Farrell not so macho

Colin Farrell has been embarrassed by his old schoolmates, who have shattered his tough image by insisting he used to be a posh "mummy's boy".

The claims, which appear in Jane Kelly's unauthorised biography Colin Farrell: Living Dangerously, have unhinged the screen hunk's carefully crafted image, and his old pals are particularly amused by his strong Irish accent - which he never used to have.

Childhood friend Peter Barry remembers: "He was seen as effeminate. They thought he was a sissy so he got picked on."

Former pal Ritchie Molloy sniped: "He pretends he's from a tough part of Dublin but he's not."

Another former schoolmate added: "Colin sounds quite broad Dublin these days but everyone knows he's posher than he makes out."