unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Barry Keoghan opens up on a 'new chapter of life' following online hate about his appearance
Home>Celebrity
Published 09:46 12 May 2026 GMT+1

Barry Keoghan opens up on a 'new chapter of life' following online hate about his appearance

The actor said unkind comments from people previously made him 'not want to go outside'

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Dominik Bindl/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

Topics: Barry Keoghan, Mental Health, News, Celebrity, Film and TV

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Barry Keoghan is ready to move on from people's online comments about the way he looks and is embracing a 'new chapter'.

The Irish actor has been subjected to online abuse over the years. From allegations about him being an 'absent father' following the birth of his son in 2022, to claims that he cheated on ex girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter, it's been a rough few years for the Crime 101 star.

The same can't be said about his ever-blossoming Hollywood career though. Keoghan won a BAFTA for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, and has also received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations — as well as an additional BAFTA nomination for Saltburn.

He's currently in the process of filming Sir Sam Mendes' series of Beatles biopics, where he plays Ringo Starr. Filming is thought to have started in Liverpool, UK, back in March.

Advert

Barry Keoghan has been sporting a Ringo Starr-esque look of late (Cindy Ord/VF26/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Barry Keoghan has been sporting a Ringo Starr-esque look of late (Cindy Ord/VF26/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

In light of his portrayal of The Beatles' drummer, Keoghan has ditched his usual short back and sides haircut for a 1960s worthy hairdo, reminiscent of that of Starr's.

While his new look has sparked some unkind comments, the abuse he has received online predates his Beatles-esque makeover.

"There's a lot of abuse of how I look, and it's kind of past the point of - you know, everyone goes through that… but it's made me shy away," Keoghan recently said on SiriusXM's The Morning Mash Up.

"It's made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside. I say this being absolute pure and honest to you. It's becoming a problem," the 33-year-old added.

But he's ready to put all that behind him.

In a new interview with Variety, Keoghan said he wants to 'step into a new chapter of my life where I let my work speak for me'.

The actor says he's ready for a 'new chapter' (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)
The actor says he's ready for a 'new chapter' (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)

He continued: "I want to close the book on it, put my head up, have a smile and enjoy the moment.

"I feel like I just read that line off something. I didn’t, but I did look out the window as I said it and smiled."

Good for you, Barry!

Elsewhere in the interview, the actor discussed how he carefully picks the projects he works on.

Keoghan said of the movies he's starred in (and will star in in the future): "I carefully, cautiously pick because I just want to enjoy, and I want to heal, I want to tell, I want to find, I want to explore.

"I want to discover all of those things while I’m making a movie with people who are like-minded."

  • Barry Keoghan addresses Sabrina Carpenter cheating rumors
  • Chris Hemsworth opens up about his dad's ‘tough’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis
  • Mom opens up about son's rare condition that caused his skin to 'peel off in the bath' as a baby
  • Rapper Gucci Mane opens up about symptoms of his psychosis as he reveals schizophrenia diagnosis

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
a day ago
  • Monica Schipper/Getty Images for OBB Media - FANATICS STUDIOS
    9 hours ago

    Tom Brady launches coconut water brand but 'embarrassing' Good Nut name is distracting people

    The NFL legend has introduced a playful coconut water to the market

    Celebrity
  • Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images
    11 hours ago

    Charles Barkley divides opinion with eyebrow-raising Cardi B comment during halftime show

    Shaq O’Neal was also told to 'chill' during the rapper's performance

    Celebrity
  • (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
    12 hours ago

    Cardi B violates strict NBA rule as she sits court-side at finals game

    It comes as some claim US president Donald Trump snubbed the musician

    Celebrity
  • John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
    a day ago

    Game of Thrones star Kit Harington didn't find out his real name until he was 11 years old

    The Game of Thrones star has also confirmed the Jon Snow spinoff was 'off the table'

    Celebrity