Darklands star Kyle Bradley Donaldson says he owes his big break to Ireland’s Hollywood superstar Barry Keoghan.
The 24-year-old actor, who plays troublemaker David Keegan in the hit Virgin Media One series, said he worked with the Love/Hate and Dunkirk star when they were teenagers.
“We did an anti-bullying video, myself, Barry and Ciaran McCabe, and when we were together we said we would look out for each other,” Kyle recalled.
“We agreed if we ever got a part in something and the casting director needed another person we would recommend each other.
“Then [Darklands director] Mark O’Connor was making his first feature film called Stalker and Ciaran McCabe broke his toe and Barry recommended me for the part.
“Mark got in touch with me and it was the first time I ever met him and I got the part. So me and Barry were in Stalker together which was deadly.
“And from that I got a part in Cardboard Gangsters which was Mark O’Connor again. And now I’m in Darklands too – and it all started off with Barry recommending me.”
The actor, whose mouthy character gets his comeuppance in tonight’s final episode of the crime gang series, said he still stayed in touch with The Killing of a Sacred Deer star.
“Every now and again I text Barry and ask how things are and he texts back. He is really busy at the minute, he’s over in Hollywood.
“It’s unbelievable what happened to him. It just goes to show anyone is capable of doing what they really want to do if they put their mind to it.
“He has not changed. I am really proud of him. Fair play to him.”
Kyle said he loved his own time in the limelight as one of the major stars of Darklands which tells the story of a young MMA fighter and his girlfriend who are trying to go straight while their families are mixed up in crime.
Kyle plays the girl’s thuggish brother who thinks he’s a hard man and is always looking for trouble.
“It was absolutely amazing working with the whole cast. The performances everyone put in were unbelievable,” he said.
“I can’t even go into the local shop and get a roll from the deli without everyone noticing me now.
“The reaction I’m getting is unbelievable. Everyone is saying something, people can’t get over it.
“My friends love it and all the feedback I’m getting is positive. Nobody has a bad word to say about it.”
Kyle, who also appeared in Red Rock, Sing Street and A Date for Mad Mary, says he now dreams of being spotted and given a major role in a big feature film.
“I work full time in a bakery and part time as an actor but I want to be a full time actor,” he says.
“It’s what I dream about. Darklands has meant people are beginning to notice me more so I’m hoping some big casting director sees it and puts me in a film or TV series. I’ve been acting since I was six.
“I want to step away from the gangster-type character and do something more serious. I don’t want to be stereotyped.”
Meanwhile, Kyle’s biggest production comes next week when he becomes a dad for the first time.
“I live with my girlfriend in Dundrum and she’s having my baby boy on November 15,” he says.
“And when he’s born, he’s going to be an actor just like his daddy because he already has a part lined up for him on a TV show. But I can’t say any more about it.”
Darklands is on Virgin Media One tonight at 9pm.
