Colin Farrell, actor of The Banshees of Inisherin, has spoken openly about his connection with his elder son, explaining that his Angelman syndrome diagnosis helped him become sober.
Farrell, 48, who now stars in HBO’s blockbuster spin-off series The Penguin, is a loving father of two boys. Farrell has two children: James Padraig, 21, with ex-partner Kim Bordenave, and Henry, 15, with actress and Ondine co-star Alicja Bachleda-Curuś.
The actor has been upfront about James’ Angelman syndrome diagnosis for many years, and in a recent interview with MailOnline, he discusses how being a parent has helped him deal with alcohol and drug difficulties.
Farrell admitted to drinking up to ‘three bottles of Jack Daniels, 12 bottles of red wine, and 60 pints of beer a week’ and using ‘other drugs’ at one point in his life, but he changed his ways once his oldest child was born.
“James was two when I got sober,” he said in the interview, adding that his son’s health concerns were ‘part of the fuel’ that helped him quit drinking and doing drugs.
“One of the things James taught me was to access within myself a desire to live, even if it was initially more about me thinking I wanted to live to be around for him,” according to him.
What is Angelman Syndrome?
Angelman syndrome, named after the condition’s discoverer, British doctor Harry Angelman, is a genetic abnormality that causes developmental delays, intellectual difficulties, seizures, and a joyful and exuberant disposition.
The actor discussed what’s ahead for James now that he’s 21, stating that he and Bordenave have decided to put him under professional care.
Explaining how the couple reached this decision, Farrell said that he and Bordenave were motivated by a concern about James becoming a ‘ward of the state’ if they both died before proper care could be arranged.
He is aware of when someone wants to spend time with him and when they should. So if he has a caregiver, a teacher, or a therapist who isn’t really involved, he’ll just shut off,” he explained of James.
“We want him to find somewhere where he may live a complete and fulfilled life.
Farrell responded to worries about James’ transition to living apart from his parents by saying, “I know my kid…” He’s ready to leave the house and have a richer life than we can provide for him, thanks to a sense of community in which he feels linked.”
Farrell previously announced that he had established the Colin Farrell Foundation in his son’s honor, intending to generate funding to assist adult children with intellectual impairments.