Irish rising star Éanna Hardwicke has opened up about the challenges and insights of portraying football legend Roy Keane in the upcoming film Saipan, which dramatises the explosive pre-2002 World Cup incident that divided a nation. The 29-year-old actor, speaking from his north London home, revealed how he had to consciously avoid contemporary Keane content to authentically capture the footballer's mindset during that pivotal moment in Irish sporting history.
Stepping into the Shoes of a Sporting Icon
Hardwicke, who hails from the same Cork background as Keane, stars opposite Steve Coogan's Mick McCarthy in the film that examines the notorious training camp fallout on the remote Pacific island. The clash between manager and captain over perceived substandard facilities culminated in Keane's dramatic departure before Ireland's World Cup campaign in Japan, creating what Hardwicke describes as "iconic" imagery that split public opinion across Ireland.
"I'd be lying if I said I remembered the details," Hardwicke admits of the 2002 controversy that occurred when he was just five years old. "But I remember the headlines and those really iconic photos of Roy in the airport or Roy walking out of the training session. The iconography was really strong."
Understanding Keane's Complex Character
The actor explains that his family fell "quite strongly on Keane's side" of the debate, being fellow Cork natives. He reflects on how Keane's uncompromising nature challenged Irish cultural norms, particularly the valued quality of "soundness" – getting along without causing disruption.
"Roy wasn't afraid to stand out from the crowd," Hardwicke observes. "He wasn't afraid to piss people off, and he didn't diminish himself in front of people. Keane cast such a big shadow and was so influential in terms of his commitment and dedication that a lot of young people, especially, really went with him."
Working with Comedy Legend Steve Coogan
Hardwicke describes the experience of acting opposite Steve Coogan, who plays former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, as initially daunting but ultimately rewarding. As part of the generation that grew up quoting Coogan's iconic Alan Partridge character, the Irish actor acknowledges the British comedian's significant influence on his own career.
"There is that bit of you that worries that you'll get nervous or very self-conscious in front of them when you're acting," Hardwicke confesses. "But in my experience, when I've worked with very brilliant actors, they just make it easier, not harder."
Preparing for the Role Without Direct Contact
The actor reveals he chose not to contact Keane directly during his preparation, instead relying on the wealth of existing source material about the footballer and the Saipan incident. Hardwicke emphasises that Saipan isn't a biopic but a dramatised interpretation of events.
"We weren't making a biopic," he clarifies. "I felt his perspective was so clear... My job was just to tell his story and obviously, it's a dramatised version of it." When asked about potentially receiving Keane's approval, Hardwicke laughs: "Like anyone, I crave validation. To get it from Roy... You'd always appreciate the thumbs up."
From Normal People to True Crime Drama
Hardwicke's career trajectory has been remarkable since his breakthrough role as Paul Mescal's troubled friend Rob in the pandemic-era hit Normal People. He describes the Sally Rooney adaptation as having "brought Irish culture to a kind of global level" and acknowledges his good fortune in graduating into the industry during that period.
The actor followed this success with a critically acclaimed, chilling performance as murderer Ben Field in the BBC drama The Sixth Commandment. Hardwicke expresses particular interest in how true crime narratives affect victims' families and investigators rather than fetishising perpetrators.
"What I am interested in is the families of Peter and Ann, the police who investigated the case, the lawyers who worked on the case," he explains. "I'm interested in how that affects all of their lives and how they respond and how they persevere through it."
Ireland's Current Acting Renaissance
Hardwicke finds himself part of what he describes as a wave of Irish talent currently dominating the film industry, alongside contemporaries like Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and recent Oscar winners and nominees including Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, and Cillian Murphy. He maintains close friendships with his Normal People co-stars, whose careers have similarly soared since the series' release.
With his diverse portfolio ranging from sociopathic killers to celebrity footballers, and his thoughtful approach to character interpretation, Éanna Hardwicke represents both the depth and breadth of Ireland's current acting generation. His portrayal of Roy Keane in Saipan promises to add another compelling layer to this rising star's already impressive body of work.
