Rory Fleck Byrne
{{Short description|Irish actor (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rory Fleck Byrne
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1988}}
| birth_place = England
| citizenship =
| occupation = Actor, composer
| years_active = 2005–present
| spouse =
| children =
}}
Rory Fleck Byrne (born 1988){{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/rory-fleckbyrne-30171586.html|title=Rory Fleck-Byrne|newspaper=Irish Independent|author=Ciara Dwyer}} is an Irish actor and composer, known for Vampire Academy (2014), Harlots, The Foreigner (both 2017) and This Is Going to Hurt (2022).
Early life
Rory Fleck Byrne was born in England. He moved to Ireland when he was nine years old and lived in Kilkenny{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/earth-childs-bigger-picture-qnmwkpk6n|title=Earth child's bigger picture. Rory Fleck-Byrne stars alongside Pierce Brosnan and Jackie Chan in his latest film but there's another important role when it comes to travel and global injustice, the actor tells Eithne Shortall|newspaper=The Times|author=Eithne Shortall}} until he moved to London in 2007 to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaumontlondon.com/clients/rory-fleck-byrne|title=Rory Fleck-Byrne}}
Career
Fleck Byrne's first acting job was in Liverpool in the play Antony and Cleopatra opposite Kim Cattrall. In 2014, Fleck Byrne could be seen as Harry Abrams, an assistant of the psychological researcher Joseph Coupland, in the horror film The Quiet Ones.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movie-review-the-quiet-ones-keeps-things-interesting/2014/04/25/3b699988-cc87-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html??noredirect=on|title=Movie review: 'The Quiet Ones' keeps things interesting|author=Michael O'Sullivan}} In 2016, he played Ruby in the film Tiger Raid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/0308/773502-brian-gleeson-tiger-raid/|title=Gleeson's Iraq thriller to have world premiere in NY}} In 2017, he starred as Daniel Marney in eight episodes of Harlots, a drama series about Georgian-era brothels, and the women working there.{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/05/harlots-finale-video-hulu-1201817577/|title='Harlots' Finale Sneak Peek: Charlotte Contemplates the Ultimate Brothel Betrayal — Watch.author=Hanh Nguyen}} Fleck Byrne's character Daniel falls in love with the madam of a low-class brothel.{{Cite news|url=http://www.1883magazine.com/film/film/rory-fleck-byrne|title=Rory Fleck Byrne – 1883 Magazine.|author=Georgia Packham Anderson}} Later in 2017, he starred opposite Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan in The Foreigner.{{Cite news|url=http://www.desdehollywood.com/rory-fleck-byrne-talks-foreigner-exclusive-interview/|title=Rory Fleck Byrne Talks The Foreigner in Exclusive Interview.|author=Nestor Bentanco}} Fleck Byrne played Brosnan's nephew Sean Morrison, a former British royal navy officer.{{Cite news|url=https://cinemovie.tv/Interviews/the-foreigner-actor-rory-fleck-byrne-with-no-fighting-skills-takes-on-jackie-chan|title='The Foreigner's' Rory Fleck Byrne Takes On Jackie Chan With No Fighting Experience.}} He later stated that up to then this was one of the best and most challenging experiences he had ever had. He had to train with a stunt team to fight martial arts and get into the mind of a hit-man.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2018/01/29/rory-f-byrne/|title=Rory F Byrne. The Irish newcomer on movie genres and acting megastars}} As he enjoyed martial arts so much he continued to train it after the film was finished with a personal trainer in London.{{Cite news|url=http://nukethefridge.com/exclusive-rory-fleck-byrne-on-going-toe-to-toe-with-jackie-chan-in-the-foreigner/|title=Exclusive: Rory Fleck Byrne on Going "Toe To Toe" With Jackie Chan in The Foreigner.|author=Luis Lecca}} Fleck Byrne also worked as an actor, writer and producer in the short films Inbox and Bodies.{{Cite news|url=http://www.petrieinventory.com/in-conversation-with-rory-fleck-byrne/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111748/http://www.petrieinventory.com/in-conversation-with-rory-fleck-byrne/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 October 2018|title=In Conversation with Rory Fleck Byrne.|author=Brillant Nyansago}} Bodies was set in his hometown Kilkenny. It is about the relationship of two funeral directors who struggle to stay connected to life.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nuitmagazine.com/mag/rory-fleck-byrne/|title=Rory Fleck Byrne|author=Max Ianneselli}} Inbox was released with help of the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578694054/inbox-short-film|title=Inbox short film.|author=B. Welby-Delimere}} In 2021, Fleck Byrne directed, wrote, and starred in the short film Dash.{{Cite web |last=Gant2023-06-28T08:00:00+01:00 |first=Charles |title=Stars of Tomorrow 2023: Rory Fleck Byrne (actor-director) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2023-rory-fleck-byrne-actor-director/5183281.article |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Screen |language=en}}{{Citation |last=Byrne |first=Rory Fleck |title=Dash |date=2021-07-21 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16441994/ |type=Short, Drama |access-date=2023-09-10 |others=Rory Fleck Byrne, John Doran, Lauren Farrell}} In September 2023, Byrne appeared in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Jemima Rooper, Gaynor Faye, Rob James-Collier, Larry Lamb and Adil Ray.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-inheritance-cast-channel-5/|title=The Inheritance cast: Meet the characters in Channel 5 drama|website=Radio Times|last=Robinson|first=Abby|date=4 September 2023|access-date=8 September 2023}}
