Next Time, Barry Keoghan Wants to Play the Joker for More Than Four Minutes

Barry Keoghan got just a taste of playing the infamous comic book character the Joker in the movie The Batman, but now he wants more.

The young Irish actor has had a stellar 2022, with a surprise appearance in the DC Comics movie, followed up by an eye-catching turn in Martin McDonagh's new movie The Banshees of Inisherin as the simple Dominic Kearney. Before that, the actor had also made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2021 alongside the likes of Angelina Jolie and Richard Madden as Druig in Eternals.

Newsweek spoke to Keoghan about his big year, Banshees, and his future as the Joker.

"What a feckin' grateful position to be in. It's such an iconic part and to be even in the same conversation as that character, I'm always excited to hear what people have to say about it," Keoghan told Newsweek when asked if he's sick of being asked about the Joker yet.

Keoghan is the sixth actor to portray the Joker on the big screen, and he's joining some esteemed company. Cesar Romero debuted the character on the big screen in 1966 in the Batman movie based on the Adam West TV series before Jack Nicholson revived the character in 1989. After that, Heath Ledger posthumously won an Oscar for his turn in 2008's The Dark Knight before Jared Leto had a go as the Joker in Suicide Squad and Leto also had an appearance as the Joker in Zach Snyder's Justice League. Most recently, Joaquin Phoenix also won an Oscar for playing Arthur Fleck in the eponymous Joker.

Keoghan was a surprise addition in The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson, where he was originally credited as "Unseen Arkham Prisoner" before director Matt Reeves confirmed it was the Joker. Keoghan's had a taste of the character, but now he wants more.

"I'll say straight up I'd love to [do more]. I'd seen this article online where it listed [and ranked] the Jokers. It's all opinion based, but I was number four."

"Underneath it said 'with only four minutes screentime' and you know what, I'd love to delve into feckin' somethin' with a bit more screentime and see what I can do," he said.

On his predecessors, Keoghan said, "The people who played him before me, you know, feckin' Heath Ledger will always remain to me, the best Joker ever, and possibly the best actor ever as well, so there's a lot to live up to. But again, my version is totally different [from] everyone else's version. So I'd be excited for people to see that."

While his screen time in The Batman may have been limited, we see a lot more of him in The Banshees of Inisherin alongside Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon.

He plays the dim but kindhearted Dominic, living in a small fictional Irish town in 1920s Ireland. Keoghan said he made sure to be sensitive with his portrayal of the character.

"You have to be cautious, and that was through chats that me and Martin had on how far we could go, what seems right and necessary, [and] some physicality traits. But also you want to humanize him and not want to do anything for the benefit of entertainment. You want to make it real, and you want people to sympathize with him."

"I love creating characters, and I'm really sticking my teeth in and with this one I felt I could really show my range as an actor." Keoghan continued, "I want to push it even 10 times further. Both in terms of the sinister kind of roles I play to this kind of, naivety lad."

Keoghan turned 30 years old in October, and at a time when his star is rising, he also became a father for the first time. He said had some eye-opening experiences lately where his two worlds have collided.

"I've got a new baby boy, he's eight weeks, his old name is Brando, after Marlon Brando. Last night, I felt fame. We were getting out of the car and there were all these people there, bless them, saying 'can you sign this? Can you sign this?' I'm always grateful and try to take the time to do it.

"But one of the security guards said 'he has a kid. Let him out and let him be.' And for the first time I was like 'feck, this is something I have to protect now.' And it kind of gave me a bit of anxiety going into the hotel room. My partner as well was with me, and it just kind of made me feel a little uneasy. It's a different thing to balance now (fame) because my son is involved now."

In terms of what's next for Keoghan, his next major project is a movie called Saltburn, but he's got major characters who still exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the DC Extended Universe, so he could pop up anywhere.

The Banshees of Inisherin is out in movie theaters now.