Gleeson 'chuffed' after Best Actor nomination
Brendan Gleeson
Tuesday May 11 2010
HE was once told by a Hollywood agent he was "too fat, too old, and not good-looking enough" to make it as a big star.
But the plaudits keep coming for Irish actor Brendan Gleeson.
Having won an Emmy last year for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in TV drama 'Into The Storm', last night 54-year-old Gleeson found himself nominated for Best Actor for the role in this year's British Academy Television Awards. A spokesman said Gleeson was "chuffed" at the nomination.
From playing IRA leader Michael Collins in RTE drama 'The Treaty' in 1992, Gleeson admitted it had been quite a jump to play his arch enemy Winston Churchill, given the residue of resentment some in Ireland have for the iconic British prime minister.
He said he had thought twice about accepting the role for that reason -- but what Churchill had achieved in World War Two was "undeniably heroic".
- Ken Sweeney Entertainment Reporter
Irish Independent
