The Brendan Gleeson Page provides a biography of the Irish actor who plays Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody and gives links to other fims Brendan Gleeson has starred in.

Brendan Gleeson

Brendan Gleeson was born on March 29th 1955 in Dublin, Ireland. From a very young age he loved to learn, especially reading classical text in and outside the classroom. He took great attention to Irish play writers such as Samual Beckett, which eventually led to him performing in his high school play production of 'Waiting for Godot', and paying great attention to detail in his high school drama classes.

Upon finishing 12th grade, Brendan Gleeson spent a couple of years with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival, and under the advice of a director there, headed across to London and auditioned for drama schools. He was nearly immediately accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and he graduated from the three year BA hons course. After RADA, he returned home to Dublin, and continued with theatre, as well as making a living as a secondary level teacher specifically in English and Drama. He was then invited to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, and spent a couple of seasons back in England on the stage.

Brendan Gleeson then, at the age of thirty five, decided to audition for films in the UK and made his feature film debut in Jim Sheridan's "The Field" (1990). He began to build a very respectable resume playing many different diverse characters. His classical acting skills gained the attention of Mel Gibson and he was cast in the role of Hamish, William Wallace's hulking ally in "Braveheart" (1995). In 1997, Brendan Gleeson was given his first crack at a starring role in "I Went Down". The role brought him a greater dose of recognition and respect on both sides of the Atlantic.

Recently, he has appeared in "A.I.," "Gangs of New York," and, "28 Days Later. His latest role is as Reynald De Chatillon in Ridley Scott's epic Kingdom Of Heaven. Of his character Gleeson says: "Reynald revels in mayhem, he is malicous and savage."

Pictures

Links

FOX Store - Official movie site of Kingdom of Heaven:- One of Brendan Gleeson's films. Includes a profile of his character Reynald De Chatillon. www.foxstore.com

Brave-heart.net - Fan site for Braveheart, Brendan Gleeson's breakthrough film. www.strategyplanet.com/braveheart/links.shtml