Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Braveheart?

The action-drama feature film "Braveheart" is filled with the staple ingredients for success: Romance, war, brotherhood, and courage, all set against the backdrop of Scotland's natural craggy beauty. The film is majestically epic Hollywood fare, and it cemented itself as a juggernaut of late 20th-century cinema, ranking at number 80 on The Hollywood Reporter's "Top 100 Movies of All Time."

Loosely based on the true story of William Wallace (Mel Gibson), who fought for Scotland's freedom from the tyrannical rule of England's King Edward I (Patrick McGoohan), the movie took liberties with the historical facts of Wallace's life: Caroline White of the Times ranked it second on a list of the most historically inaccurate films of all time. However, it still resonated with audiences and per Box Office Mojo, the film earned $213 million at the global box office.

Intensely quotable, "Braveheart" offered Wallace's now-famous war cry, "They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!" The movie won five Academy Awards (including best picture and best director) and launched Mel Gibson's star power beyond his acting roles, giving him credibility as a director as well. The film's cast includes seasoned actors like McGoohan and James Cosmo, as well as Brendan Gleeson in his Hollywood leading role debut as Wallace's best friend, Hamish, and future "Sons of Anarchy" star Tommy Flannagan. Let's take a look at where the cast of "Braveheart" is now.

In "Braveheart," the smarmy Prince Edward makes a great foil for the over-the-top heroism of William Wallace — he is a villain audiences love to hate. Irish actor Peter Hanly didn't play Prince Edward as a one-dimensional, mustache-twirling villain, though. His interpretation of the prince has nuance and layers — a young man who wants to impress his abusive father and longs to prove his worth as a future king.

After his rise to fame with "Braveheart," Hanly continued to act on screen, mostly in British television roles. The actor starred as Ambrose Egan in the BBC Ireland television series "Ballykissangel" (a show which also starred Colin Farrell), and had a recurring role as a school inspector on the BBC's "Roy." Although his Hollywood trajectory ebbed, Hanly took a number of roles on the Irish stage, starring in Dublin's Gate Theater productions of "Glengarry Glen Ross" and as George Tessman in a version of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" rewritten by Irish playwright Brandon Friel and, as Variety noted, injected with Irish humor. Peter Hanly has been married to Irish stage actress Jennifer O'Dea since 2000: According to Independent.ie, the couple met at a 1996 Christmas party, and have been together ever since.

In "Braveheart," King Edward I, also known by the moniker "Longshanks," set the bar for all future cinematic royal villains. 21st-century on-screen baddies like Tywin Lannister would likely have never come to fruition without the masterfully evil performance of Patrick McGoohan as William Wallace's adversary. In a review of "Braveheart" for the Los Angeles Times, critic Peter Rainer praised the actor's performance, writing that "McGoohan is in possession of perhaps the most villainous enunciation in the history of acting."

According to the website Historic UK, the real-life King Edward was given the nickname "Longshanks" due to his tall stature: The king stood at 6 feet, 2 inches, which was abnormally tall for the time. However, McGoohan's subtle, cold, and cruel performance makes the moniker feel more nefarious. At the time of filming, McGoohan had forty years of Hollywood films and television shows under his belt.

McGoohan first graced the screen in the 1955 U.S. television detective drama, "The Vise," before he starred on the 1960s hit television show "The Prisoner," and co-starred as Judge Noose in "A Time to Kill." In his last film role, the actor provided the voice for Billy Bones in the 2002 animated feature, "Treasure Planet." McGoohan died on January 13, 2009, at the age of 80.

Stephen, the hilarious Irishman in "Braveheart," brought needed levity to William Wallace's warriors, joining the Scotsmen in their fight solely based on their mutual hatred of the English. However, David O'Hara, the actor who played him, isn't Irish ... he's Scottish. O'Hara played many Irish characters throughout the 1990s and 2000s, like Martin MacDuff in "The Devil's Own." However, per IMDb, the actor was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, and The Scotsmen lists the actor's role as Patrick "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon in "The Departed" as one of the most memorable Hollywood performances by a Scottish actor.

