The Three Urns: Actor on New Film and Belfast Upbringing

Ciarán Hinds, the Oscar-nominated actor born in Belfast, has reflected on his career trajectory and his approach to stardom in a recent interview with The Irish Times. Discussing the arrival of his new film, The Three Urns, Hinds contrasted his own professional motivations with those of his contemporaries, specifically mentioning Liam Neeson.

Hinds suggested that while some actors possess an inherent drive for celebrity, he did not share that specific ambition. He noted that Neeson wanted a go at being a film star, while Hinds felt that such a desire was not in my DNA.

Current Productions and Upcoming Projects

The actor is currently maintaining a prolific schedule across various platforms. He is presently filming Walk the Blue Fields in County Wicklow. This production is a Netflix project directed by John Crowley and written by Conor McPherson, based on a story by Claire Keegan.

Hinds is joined in the cast of Walk the Blue Fields by Emily Blunt and Andrew Scott.

Beyond this current project, Hinds has several other titles arriving or recently released:

• Midwinter Break, in which he appeared opposite Lesley Manville.
• Is This Thing On?, where he played the father of Will Arnett’s character.
• A Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, scheduled for release later in 2026.
• Cry to Heaven, a period epic directed by Tom Ford and co-starring Colin Firth and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Hinds mentioned that over the last year or two, he decided to slow down and prioritize projects that he found interesting, though he noted that he does not always have the choice in the matter.

Early Life and Formative Years

Hinds’ path to acting was influenced by his mother, Moya, who was an amateur actress. Despite this influence, he initially enrolled in Law at Queen’s University.

He eventually moved from Belfast to London in the early 1970s to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During his upbringing in Belfast, Hinds described being free from an awareness of the huge tribal divide.

His career has spanned several decades of film and television. Some of his earlier work includes The Man Who Cried Catherine Cookson.