Colin Farrell has made a striking and deeply personal confession about what fascinates him most about the human condition.
During a conversation with Jessie Buckley for Variety’s actors on actors series, the Irish actor admitted that the dark sides of life have long intrigued him, both personally and professionally.
The revelation comes as Farrell stars as an addict in his latest film, Ballad of a Small Player.
Expanding on his perspective, Farrell explained that while his life is filled with happiness, pain remains the most universal human experience.
“I have crazy moments of joy in my life, joy in my work and joy with my children,” he said.
“But I’ve always felt that the common denominator regarding the experience as a human being is pain.”
The Oscar-nominated actor further clarified that he sees fear and uncertainty as extensions of that same emotional core.
“The only thing we’ve all really felt is pain. I’ve put fear and uncertainty under that banner,” he said.
Farrell also reflected on the imbalance of the human experience, noting that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience joy.
“Unfortunately, not everyone has felt joy,” he added, saying, “And that is a great tragedy.”
Concluding his candid thoughts, Farrell explained that “I am fascinated by pain,” because “every act of aggression or violence has its origins in pain that has become personalized.”
