Barry Keoghan Doesn’t “Like the Idea of People Being Paid to Act”

The 2024 Met Gala is almost here, and Barry Keoghan is getting himself psyched up by blasting the tunes of his buddies Dave and Central Cee, two popular British rappers, on his hotel suite's Bluetooth speakers. "I'm a big fan of Cenchy. He's my pal, along with Dave," says the actor from Ireland.

The song called "Our 25th Birthday" continues to play as Cench's voice echoes throughout.

"I am not wearing formal attire, so I declined the invitation to the Met Gala."

"Met Gala!" exclaimed Keoghan. "He mentioned the 'Met Gala'."

Although Central Cee's unwavering love for tracksuits may be hindering him from attending the revered Met steps, Keoghan is returning to fashion's most prestigious red carpet for a second time. The actor recently arrived in New York City from his new residence in London, where he visited his young son Brando, who was born in 2022. Keoghan's life has been nothing short of eventful since his last appearance at the Met, culminating in his first Oscar nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin, and his first leading role in Emerald Fennell's cunning aristocratic thriller Saltburn. On this particular day, amidst the bustling chaos of the Met, Keoghan is feeling introspective.

He thinks that things have become more peaceful lately. He has been able to manage things better, which is why he feels everything is under control. In the past, he did not have much control over things. Now, he wants to adopt a new approach and make some changes. He feels that all the attention and showiness of his work don't really reflect who he is as an artist or an actor.

Keoghan is relaxing in a luxurious white terry-cloth robe as a makeup artist gently brushes balm onto his lips. The hotel suite is teeming with activity as various suitcases, grooming supplies, and an extensive selection of beverages are scattered everywhere. Among the drinks are half-melted pink smoothies, lively ginger shots, and various coffee preparations (e.g., iced, drip, and espresso). This moment of respite is a much-needed break for Keoghan.

"I really don't like the thought of 'making it.' Making it isn't my goal," he expresses. After being recommended by his pal Mark Ruffalo, Keoghan decided to enroll in acting courses at the Stella Adler Academy located in LA. This decision was not a typical one for an acclaimed actor who received an Oscar nod and worldwide attention from a successful film project. He's currently striving to rediscover the value that acting brings to him personally, "I need to uncover what this means to me once more and try to regain that feeling. With the enormous amount of scripts and opportunities thrown my way, it's easy to become sidetracked."

Acting has additional benefits apart from just entertaining the audience. According to Keoghan, it is personally fulfilling and helps him learn more about himself. Acting serves as a therapeutic tool by providing closure and revisiting past experiences. However, Keoghan feels uncomfortable being paid for this aspect of acting. He would rather be paid for the other aspects, but the actual process of acting is something he does solely for himself.

The way he's thinking now relates to his outfit at the Met Gala. He wore a fancy tawny velvet suit from Burberry, complete with a frilly shirt, a cream tie that's tied tightly around his neck, and a tall black top hat. The inspiration behind it all was the Mad Hatter, which was a clever way to follow this year's theme, "Garden of Time." He even made a joke about it, saying he's not completely crazy. But really, how lucky was he to be able to attend such a prestigious event?

Emphasizing the Carrollian aspect, Keoghan wears three Omega watches, but only two of them are operational. Keoghan and his stylist, Ilaria Urbinati, agree to set the functional pair to display the time in London and Dublin, respectively. The non-functional third watch is adjusted to indicate a poetic and symbolic "nowhere."

In the blog post, the performer clarifies that he wears a third wristwatch because he desires to allow time to come to a halt. Time is constantly progressing, and he wants to slow it down. The rhythm of a ticking clock, a crashing wave, or a heartbeat can be relied upon and is constant. This rhythm has a soothing effect on him, similar to that of a mother's heartbeat, which is often sought after for comfort.

All of a sudden, it's time to hurry up. Keoghan starts getting dressed, trying to find some extra deodorant and getting a small adjustment on the hair straightener. ("Can you make my hair a bit spikier?")

This evening, I want to know if there is something specific that you are anticipating with excitement?

When asked if he enjoyed the event, he responded with a neutral "no." These days, he's focused on taking things slow and is looking forward to tomorrow being over. However, it's possible that later in the night, after most of the posing was done, he met up with his girlfriend, singer Sabrina Carpenter, at the top of the Met Gala stairs. It's likely they heard Carpenter's catchy summer hit "Espresso," which mentions a boy who is crazy about her multiple times.

The train that travels at night has started moving, and Keoghan's crew guides him up the stairs for the upcoming destination: a photoshoot for Burberry. While he stands in front of the cameras, I choose to leave the scene.

"Excuse me," he said. "I have additional things to express. Is it possible for me to send them to you in an audio message?"