For most of his career,Colin Farrellhas been a big-screen actor. He first appeared in the BBC drama seriesBallykissangel,but quickly switched to movies, starring inThe War ZoneandTigerland, before making his big break inPhone Booth. After that, the roles came frequently. FromS.W.A.T. toMinority Report,Farrell never had an idle moment. However, he never seemed to get proper recognition for his work. That’s until he played the DC villain Penguin. His portrayal of the iconic character was good inThe Batman,but it has been even better in the HBO series,The Penguin.
Fans might struggle to name any other TV show he has appeared in, but he has actually ventured onto the small screen arena several times. The actor has played a few memorable supporting characters and a few major ones. And every time he has done so, he has reminded viewers why he is one of the most underrated actors in the business. So, what are some of his essential television performances? Here is how well he fared in each of his seven roles.
7Danny Byrne
Ballykissangel (1996 – 2001)
Celebrated for its rapid montage sequences,Ballykissangelis a rousing show of great emotive and symbolic richness whose aesthetic sweep and general tone were unparalleled at the time. The seriescovers the misadventures of the English Catholic priest, Father Peter Clifford, after he is transferred from Manchester to the tiny, remote Irish village of Ballykissangel.Colin Farrell makes his grand entrance to the BBC series in Season 5 when his character Danny Byrne arrives and latches on to his uncle after getting in trouble in another town. However, his compulsive behavior risks draining the old man’s passion.
A Likable Rebel
Danny Byrne is a stubborn but likable character, the kind that never stops mistakes yet always finds a way to wash away his sins.Through this role, viewers also get to see just how energetic Farrell is.Whether he is riding a horse, or arguing, he goes on and on and becomes completely immersed in the long takes. A famous sequence where his character chases sheep around is especially memorable.
In 2015, Farrelladmitted to The Sunthat playing Danny was “one of the best things that ever happened to me.” However,the actor isn’t as polished here as he is in his other projects.There are eye contact problems and slight hesitations during his speeches, but none of that takes away from the show’s general quality.
6Billy Callahan
Scrubs (2001 – 2010)
Undoubtedly one ofthe best medical-themed shows,Scrubstraces the chaotic but hilarious lives of several employees of the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. At the center of the events is J.D. (John Dorian), a young intern, who finds everything to be challenging but rarely gives up.Farrell shows up in the 2005 episode “My Lucky Charm,” playing the character Billy “Bill” Callahan, who arrives from Ireland to visit a patient.
Some British Charm
Playing a charming British man who sweeps American women off their feet? This was presumably an effortless exercise for Colin Farrell.Billy has a plethora of one-liners, all of which Farrell delivers perfectly.Perhaps the only problem is that he doesn’t appear to be as goofy as the rest of the cast members. ForScrubs,that’s a requirement. Still, while watching him, one easily notices that he is truly having a blast. Even better,he gave away his check for the episode to charity.
Colin Farrell’s Best Movie Villains, Ranked
Colin Farrell has played several villains in movies throughout his storied career. From The Penguin to Bullseye, here are his best, ranked.
5Daniel “Danny” McCarthy
Falling for a Dancer (1998)
Falling for a Dancerintroduces us to Elizabeth, a woman trying to conquer the overpowering isolation that marriage imposes. She fell for a dancer and got pregnant by him, but the man disappeared. To avoid shame, she married a wealthy older man. But the marriage isn’t a smooth one.Elizabeth soon meets and falls in love with Farrell’s character Danny, a young countryman who acknowledges her beauty way more than her husband ever had.
Sprinkling New Spice in a Familiar Role
Colin Farrell says “Milady” perhaps more times than is necessary, but he does a wonderful job here as a man who has no reservations about bedding a taken woman.It’s the kind of role that audiences are very familiar with, yet Farrell manages to make his character unique and compelling.His performance feels similar to one that had taken the world by storm a year earlier - likeLeonardo DiCaprio inTitanic, Farrell easily channels his character’s lust, daredevilry, and charm. The sad part? The show ends after only five episodes.
