Colin Farrell’s meteoric rise to fame quickly turned the actor into a womanizer and brought about his substance abuse issues.
After hitting rock bottom, the star made a commitment to recover.
Today, he talks openly about his struggles and has revealed there was something that saved him and turned into the most important part of his life: fatherhood.
Colin Farrell was born in Dublin in 1976. Both his father and uncle were professional soccer players, but Colin turned to performing instead.
Farrell began using illegal substances in his early teens. Soon, he began using the substances to deal with the frustrations and pressures of his acting career.
When the actor auditioned for the Irish boy band “Boyzone” and got rejected, he went on his first substance abuse spiral.
Colin has confessed that he ended up at the psychologist's.
When he told the health professional how much he had done that week, the man replied, “No wonder you’re depressed.”
The young performer carried on and began working as a line dancing instructor before going to acting school.
Colin dropped out once he got a role in BBC’s drama “Ballykissangel.”
Farrell started getting bigger and bigger roles until he became known as “Hollywood’s bad boy.”
The actor has since confessed that he took this persona too far, saying “I couldn’t find the handbrake.”
Colin wasn’t only known for his acting talents. Fans everywhere discussed his wild love life.
In 2001, the star married composer Amelia Warner in a non-legal ceremony in Tahiti.
Amelia explained the decision saying, “It was just a thing we did on holiday.” Less than a year later, the couple broke up.
Farrell would go on to have numerous flings. One of them reportedly happened with pop princess Britney Spears.
The singer finally confessed that the two had kissed, but that their relationship hadn’t gone further.
The pop star was said to be furious when Farell allegedly sent her some gag gifts after their romance was over, including a t-shirt that said,
Another one of the actor’s affairs happened with Elizabeth Taylor, who was 75 at the time. Colin was 34.
Farrell met the actress’ friends while she was recovering from surgery and he was visiting his newborn son at the hospital. He then sent her some flowers.
A week later, Colin visited Elizabeth and the two began what he described as a romantic relationship that was never consummated. Years later, Farrell confessed to Ellen DeGeneres,
“I loved her. I still care for her,” the actor said in a different interview.
Apparently, the two could talk about anything for hours!
Sadly, not all of the star’s flings were so positive.
His romance with Playboy model Nicole Narain turned into one of the darkest episodes of Colin’s life after she released an intimate video the two had recorded.
In 2005, Farrell sued the model for distributing and selling the video.
Although the star was offered millions of dollars in exchange for the rights to the film, he was always adamant about not distributing it.
The two ended up reaching a settlement.
During this rocky time in his life, the actor continued to use substances.
This became more and more problematic with time, forcing Collin to lie to his family and loved ones so he could carry on with his addiction.
The actor’s excesses started affecting his career. Farrell told The Mirror about an incident his alcohol use had caused on the set of “Minority Report.”
After being denied a day off after his birthday, Colin showed up to set so drunk, he needed dozens of takes just to say a single line.
This wasn’t the worst incident of the actor’s career, though. In 2004, his movie “Alexander” received so many bad reviews that he was pushed over the edge.
Colin revealed that 89 to 90 percent of the reviews were negative and 30 to 40 percent were vicious.
At that time, he was looking to confirm the bad thoughts he had of himself.
The actor took the movie’s box office flop very personally, especially since he had been sure the movie was going to be a success and win lots of awards.
Colin dealt with the disappointment by hiding away in a cabin on a ski resort. He wanted to be in the mountains so that he had an excuse to hide behind a mask and a beanie.
Although he feared for his career after the flop, Farrell continued getting roles. His addiction went on for years.
That is, until his movie “Miami Vice” premiered.
Colin has confessed that he was so high during filming that he couldn’t remember anything that happened in the movie.
When the premiere finished, Colin was sent off to rehab while the rest of the cast and crew headed off to the wrap party.
Rehabilitation proved successful for the actor, who stopped using after more than 15 years. Farrell explained that, once he got sober,
The actor remained clean and continued giving us amazing performances. Of course, there were still challenges along the way, like attending events sober for the first time.
One of the first festivals Colin attended without turning to substances was the one for his movie “In Bruges,” a black comedy that would later earn him a Golden Globe.
Farrell explained that being able to attend a festival without turning to alcohol in order to calm his nerves was an amazing experience.
The star explained that, once he got through the initial discomfort and self-judgments,
In 2014, the now-Academy Award nominee opened up about maintaining his sobriety, saying that he knew he was very lucky because he didn’t miss doing substances.
Four years later, Colin proved just how seriously he takes being clean when he checked himself into rehab as a preemptive measure.
“The urges started to come back with being so busy at work,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The actor decided to get ahead of the situation before he broke his sobriety.
Colin now feels very blessed by his situation and has revealed there’s something that inspires him to stay clean and be the best version of himself: his sons.
Colin had his eldest child with his ex-girlfriend, model Kim Bordenave, in 2003.
Although the couple broke up soon after, they have continued to parent their son James together.
James has a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome.
This syndrome affects only one in five hundred thousand people every year and causes delays in areas such as speech and mobility.
Colin has opened up about how parenting a child with special needs inspires him. For James, things that others take for granted such as eating and walking are harder.
In 2009, the actor welcomed his second son, Henry, with his former girlfriend Alicja Bachleda-Curús.
The pair got together after co-starring in the film Ondine and their romance lasted nearly two years.
Farrell has shared a hilarious anecdote about Henry critiquing his fashion style.
At one point, he told the movie star, “Please Dad, do not wear the short shorts.”
The actor has talked numerous times about how lucky he feels to have his sons.
Colin has found love again and it certainly seems more stable than his past flings.
In 2016, the press began linking him with someone known as a “mystery woman.” Later, it was revealed that the woman in question was Kelly McNamara, a staff member of the band “U2”.
In 2017, Colin opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about his relationship, saying that his girlfriend travels a lot, but the two make an effort to see each other.
The lovebirds are reportedly still together, although not much is known about the couple.
The actor has come a long way since his past excesses.
Colin is a shining example of a person who has worked and keeps working on himself to have a better life.
Here at Rumour Juice, we admire the actor’s commitment and wish him the best in his journey.