Irish actor and voice actor (born 1987)
Dónall Ó Héalai (Irish: [ˈd̪ˠoːnˠəl̪ˠ oː ˈheːlˠiː]) (born 5 March 1987) is an Irish actor and voice actor. He was named a 2020 Screen International Star of Tomorrow[2] and twice nominated for best leading actor in film at the Irish Film and Television awards in 2020 and 2022.[3][4] He was also the recipient of the Wilde Card award at the Oscar Wilde awards in Los Angeles in 2022 [5][6] as well as one to watch in 2021 by The Irish Examiner.[7]
Early life and education
Ó Héalai was born in the Gaeltacht village of Inverin, County Galway and grew up in Inverin and Spiddal. He began acting at the age of 14 at a local youth club.[8] He completed his secondary education as a boarding student at St Jarlath's College in Tuam.[9][10]
He graduated from Maynooth University. He was awarded the Dr. H.H Stewart Literary Prize during his studies.[11] He went on to train at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York and Bow Street Academy in Dublin.[12][13]
Career
In 2006, Ó Héalai made his onscreen debut as a teenager in the recurring role of Jeaic in season 1 of the TG4 coming-of-age family series Aifric.
Ó Héalai played Otis in the 2019 American psychological thriller Impossible Monsters.[14][15] That same year, he starred as Colmán Sharkey in the Irish-language period drama film Arracht, which won Best Irish film at 2020 Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) and the Audience Award at the 2020 Glasgow Film Festival.[16] In addition to receiving critical acclaim, Ó Héalai won the Aer Lingus Discovery Award at the DIFF as well as receiving a Best Actor nomination at the IFTAs.
Ó Héalaí stars as John Cunliffe in the Irish-language film Foscadh, an adaptation of the social novel The Thing About December by Donal Ryan.[17] Foscadh is the Irish submission for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.
Other ventures
A native speaker of Irish, Ó Héalaí founded the cultural initiative Celtic Consciousness and, in 2018, gave a TEDxBerkeley talk on the Irish Language and Beauty.[18]
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Music videos
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ a b Curtis Brown. "Dónall Ó Héalai".
- ^ Charles Grant (28 September 2020). "Stars of Tomorrow 2020: Dónall Ó Héalai (actor)".
- ^ "Dónall Ó Héalai on his new role: 'A few people have remarked on the haircut'".
- ^ "Dónall Ó Héalai on his new role: 'A few people have remarked on the haircut'". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Irish Actor Donall O Healai to be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Exclusive)". 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Irish Actor Donall O Healai to be Honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 November 2021.
- ^ Esther McCarthy (3 January 2021). "Bright Lights: Ones to watch in 2021". Irish Examiner.
- ^ a b Kernan Andrews (9 July 2015). "Connemara actor Dónall Ó Héalaí @ Galway Film Fleadh". Galway Advertiser.
- ^ a b "Young Cois Fharraige man looks for lucky break in New York's acting circle". Galway Advertiser. 2 June 2011.
- ^ "Where football is more than a religion". The Irish Times. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "NUI Awards 2009" (PDF). National University of Ireland.
- ^ "Our Programme Graduates: 2014". Bow Street.
- ^ Andrews, Kernan (9 July 2015). "Connemara actor Dónall Ó Héalaí @ Galway Film Fleadh". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "IMPOSSIBLE MONSTERS Starring Santino Fontana to Screen at HBO New York Latino Film Festival". Broadwayworld. 30 July 2019.
- ^ "Impossible Monsters". Cinequest.
- ^ Niall Murphy (9 March 2020). "Irish drama Arracht wins awards in Dublin and Glasgow". www.Scannain.ie.
- ^ Nathan Griffin (6 November 2019). "Filming begins on Foscadh, Seán Breathnach's debut Irish Language feature film". IFTN.
- ^ Dónall Ó Héalaí (13 March 2018). The Irish Language and Beauty (Video). Youtube TedXBerkeley. TEDxBerkeley.
- ^ Pavel Barter (4 November 2018). "Irish voice actors dumbstruck by videogame hit". The Times.
- ^ "Dónall Ó Héalai". Voicebank.ie.
- ^ "IRISH SCREEN AMERICA'S Inaugural Film Fest Sells Out Opening Ceremonies". Broadwayworld. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Aerlingus Discovery Award". DIFF.ie.
External links
