Top 10 Best Irish Actors

Ireland has long been known for its rich cultural heritage, with a legacy of literature, music, and the arts that has captivated audiences around the world. One area where Ireland has truly shone is in the field of acting, producing some of the most talented and celebrated performers in history. From stage to screen, these Irish actors have brought their unique style and charisma to a wide range of roles, captivating audiences with their talent and leaving a lasting impact on the world of entertainment.

In this top ten list, let's explore the best Irish actors of all time, from legends of the golden age of Hollywood to modern-day stars who continue to dazzle audiences with their incredible performances. These actors have not only made a name for themselves in Ireland but have also left an indelible mark on the international stage, demonstrating the enduring appeal and influence of Irish talent.

The Top Ten

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe on July 27, 1977, is an Irish actor. He is known for his roles in the films Velvet Goldmine (1998), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Match Point (2005), and Mission: Impossible III (2006). He also played Elvis Presley in the 2005 biographical miniseries... read more

He is just The Genius! Jonny is the only actor in the world who has such a powerful gift of reincarnation. Thank you, Ireland, for Jonathan! Sorry for terrible English, from Moscow with love.
Liam Neeson

Liam John Neeson, OBE, is an actor from Northern Ireland. In 1976, he joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast, where he performed for two years. He later appeared in the 1981 Arthurian film Excalibur, which helped launch his film career.

Liam Neeson needs some serious recognition. He is such an epic person. Such an epic actor. Taken is epic. Schindler's List is epic. Batman is epic. This guy is just epic.

Very underrated actor! I cannot forget Schindler's List and his recent Taken. Truly entertaining to watch!

Vote for him... or he will find you.
Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brendan Brosnan (born 16 May 1953) is an Irish actor and film producer who became the fifth actor to portray James Bond in the official film series. After leaving school at age sixteen, he began training in commercial illustration at Saint Martin's School of Art in London before studying acting... read more
Colin Farrell

Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor. A leading man in both blockbusters and independent films since the 2000s, he has received various awards and nominations, including two Golden Globe Awards and a nomination for an Academy Award. His notable performances include roles in In Bruges, The Banshees... read more
Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor of stage and screen. He began his career in the late 1990s and has since gained recognition in British and American cinema for his versatility. Murphy is widely known for playing Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders and for roles in several Christopher Nolan films, including... read more

Don't even get me started. He's a brilliant, underrated actor. He can disappear into a role and wow you. A transvestite, split personality, zombie killer, psychotic doctor, terrorist (Red Eye), a scientist, a film-noir buff, an illusionist, or whatever in Red Lights.
I also love that he isn't HOLLYWOOD! You don't see scandals about him in the news, and he keeps his personal life very separate. When asked about his family, he ignores and doesn't say a thing. He plays truly dynamic characters, and no one else could play them except for him.

I love Cillian Murphy. 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Batman Begins are all great movies. I love how he goes for the more complicated roles and not the really simple ones.
He's starred in a lot of American films but manages to maintain his Irish accent, which I love.
Colin Morgan

He is my favorite actor and he is the BEST. Though I am interested in acting, I am going to be a doctor, but he was, is, and always will be my idol I talk so much about. For once in a lifetime, if I'd get to meet him, that's all I ever need. I adore him a lot, and I hope you guys do too!
He's so cute, handsome, hot, sexy, and I love him. He's also really mesmerizing. And he's honestly a great guy. He has a great personality. He's kind, caring, brave, lovely, and he's all the positive words I can think of. I'm really looking forward to meeting him one day. He's really sweet too. His eyes are so hot.
Many people like those rough, tough, save-the-world kinds of men, but this guy is really more, more cool than that. Don't anybody try to blame him, alright? Because he has magic. Just kidding!
I just wanted to request you all something, please VOTE THIS NICE PERSON TO COME TO THE TOP 10!
I can praise him all day, but I think I'll stop now. At last, I just wish Colin forever-lasting peace and happiness. He deserves the best! I hope he'll get everything he wants and that he'll succeed every time!
Gabriel Byrne
Colin O'Donoghue
Stephen Rea

I was torn between Byrne and Rea because I adore both. They have that certain something, I don't know what it is. Obviously being Spanish, I find their Irishness incredibly attractive, but there's something more.
They're both extraordinary actors. They're acting monsters. But this time I'm going to give my point to Stephen because I think he is less known and he deserves better.
Richard Harris

Richard Harris was a British television writer, most active from the early 1960s to the mid-1990s. He wrote primarily for the crime and detective genres. He contributed episodes to series like The Avengers, The Saint, The Sweeney, Armchair Mystery Theatre, and Target.

The Newcomers

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Frank Kelly

Francis O'Kelly, better known by his stage name Frank Kelly, was an Irish actor, singer, and writer whose career spanned television, radio, theatre, music, screenwriting, and film. He was best known for playing Father Jack Hackett in the sitcom Father Ted. Kelly passed away in 2016 at the age of 77.
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Barry Keoghan

The Contenders

Stuart Townsend
Chris O'Dowd
Daniel Day-Lewis

Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is an English-Irish actor who holds dual citizenship. He's won three Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln, making him one of only three male actors to achieve that distinction. In 2017, Day-Lewis announced his... read more
Ciarán Hinds
Peter O'Toole

Peter James O'Toole was a British stage and film actor of Irish descent. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career in theatre, earning recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company. He made his film debut in 1959.
Michael Gambon

Sir Michael John Gambon was an Irish-born English actor who worked in theatre, television, and film. He was best known to international audiences for portraying Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films from 2004 to 2011, following the death of Richard Harris... read more
Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh is a British actor and filmmaker. Born in Belfast and raised primarily in Reading, Berkshire, Branagh trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and served as its president from 2015 to 2024.... read more
Brendan Gleeson
Niall MacGinnis
Jamie Dornan

James Dornan (born May 1, 1982) is an actor, model, and musician from Northern Ireland. He is best known for his role as Sheriff Graham Humbert in the ABC series Once Upon a Time (2011-2013) and for playing serial killer Paul Spector in The Fall (2013-2016). His performance in The Fall earned him an... read more
Paul Mescal
Colm Meaney
Mick Lally
Patrick Bergin

Patrick Connolly Bergin (born February 4, 1951) is an Irish actor. His film credits include Mountains of the Moon, Sleeping with the Enemy, Patriot Games, Map of the Human Heart, Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, Eye of the Beholder, and Ella Enchanted. He has also appeared in a variety of television... read more
Patrick McGoohan