The Ten Best Irish Actors Working Today

Ireland has produced a good amount of quality thespians throughout the years. Names like Richard Harris and Maureen O’ Sullivan earned accolades and respect during their lengthy careers.

In between imbibing green beer and getting arrested for assault and battery on this St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d take some time to pay tribute to the finest Irish actors working today. I’m going with those who were born on the Emerald Isle, so guys like Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Fassbender didn’t make the cut, even though both have mad skills.

Here are ten who have kissed the Blarney Stone.

10. Cillian Murphy

Murphy burst onto the scene in 2002 with 28 Days Later. Since then he has carved out a diverse career playing unique characters, including the “Scarecrow” in Christopher Nolan’s Batman flicks, and a transgender in Breakfast on Pluto. Look for him this summer in Nolan’s highly anticipated Inception.

9. Colm Meaney

TV, stage, film, Meaney has done it all and done it well. The Snapper, Layer Cake, Kings and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine showcased his range in both comedy and drama. You can see him in the Judd Apatow produced Get Him to the Greek, starring Jonah Hill, in June.

8. Gabriel Byrne

Byrne has hit plenty of home runs during his thirty-plus years on the scene. The Usual Suspects, Miller’s Crossing, The End of Violence and HBO’s In Treatment are just a few of his memorable roles. An understated acting style and distinct brogue are his trademarks.

7. Jonathan Rhys Myers

At just 32, Rhys Myers has already delivered an impressive list of credits. The recent From Paris with Love disaster aside, performances in Velvet Goldmine, Titus, Bend it like Beckham, Match Point and The Tudors have made him a sought after talent. He seems destined for big things.

6. Pierce Brosnan

The man who was born to play James Bond is known for his charming persona and dashing good looks. He’s dabbled in sci-fi, western, comedy, action, musical and dramatic films. Catch him in Roman Polanski’s latest, The Ghost Writer, where he plays a former British Prime Minister.

5. Colin Farrell

The bad boy from Dublin hasn’t always made the best choices (Daredevil, S.W.A.T.), but when he’s on point, he’s pretty damn good (Tigerland, In Bruges). There is early Oscar buzz surrounding the upcoming The Way Back, which will be released later this year. If he keeps his head on straight, the sky is the limit for Farrell.

4. Brendan Gleeson

Gleeson has been hot recently. In addition to his key role in the Harry Potter flicks, the red headed thesp killed it in 2008′s In Bruges and won an Emmy portraying Winston Churchill in last year’s Into the Storm. He’s planning to make his directorial debut by adapting the Irish novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, which is set to star Murphy, Byrne and Farrell.

3. Liam Neeson

He’s been nominated for an Oscar and has worked with Spielberg, Scorsese and Lucas. Up next, he plays Zeus in Clash of the Titans and John “Hannibal” Smith in the big screen version of The A-Team. If that doesn’t show you his versatility, I’m not sure what will. Oh, and he’s also been tapped to play Abraham Lincoln. Excellent choice.

2. Michael Gambon

He replaced fellow countryman Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise and didn’t miss a beat. He can just as easily portray an evil son-of-a-bitch as he did to perfection in The Insider and Open Range. You might not recognize his name, but his face will likely ring a bell.

1. Peter O’Toole

As long as O’Toole is breathing, he tops the list. He hold the dubious distinction of having the most Academy Award nominations (8) without a win, which of course is utterly ridiculous. At 77, he’s still in the game with three projects in the works. He’s arguably the greatest Irish actor to ever live.