How This Boy Skyrocketed from Living in 13 Different Foster Homes in 7 Years to First Oscar Nomination

• This acclaimed actor has overcome a turbulent childhood and achieved success.
• He grew up in Dublin, moving between 13 different foster homes over seven years.
• He recently received his first Oscar and BAFTA nominations for his stunning performances.

In the entertainment industry, a remarkable actor has been steadily making his mark for years. This actor, hailing from Ireland, has portrayed various characters in various films. His performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him a total of 81 nominations and 12 awards to date.

Though he started his acting career in 2011, he gained recognition years later. In 2016, he got an IFTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Lead Role for his performance in "Mammal." His filmography also includes titles such as "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," "The Green Knight," "Saltburn," and "American Animals."

It wasn't until 2023 that he earned his first Oscar nomination for his standout performance in a supporting role in the film "The Banshees of Inisherin." Following this, in 2024, he received a nomination for the prestigious BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actor for his compelling role in "Saltburn."

Physically, he stands at 5ft 8in tall, with a lean, muscular frame. He maintains his physique through boxing, a practice he also uses as a form of therapy. His intimidating on-screen presence starkly contrasts his friendly and welcoming demeanor in real life. This dichotomy is part of what makes him a compelling actor, often cast in roles of menaces, villains, and tortured souls.

Off-screen, this actor is known for his camaraderie with his co-stars. While filming "The Banshees of Inisherin," he shared accommodations with the legendary Colin Farrell. The experience was special, filled with light-hearted banter, with Farrell teasing him for being untidy. Farrell joked, "The place was like raccoons had been in there."

In 2022, while filming "Saltburn," he resided in an isolated English village, living in an 18th-century watermill. The rural setting, complete with grazing cows and chirping birds, was far from the bustling film sets he was accustomed to. However, his journey to success was not an easy one.

Barry Keoghan and his older brother Eric Keoghan were born into the underprivileged area of Summerhill in Dublin and had a challenging start in life. Their mother, caught in the wave of drug problems that swept the area, battled addiction. As a result, Barry and Eric were put into foster care when Barry was just five years old.

Their mother, despite her struggles, remained a constant in their lives. She would spend time with them every Saturday, taking them to McDonald's and the cinema. These moments, while precious, were a stark reminder of their reality — they were her children, but other families were bringing them up.

From ages 5 to 12, Barry experienced a series of transitions, moving between 13 different foster homes. He and Eric were always kept together despite the instability, something Barry values greatly. During an appearance on "The Late Late Show," he said, "They kept us together, which is great." They were later taken in by their maternal grandmother, Patricia, affectionately known as "nanny."

Their mother passed away shortly after. Her health had been deteriorating, and her death, while devastating, was not unexpected. Barry remembers it as the most difficult day of his life, a day that left a deep scar but also shaped him. He said, "I was about 12, but there was something in me that I just took it and it made me stronger."

Barry acknowledges the challenges of being separated from one's parents and placed into foster care. However, he never had a negative experience with the social workers or the families who cared for him. He still remembers the times he spent waiting in the office at Mountjoy Square, playing in the small toy area.

Following their mother's death, Barry and Eric were adopted by their aunt Lorraine. In an interview with Daily Mail, she said she saw Barry's potential and noted that only a few from their part of Dublin make it to Hollywood. She stressed that his accomplishments didn't come easy, stating, "He hasn't had anything handed to him on a plate. Whatever he's got now is through sheer hard work and determination."

Lorraine recalls the day Barry was born, waiting outside the maternity ward at the Rotunda Hospital. She talks about their large family, her quiet sister Debbie, who was Barry's mother, and the challenges she faced. She mentioned the boys' father, who was absent for most of their lives and passed away years ago.

She knew that she and their nanny could provide the care that Debbie wanted for her sons. Lorraine further described Barry's childhood personality. She didn't consider him wild, but he was occasionally hyperactive due to his ADHD. He wasn't always high-energy; there were times when he was quiet. Despite this, Barry was always confident, even coming off as cocky at times.

But what stood out the most was his character, which was full of personality. Amidst all the chaos and challenges in his early life, Barry found a sense of stability and a way forward, and he has managed to carve out a successful career in the film industry. His interest in acting started while living with his grandmother.

He would watch films featuring 20th-century icons like James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Paul Newman. He would often mimic them, adopting different accents and characters. However, expressing his desire to be an actor in an environment more inclined towards boxing was challenging.

Barry has always had a fascination with animals. As a teenager, he often watched nature documentaries, captivated by the silent communication between animals. He even attributes his acting skills to studying them, with each character he plays based on a specific animal.

His acting career took off when he spotted an open casting call in a shop window at 16. He said, "I slyly took the number so no one would see me and called it up when I got home." The opportunity led to his first film role in the 2011 crime drama "Between the Canals." His persistence impressed the director, leading to more roles in Irish dramas and independent films.

His breakthrough came with Christopher Nolan's 2017 film "Dunkirk," where he played a minor role as a boathand and aspiring war hero. Nolan praised Barry for his innocence and sophisticated truth, calling him a "dazzling talent."

Off-screen, Barry is a father to a little boy named Brando, whom he had with his ex-girlfriend, a Scottish orthodontist named Alyson Sandro. He described fatherhood as an indescribable love he had never felt before. He learned to balance work and family life, inspired by his friend Dwayne Johnson, also known as the Rock.

Barry's determination and aptitude largely stem from the hardships he faced as a child, especially with the loss of his mother. She was a woman of notable height, 6ft, with hair as dark as Barry's. Her absence created a profound emptiness in his life, which was alleviated by the women in his family who took him in and cared for him.

Barry confessed he wasn't fully self-sufficient and leaned heavily on his ex-girlfriend. Yet, the experience of growing up without his parents fostered a sense of resilience in him, teaching him to chart his own path in life. Currently, Barry is dating US singer Sabrina Carpenter. Despite his busy schedule, he maintains close ties with his family. He regularly FaceTimes with his nanny and visits Dublin whenever he can.