The Irish actor spoke candidly about his past demons.
International actor Gabriel Byrne joined Ryan Tubridy on this week’s Late Late Show following his recent win at the Irish Film and Television Awards held on Thursday of this week.
Byrne took home the Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards this week, and held an interview with Tubridy to speak candidly about both the high and low points of his career which has spanned five decades.
His first topic, his personal struggle with alcoholism in his twenties, struck a chord with the nation. It seemed that the topic was all too familiar with so many, that a call to action was suggested on Twitter.
"We are as sick as our secrets"
This moved me. I can honestly say that was one of the most compelling & humane interviews I've see in some time. Gabriel Byrne is a national treasure & I would love to sit down & listen to him talk for hours. #LateLateShow pic.twitter.com/mx8ZcL2VX1
— Aaron Vallely (@Vallmeister) February 17, 2018
Normally I hate The Late Late Show but Gabriel Byrne was amazing on it. #LateLate #LateLateShow
— Leighanne 🌟 (@yagirlleighanne) February 17, 2018
#LateLateShow I think #GabrielByrne 's comments re: Ireland's difficulty with alcohol are so true. A cultural shift in our views is needed. We did it for drink driving, marriage equality.. With some resolve we can bring the boozing under control?
— Sean Edwards (@edwards_s) February 17, 2018
I loved Gabriel Byrne’s interview on the #LateLateShow tonight. His thoughts on fame and fatherhood were fascinating. And I’m totally in awe of his honesty about the #MeToo movement. When asked if it’s gone too far he said, “it hasn’t gone far enough”.https://t.co/14lv7qHYNZ
— Hazel Hayes (@TheHazelHayes) February 17, 2018
Gabriel Byrne with Ryan Tubridy just now on #latelateshow– great interview with many truths and insights. 👍
— Caroline Kennedy (@CKennedyPR) February 17, 2018
Interview with Gabriel Byrne is one of the most interesting insightful interviews I have ever seen.His views on #metoo on #Weinstein #Spacey are fascinating and he is brave and intelligent. #LateLateShow
— neo🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@YewtreeGirl) February 17, 2018
The Dublin-native, who has also made three films with the Weinstein Company throughout his career, described the disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein on the show as a bully and he also taken issue with his friend Liam Neeson’s claim that the #metoo movement has gone too far.
Byrne said he never thought Weinstein would be capable of the “vile acts” he is accused of but added that he knew the movie mogul was “an absolute ferocious bully.”
“That I knew but I knew that about other people too but what happened to those unfortunate women, and I know five of those women who were compromised by him, happened behind closed doors,” Byrne told host Ryan Tubridy.
“So nothing could be proved so it was `he said, she said’ and because Harvey had such incredible power and we know from our own culture here that power and institutions protect individuals, the institution has to survive.
“Harvey was a powerful money maker and he had to be allowed to continue but nobody really knew, and I agree with Meryl Streep when she says this, that she didn’t understand, didn’t know about the violence of his sexual behaviour.”
The actor also took issue with Liam Neeson’s recent claim on the RTÉ Show that the #metoo movement was “a witch hunt” that had gone too far.
“I love Liam and I’ve been a friend of his for many, many years and of course everybody is entitled to their opinion but I would say the movement hasn’t gone far enough.”
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