Here's Why Druig From Eternals Looks So Familiar
"Eternals," the next long-awaited installment in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to hit theaters on November 5, and fans could not be more excited.
Like "Avengers" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Eternals" promises another great ensemble story from Marvel — though this time, it comes with an even more exciting cosmic, multiversal twist. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, the film has a truly all-star cast, including the likes of Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, and Kumail Nanjiani.
"Eternals" also features the talents of some actors who may not have quite as much name-recognition for American audiences, but who have been gracing our screens for quite some time now. This includes Barry Keoghan, who stars in the film as Druig, an Eternal who spends time on Earth as a KGB operative. Irish-born Keoghan has some very impressive credits to his name, but where exactly have we seen him before?
Barry Keoghan starred in one of the biggest films of 2017
Barry Keoghan began his career in 2010, appearing in a variety of Irish television programs. However, his big break came in 2017, when he starred in Christopher Nolan's World War II drama "Dunkirk." The film was a massive success, earning a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards and grossing over $525 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
Keoghan stars as George, a teenager who impulsively joins civilian father and son sailors as they sail to Dunkirk to help the British soldiers. George meets an impossibly tragic end, blinded by an accidental head injury during a scuffle with a shell-shocked soldier, and the injury ultimately kills him. His death is one of the most gut-wrenching of the film, demonstrating how the horrors of the war reached far beyond the battlefield and inspired a generation of young men to join the fight for their country.
Although this may have been Keoghan's first major role for a global audience, he's also had plenty of success even without the help of a heavyweight like Nolan.
He plays a terrifying teenage boy in one of his most haunting roles
2017 was certainly a busy year for Barry Keoghan. Apart from "Dunkirk," he starred in the critically acclaimed Irish/British psychological thriller "The Killing of a Sacred Deer." The film tells the story of Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell), who befriends teenage Martin Lang, played by Keoghan. However, it's soon revealed the pair share a past connection, and Martin has a devious plan for revenge on Steven that could have devastating repercussions.
"The Killing of a Sacred Deer" was highly lauded. At its 2017 world premiere at Cannes, the film earned a prestigious Palme D'Or nomination and won for Best Screenplay. Keoghan was praised for his performance, with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2017 Independent Spirit Awards, as reported by IndieWire. Joey Keogh of Wicked Horror called Keoghan's performance "his best, most self-assured performance to date." Over at Awards Daily, Zhou-Ning Su had similar praise, saying Keoghan "shines brightest" among the stellar cast, adding that he brings a "crazed, jittery energy anchors this vivid, fully-realized performance."
Keoghan earned his first BAFTA for his role as an Irish gangster
Clearly not shy about taking on intense roles, Barry Keoghan gained even more acclaim with his performance in "Calm with Horses," the 2019 Irish crime drama following an ex-boxer, nicknamed Arm, who lends his muscle and might to The Devers, a criminal family in rural Ireland, all while providing for his autistic son. Keoghan plays Dymphna, a member of the Devers family.
Speaking to Irish newspaper The Journal, Keoghan shared his thoughts on the characters in "Calm with Horses," saying, "We all know [people like] all these characters in this movie. You know, you see them in friends and people like that," he says. "But Dympna is a classic thing of trying to live up to his family's name and trying to prove [himself] and I don't think that he's half as bad as what people think of him. I think he's a scared little boy deep down that just has that pressure of his family's name and has to try to live up to it."
Keoghan's understanding of the character paid off for him. "Calm with Horses" earned Keoghan his first major awards nomination, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2021 BAFTAs.
He appeared in 2019's biggest miniseries
Barry Keoghan's enormous acting talents are not just limited to film. In 2019, he starred in acclaimed HBO miniseries "Chernobyl," a fictionalized retelling of the devastating 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The show was a huge success, currently holding a very impressive user score of 9.4/10 on IMDb, along with a 96% Tomatometer Score and 98% Audience Score on Rotten Tomaotes. Also starring the likes of Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Adam Nagaitis, and Jessie Buckley, Keoghan plays Pavel, a young man drafted by the Soviet Union to help with the cleanup efforts of the horrific incident.
"Chernobyl" was highly accoladed, including winning Outstanding Limited Series at the 2019 Emmy Awards and Best Miniseries at the 2019 Golden Globes. Though Keoghan's role in the series was comparatively small, his contributions to the impressive cast did not go unnoticed and were surely only a sign of more great things to come.
Keoghan has plenty more success on the horizon
Barry Keoghan's star power only continues to rise. A role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a significant accomplishment for any actor, and Keoghan is no exception. However, the new decade has brought even more wins to Keoghan's career than joining the "Eternals." The actor recently starred along Dev Patel in A24's "The Green Knight," the medieval fantasy film adapted from the 14th century poem "Sir Gaiwan and the Green Knight."
Next year, Keoghan will be switching his superhero alliances, this time joining forces with Warner Bros. and DC to appear in "The Batman," starring Robert Pattison as Bruce Wayne himself. Keoghan is portraying Stanley Merkel, the partner of Commissioner James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) who is heading up a case against classic Batman foe The Riddler.
Keoghan's acting talents have been seen in a number of impressive projects, and if his IMDb page is any indication, there is nothing but more success ahead for the young actor.