The Irish actor pulled no punches on Thursday night.
The Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) were held on Thursday night in Dublin with an objective to award rising Irish talent and bestow long-awaited trophies to some of Ireland's greats.
Awarded on the night was John Connors, the Irish actor famed for his role as Patrick Ward on Love/Hate. He scooped the Best Actor award on the night for his latest role in new film Cardboard Gangsters.
Connors plays Jay in the gritty drama about a group of young Cardboard Gangsters attempt to gain control of the drug trade in Darndale, chasing the glorified lifestyle of money, power and sex.
Connors, upon accepting his award, took a jab at the politics of the industry, the lack of diversity in the Film Board’s selections, and sheds light on the challenges he faces as an Irish Traveller trying to find representation to support him.
“Despite the fact that I can’t get an agent to represent me, and no filmmakers or casting directors will look past the fact that I am a Traveller, this is still a huge moment for me.”
Connors' speech has been lauded for pointing out the obvious and gaping holes in the industry, as well as speaking candidly and with empathy about his own struggle.
His speech has since been transcribed by Travellers Voice Magazine and shared on Twitter by film critic John Maguire.
https://twitter.com/JMaguireCritic/status/964817158701305856
Connors began acting at 20, in an attempt to make his way out of a tough situation. Creativity and talent lifted him from Darndale where he was “in a box bedroom in the darkness, contemplating suicide.”
Spurred on by the suicide of his father several years previous – Connors knew he needed to act.
However, creativity is simply not enough to keep everyone's mental health in check, so Connors made his last, powerful remark by addressing the lack of support in this country: “Our government is never going to do anything about the mental health crisis. Our reptilian, psychopathic government.”
He follows this by dedicating the award to his late father, who died by suicide.
An incredible speech by a very deserving winner.
