'Bird' Actor Barry Keoghan Opens Up About His Unique Father-Son Relationship

Barry Keoghan discussed how his unique father-son relationship influenced his role in Bird at the 2024 TIFF.

Barry Keoghan recently opened up about his personal experiences as a parent and how they shaped his performance in Bird, directed by Andrea Arnold. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Keoghan shared that he doesn’t have a “normal father-son relationship” with his child, Brando, who was born in August 2022. He attributes this to the absence of a father figure in his own life.

“I didn't have a father figure growing up, so even my relationship with my son isn't quite the normal father-son relationship,” Keoghan explained. “Love is pure, but I’m talking about the little stuff, like teaching your son or daughter certain things.”

In Bird, Keoghan plays Bug, a single father to 12-year-old Bailey (Nykiya Adams). He mentioned that his real-life parenting influenced his portrayal of the character. “Going into this, it’s a very brother-sister kind of chemistry [for Bug and Bailey], which I felt was right for it,” Keoghan noted. He added that young parents often display this dynamic, which he finds “beautiful.”

Keoghan also revealed that he didn’t have the full script during filming, stating, “I got handed my scenes a day or two before, and only knew my journey up until a certain point.” Reflecting on his young co-star, Nykiya Adams, Keoghan praised her performance: “[She] is absolutely incredible... I was fascinated watching the two young actors.”