Fans of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" may recognize O'Hara as Ministry of Magic employee Albert Runcorn who Harry Potter disguises himself as to sneak into the Ministry. O'Hara shines in character actor roles, and his early years in the theater have given him the confidence to tune out critics. In 1992, the actor told The Herald Scotland in response to criticism about his Glaswegian accent in a Shakespearean production, ”I don't care or mind what they [critics] say about me. Of course, it can still get to you. But now although I still read them avidly, I just think, 'och, half of youse don't know what you are talking about, anyway.'" O'Hara has also appeared extensively on television, most notably in a multi-episode arc on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." as Alistair Fitz.

In "Braveheart," actor James Cosmo plays Campbell, an ideal father: He loves his son Hamish fiercely and treats William Wallace like a son as well. Although Campbell is older than most of the warriors fighting for Scotland's freedom, there's no place he'd rather be than alongside his son on the battlefield. Cosmo plays the character as a fleshed out, layered man –- Campbell is not just the brutish force he displays, but loyal and compassionate too. In lesser hands, Campbell may have played as a caricature, but Cosmo connects with his audience. The actor's talents have been honed by the phenomenal career he's built: per IMDb, the actor has amassed over 221 screen credits.

In the years since "Braveheart," Cosmo has played many iconic, fatherly figures. He portrayed Father Christmas in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and, in an interesting call back to "Braveheart," the elder Robert the Bruce in "The Outlaw King." Most fans will also recognize Cosmo as Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, the father of Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) and the original leader of the Night's Watch on "Game of Thrones." Cosmo also stars as Howard, an elderly man who finds unlikely romance and forgiveness in "My Sailor, My Love." Cosmo gushed about the role in an interview with The Moveable Fest, saying he "just felt at home and that's when good work comes."

"Braveheart" was only Catherine McCormack's second feature film (she debuted in Anna Campion's thriller "Loaded"), and it helped launch her career. As Murron MacClannough, William Wallace's one true love, McCormack shares genuine onscreen chemistry with Mel Gibson, and Murron's tragic end propels Wallace forward in his mission. As Brian Logan of The Guardian noted, "only after her [McCormack] second movie, Mel Gibson's 'Braveheart,' did the maelstrom of celebrity threaten to engulf her."

The actress had a flood of Hollywood roles after "Braveheart," which included a part in "Spy Game" opposite Brad Pitt, and "28 Weeks Later," the sequel to Danny Boyle's critically-acclaimed zombie apocalypse film, "28 Days Later." McCormack has become more selective in her film roles since, appearing in independent fare like François Girard's period drama, "The Song of Names."

McCormack sat down with The Stage to discuss her early professional success, and her reluctance to live in the limelight. She said, "It's all quite seductive, being paid to sit by a pool in LA while you wait to be called to an audition. I was in my 20s and I did enjoy it at the time, but it never felt entirely real. And I wasn't massively keen on being stuck with supporting roles that didn't test me as an actress."

Long before he directed and starred in "Braveheart," Mel Gibson was a bona fide movie star, The successful "Lethal Weapon" franchise and "Mad Max" films made Gibson a recognizable celebrity, but "Braveheart" propelled him into the stratosphere as a serious filmmaker. As William Wallace, Mel Gibson was able to execute his directorial vision for the character, and as an actor, he displayed the tough, romantic, and comedic sides of Wallace.

Until 2006, Gibson seemed to embody the life of a man who "had it all," and seemed universally loved — in 1985, he was even People Magazine's first Sexiest Man Alive. However, controversy soon surrounded the star when anti-Semitic and racist remarks made by Gibson came to light.

Despite this, he has continued to find work in Hollywood –- both as a director and as an actor. "Hacksaw Ridge," Gibson's fifth directorial effort, earned Gibson nominations for best directing and best picture Academy Awards. As an actor, Gibson has stayed busy as well, co-starring in films like "Father Stu."