Ciarán Hinds: a skeptical star
He had roles in Rome and Harry Potter and in many films of the most respected names in the industry, but actor Ciarán Hinds remains plagued by doubts and low selt-esteem.
Northern Irish Ciarán Hinds is one of those actors who may have a small role at any time. When you’ve forgotten most of the film you still remind him.
That may have something to do with his deep baritone voice, or his questioning, deeply penetrating and hung over tired eyes .
At Gothenburg Film Festival, he is, after his role of Caesar in Rome and a series of Hollywood films, this year’s brightest star. But the impression he gives, in his black leather jacket and his lack of entourage, is anything but starish.
Rather see than do
And it turns out that Ciarán Hinds is one actor who prefers to see movies and plays than play in them.
Despite his long and successful career, self-doubt about his professional choices still torments him.
-”It’s fun to be involved in the creative process, but sometimes I have to convince myself that I am good enough to do the job.”
-”It can be very frightening. Sometimes I imagine that I am good enough. And imagine others.”
- “The times I lose self-confidence, it is scary, then I have to take me to another place mentally and realize that I’m just wasting people’s time – and it takes me back. Yes yes … Self-doubt. We have it all.”
Playing Dumbledore’s brother
In his upcoming movie adventure, Ciarán Hinds can at least hide behind a thick layer of makeup for he will play Professor Dumbledore’s brother in the final Harry Potter films.
- “I know really nothing about it. I filmed last April, and then script-writing continued. It is difficult partly because they are becoming so old and Emma (Watson, “Hermione”) is currently studying in the United States. But I play Aberforth Dumbledore coming in towards the end and telling a story about something that happened in his brother’s childhood. I asked them “why do you tell this story now, everyone wants to just get to the end”, but that’s what I joined for.”
- “I spent three hours in a makeup chair for four mornings, it’s tough but what they can achieve is pure magic. The result is a scene where Harry is on the run from the dementors, hides in me, hears the story and escapes through a hole in the wall. I look forward to seeing the finished film when it premieres in 2030 …(sic)”
Ciarán Hinds is in Gothenburg, among other things, to promote Life During Wartime, Todd Solondz’ stand-alone sequel to Happiness, which may have a Swedish theatrical release later this year.