This afternoon we unveiled my new portrait of Anthony Boyle in the studio.
As I was painting Anthony (a globally renowned actor who needs no introduction) over the last few months, I was drawn back to my own paintings of Belfast and of the city’s dualities, complexities, vulnerabilities. Of its courage and warmth. Of its need to prove itself. And when I look at the finished portrait of this great Belfast actor, I also glimpse a portrait of the city in which we were both born. And, perhaps, of its unworn edges.
As your career goes from strength to strength (or from stardom to super-stardom!), don’t ever soften those edges Anthony, they are what make you unique. They are what make Belfast unique.
That’s a wrap on Close To Home.
Such a special job. Cant wait to share it with you all.
@official_antrim_gaa Giz a shout if yous need a corner forward.
The Blade is out now.
Huge thanks to @anthonyboyle and @seanpatrickmullan for telling this story so well.
We’re very proud of this one. It’s not something we ever thought we’d end up talking about, but here we are :) Be good to each other 👑🐟
Link in bio x
Close To Home is my favourite book.
Feeling very grateful we’re turning it into a tv show and I’m getting to Executive Produce for the first time. Want to bring this story to life in the most authentic and honest way possible so people from west Belfast and all around the world see themselves and their stories reflected on screen. It’s gona be classs 🇮🇪
Close to Home tells the story of Sean, a young man who finds himself back in Belfast. Back from university and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.
Irish star #AnthonyBoyle was among the guests at Anthony Vaccarello’s @YSL AW26 menswear show in Paris on Tuesday night, where being a genetically-blessed rising actor with a rabid online fan base appeared to be an unofficial requirement for entry. At the link in bio, he invited #BritishVogue into his hotel suite as he got ready.
Photographed by @JaimeLopezCano .