Next to appearing in films and television series, Fleck Byrne has also acted on stage, in plays including King Charles III (2014–2015),{{Cite news|url=http://thegroomingguide.com/icon/rory-fleck-byrne/|title=Rory Fleck – Byrne.|author=Libby Smith}} Anna Karenina (2016){{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/dec/19/anna-karenina-review-abbey-dublin|title=Anna Karenina review – Lisa Dwan gives uncertain dazzle to Tolstoy|author=Helen Meany}} and The Phlebotomist (2018).{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/apr/27/the-phlebotomist-review-hampstead-theatre-downstairs-london|title=The Phlebotomist review – a gasp-worthy dystopian thriller|author=Lyn Gardner}}
In 2023, Fleck Byrne wrote and directed the short film In Heat, starring Ben Whishaw and funded by BFI and Film4's Future Takes programme.{{Cite web |last=Tabbara2023-09-28T09:42:00+01:00 |first=Mona |title=BFI, Film4, greenlight nine high-budget shorts through Future Takes programme |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/bfi-film4-greenlight-nine-high-budget-shorts-through-future-takes-programme/5186349.article |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Screen |language=en}} The film premiered at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zac |date=2024-09-04 |title=BFI London Film Festival Lineup: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin To Debut ‘Endurance’, Baker, Heller, Berger & Abbasi’s Trump Movie Among Headline Galas — Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/bfi-london-film-festival-lineup-2024-elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi-jimmy-chin-endurance-sean-baker-anora-ali-abbasis-donald-trump-the-apprentice-1236077351/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Next to acting, Byrne also enjoys singing. In an interview he mentioned that if he had not become an actor, he would have loved to have been the frontman of a band. He also writes his own songs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thepicturejournal.com/?p=800|title=Rory Fleck Byrne |author=Paul Vaughan}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2005
| Stealaway | Mike Sullivan | |
| 2006
| Lily's Bad Day | Liam | |
| rowspan="2"|2014
| Harry Abrams | |
| Vampire Academy
| Andre Dragomir | |
| 2015
| Bodies | Conor |
| 2016
| Ruby | |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Inbox | Tom |
| The Foreigner
| Sean Morrison | |
| 2018
| |
| 2020
| Pixie | Colin | |
| 2022
| LOLA | Lieutenant Sebastian Holloway | |
| rowspan="4" |2023
| Falling Into Place | Aidan | |
| In Camera
| Actor B | |
| White Widow
| Cillian | |
| In Heat
| |Writer/Director; Short Film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Alan | Episode: "Purgatory" |
| rowspan="2"|2014
| Ben Blackwood | Episode #1.4 |
| Damo and Ivor
| Liam Delaney | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2016
| Dale Nevins | Episode: "Harvest of Souls" |
| To Walk Invisible
| Arthur Nicholls | Television film |
| 2017
| Harlots | Daniel Marney | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2018
| Adam Warner | Episode: "Murder on the Day of the Dead" |
| rowspan="3"|2019
| Ghosts | Toby Nightingale | Episode: "Free Pass" |
| Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar
| Marmaduke | Television film |
| Zomboat!
| Rob | 2 episodes |
| 2020
| Spides | Marty | 2 episodes |
| 2022
| Harry Muir | Miniseries; 7 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2023
| Nathan | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| The Newsreader
| Gerry Carroll | Season 2 regular; 6 episodes |
| 2024–2025
|Joshua Belfort |Miniseries; 5 episodes |
| 2025
| Luca Salucci | Post-production |
Theatre
Radio work
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Type ! Role ! Ref. |
| 2014
| BBC Radio 4 drama | Johnny Boyle |
| 2018
| Vive la Republique | BBC Radio 4 drama | Daniel Cohn-Bendit |{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b0lxlz |title=Vive la Republique |publisher=BBC}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1454097}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrne, Rory Fleck}}
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:English emigrants to Ireland
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:21st-century Irish male actors
Category:People from Kilkenny (city)