Brendan Gleeson shares his vision Harry Potter writer JK Rowling’s stance on trans rights, how he fares in the industry without conventional good looks.
Gleeson is currently promoting his upcoming film H is for Hawkbased on Helen Macdonald’s best-selling memoir
Gleeson, who played the whimsical and headstrong Professor Moody in the Harry Potter films, was asked for his opinion on stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in which author JK was called out for her controversial views on trans women.
“I think this is what we can do best as artists: show people that they are better off if they are more compassionate and kind,” he replied in the interview with The independent.
“And that doesn’t mean you can’t criticize someone, because you don’t have to turn into some kind of welfare factory. What you have to do is just literally believe in the goodness of people, that people just want a chance to live a good life. I really believe that’s what they want to do. Most people. All over the world,” he replied, avoiding addressing the subject directly.
Elsewhere, the Oscar-nominated star of The Banshees of Inisherin He was asked if he finds it liberating not to have to deal with the setbacks of aging and loss of appearance, as conventionally good-looking stars have to do.
The actor, who previously did not call himself a “beautiful face”, then praised his Banshees of Inisherin costar colin farrell and The radiant star Jack Nicholson.
“It’s really funny to see women’s reactions to him,” he said of Farrell. “They literally blush. All he has to do is walk in. It’s crazy, but it’s a gift to the world because he’s not ad***. He’s actually a really cool person underneath it all.”
“People like Farrell and Nicholson are so good at what they do. They’re such brilliant actors. And then that other thing helps,” he added with a grin.
“So if you don’t have that, just do the other stuff,” he noted pragmatically.
In H is for HawkBrendan Gleeson plays real-life photojournalist Alisdair Macdonald. The film follows his daughter Helen’s grieving journey after his death. The film will be released in the UK on February 23.
