Gleeson following father’s steps into global spotlight

Domhnall Gleeson, the flame-haired son of veteran Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, has been named as one of Variety magazine’s “10 Actors To Watch”.

The young star was the only Irish actor to make the list, and will be honoured by the American film publication at the Hamptons’ International Film Festival next month.

Gleeson, 29, has just finished filming in London on the Richard Curtis comedy About Time, in which he starred opposite Hollywood actress Rachel McAdams.

The Dublin-born actor also has two films released this month — period drama Anna Karenina and comic book adaptation Dredd 3D, and can currently be seen in James Marsh’s Shadow Dancer.

Earlier this year, Gleeson was the recipient of prestigious awards from both the Irish Film & Television Academy and the Berlinale International Film Festival.

This marks the 15th year that editors at the influential Variety magazine have compiled a list of “10 Actors To Watch”, choosing talent that they regard as having the potential to “break out” over the coming months.

Other talent on the list includes British actress Imogen Poots, who recently wrapped filming in Ireland of the Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side, which featured hip-hop star Andre 3000 in the lead role.

Gleeson first came to international attention in 2006 when he was nominated for a Tony award for his role in the Broadway production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

Some of his films to date include the Jeff Bridges remake of True Grit, the Irish-made movies Boy Eats Girl and Perrier’s Bounty, Parts 1 and 2 of the blockbuster Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows&, Never Let Me Go, and the TV movie When Harvey Met Bob, in which he dyed his trademark red hair dark to play Live Aid hero Bob Geldof.