Robert Sheehan Biography

Date of Birth

7 December 1988, Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland

Birth Name

Robert Michael Sheehan

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Mini Biography

Robert Sheehan is an Irish actor. He was born in Portlaoise, County Laois, the son of Joe and Maria Sheehan. His father was a member of the Garda Síochána, the police force of the Republic of Ireland.

As a child, Sheehan was interested in performing music. He learned how to play the banjo, the bodhrán, and the spoons. He took part in the Fleadh Cheoil, an Irish music competition for children and teenagers.

His interest in acting started when his mother took him to an audition for drama film "Song for a Raggy Boy" (2003), about an oppressive school for boys during World War II. Sheehan won an acting part in the film and socialized with other young actors. Following his film debut, Sheehan started acting in theatrical performances.

During the 2000s, Sheehan started appearing in television shows. His most prominent roles were as a series regular in Australian series "Foreign Exchange" (2004), the historical fantasy "Young Blades" (2005), the drama series "Rock Rivals" (2008), and the first two seasons of science fiction series "Misfits" (2009-2013). In Misfits, the characters are youths in community service who gain superpowers. Sheehan's character, Nathan Young, gains the power of immortality.

Sheehan had a co-starring role in the drama film "Cherrybomb" (2009). The film is about two teenage boys who are trying to impress a female love interest trough performing criminal acts. Sheehan's co-star for the film was actor Rupert Grint, and their love interest was played by actress Kimberley Nixon.

Sheehan started the 2010s as a series regular in the crime drama series "Love/Hate" (2010-2014). He has continued regularly appearing in theatre, film, and television roles. Among his most prominent theatrical roles is the role of Richard Duke of Gloucester/Richard III in an adaptation of William Shakespeare's depiction of the Wars of the Roses.

Trivia

His elder brother, Brendan, is a mortgage broker.

He is the youngest of three children.

His brother, Brendan is a director of Fitness Supplements.

His favourite film is American Beauty (1999).

Wasn't sure about having a career in acting, until gaining recognition for Red Riding Trilogy.

Born on the same date as Haley Bennett.

In 2017 a local newspaper in his hometown (Laois Today) published an articled titled Moment in time: Schoolboy Robert Sheehan wins his first movie role, in reference to his part in Mortal Engines.

Trademarks:

Messy curly hair

Quotes

I think books, novels and autobiographies have a power to touch people far more personally than films do, so there's a bit more of a responsibility when you then dramatise it.

I've been largely undecided about everything for most of my life. I can barely commit to a phone bill... Somewhere along the line it has become my career due to continuing work.

If you see a gaggle of teenagers walking towards you, you tend not to make eye contact, because you know they're going to recognise you. You learn to adapt: 99.999 per cent of people aren't looking to be harmful or unpleasant; they just want something, a photograph or an autograph.

I never aspired to be in a band, but being onstage is a very cool feeling. It's like you're the lord of the room. It's hard to croon and run around doing big scissor kicks while also trying to play, though. I'm still mastering that.

What's lovely about what I do for a living is the vast chasm of variety that constantly just comes at you from all angles.

There are instances where, in my mid to late 20s, I very often found myself going for roles that they didn't want to cast me in, because I'd done good work but in a producer's eyes, I wasn't high enough status. So I lost out. But seeing another person in that role makes it less depressing, because you know that at least it's done well, like Robert Pattinson in The Rover.