McCavern in the fifth season of "Peaky Blinders" (2019) and starring as insurance agent Thomas Claffin in the dark comedy series "Bad Sisters" (2022).

Collaborations and Stage Work

Gleeson has frequently collaborated with his family on creative endeavors. In 2015, he starred alongside his father Brendan and brother Domhnall in a revived Dublin production of Enda Walsh's play "The Walworth Farce." Later, Brian and Domhnall co-created, wrote, and starred in the Channel 4 and Amazon Prime comedy series "Frank of Ireland" (2021). Alongside his screen accomplishments, Gleeson maintains a robust stage career, performing in acclaimed productions for the National Theatre and London's West End, including Conor McPherson's drama "The Brightening Air." He resides in Dublin, Ireland.