“I’m just man”: Barry Keoghan is Tired of Being Typecast After Saltburn

Barry Keoghan rose to fame playing eerie, offbeat characters in films like The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Eternals. But with his intense performance in the new movie Saltburn, Keoghan hopes to shed the “freaky man-child” typecasting once and for all. In a recent interview, Keoghan admitted he’s happy to finally be seen as more than just a weird, creepy misfit on screen. With Saltburn, the 31-year-old actor aims to show his leading man potential.

Barry Keoghan is Eager to Be Seen as “Just Man”

In conversation with GQ, after over a decade of playing oddballs and outsiders, Barry Keoghan embraced showing a new side in Saltburn. 

“It’s nice not just being looked at as the weird-looking guy, the unique feckin’ freaky little freak man-child, freak child-man,” he said.

Keoghan added that it feels good to have people finally look at him in a different light. He referred to this stage in his career as the “little freak era” and said he’s now ready for the “just Man. Freak-Man. Man-Freak” era.

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Known for unnerving antagonists in films like The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Keoghan seems excited to subvert expectations. With Saltburn, he gets to showcase new depths beyond the creepy sociopath typecasting.

Keoghan brings intensity to Saltburn, playing a character who infiltrates and destroys a wealthy British family. But he also shows more range, vulnerability, and humanity than in his past sinister roles.

Also Read: “My smile says all”: Barry Keoghan Knows if Joker is Returning in The Batman 2

Hungry for More Complex Leading Man Roles?

Rather than remain complacent, Keoghan wants to keep pushing himself with challenging roles. He expressed interest in radically transforming himself physically for a part one day.

Keoghan looks to leading men like Christian Bale and Daniel Day-Lewis as inspirations for totally immersing himself in characters. He hopes Saltburn opens the door to more of these meaty, transformative leading man roles.

Also Read: Barry Keoghan Pestered Director For 3 Years To Get Cast in a Film While Actor Was Still a Teenager

The actor doesn’t want to be boxed in by past eccentric characters. With Saltburn signaling his leading man potential, Keoghan seems determined to leave the man-child stereotyping behind for good.