4Henry Drax
The Northwater (2021)
The Northwateris a wonderful character study of how different souls, bound together by work, try to cope not only with the horror of their past lives but the uncertainty and hopelessness that cloud the future. It feels like a straightforward TV show at first; a few dazed, hollowed-out faces head to the ocean for a whaling expedition in the mid-1800s. But as the clock ticks, each of the sailors is shown to be deranged in one way or the other.One of them is the ship’s chief harpooner and coxswain, Drax (Farrell) who happens to be a murderous thug and sexual offender.
Horror in the Distant Waters
Here,Colin Farrell delivers a knockout performance that is extremely bleak yet riveting.His character is the true representation of the overwhelming trauma and uncertainties of the high seas. Drax is arguably his most impressive villainous role, as this is a character who must mask his true intentions before going full Devil later on. Whether it’s slitting throats or deliberately trying to sink the ship, Drax does it all, and Farrell makes the villain’s entire evil streak look very believable.
3Detective Ray Velcoro
True Detective (2014 – Present)
Hailed as one oftelevision’s finest anthology shows,True Detectivefollows different detectives each season as they hunt down criminals alleged to have committed senseless acts.Farrell stars in Season 2 as Detective Ray Velcoro, a dirty lawman from the Vinci Police Department investigating a series of crimes linked to the murder of a corrupt politician in California. Aiding him are a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office CID agent and a highway patrol officer.
True Detective
A Dirty Cop with a Good Heart
Colin Farrell handles this role with clear-eyed ferocity, pulling us deep into California’s chaotic underworld.He brings just the right blend of excitement and frustration to an officer who would rather be tending to his hedonism.This is also the kind of role that viewers have seen many times before, but Farrell revitalizes it because of how well he handles the dialogue and his character’s anger management issues.
“I used to want to be an astronaut … But astronauts don’t even go on the Moon anymore.”
There is no shortage of quotable lines, and new viewers will enjoy every minute that Ray is on-screen. If not for a few characterization problems, he probably would have won an Emmy for this tough, blood-spattered show that’s not for the faint-hearted.
2John Sugar
Sugar (2024)
Colin Farrell is the private detective, John Sugar, inSugar.A polyglot and avid cinephile, the titular character quickly says “yes” when a movie producer approaches him with an ask to find his missing granddaughter, Oliva. Those close to him feel the job might be too dangerous for him, but Sugar takes it anyway, believing it will take him to the next step professionally, and help alleviate a sense of regret he feels regarding the way he treated his sister.
A P.I. with a Sense of Style
Sugarhas the look and feel of some ofthe greatest film noirs. And Farrell is totally believable as a man trying to get to the bottom of a labyrinthine case.The actor’s maturity is evident in every scene.There isn’t a single moment where he seems overexcited or bored. Like Thomas Magnum, Sugar’s car is his true sidekick, and Farrell uses it well.The star is a car lover in real life, so his obsession with his ride on the show comes off as authentic. For his work here, Farrell received an Astra Award nomination for Best Actor in a Streaming Series.
10 Quintessential Colin Farrell Movies You Need to Watch Next
Colin Farrell’s career has created a rich catalog of movies, so to break it down, here are ten of his movies you should watch next.
1The Penguin
The Penguin (2024)
So good isThe Penguinthat ithas been described as a reboot ofThe Sopranos. An offshoot ofThe Batman,the show explores the titular villain’s rise to power in Gotham City’s underworld.Colin Farrell reprises his role as the character who will stop at nothing to ensure he is above his peers.Despite this being Batman’s playground, there is no sign of the superhero anywhere, but the Penguin does fine on his own.
The Penguin
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
An Emmy-Worthy Performance
The Penguincould be labeled the best-written show of 2024, but it wouldn’t be the same without Farrell.The actor’s powerful charisma radiates off the screen at every turn. Whether it’s the eye-dancing or the limp, he nails all the kingpin’s mannerisms perfectly.
Most importantly, Farrell deserves credit for going above and beyond to look like the character. Many fans have pointed out how it’s hard to tell that the man on the screen is Colin Farrell. There is makeup and prosthetics to thank for that, but the star seems very comfortable underneath all the layers, and that’s what good acting is all about.
