Hollywood Actors on the Beauty of Ireland
Travelers all around the globe have always considered Ireland as one of the most beautiful countries. In Rough Guide’s 2018 review, Ireland finished in the 18th spot, beating out popular destinations such as Croatia, Australia, and France. Aside from its magical sceneries, Ireland also boasts a rich plethora of mythological traditions, literature, traditional music, and historic sites.
It’s no wonder that even Hollywood celebrities sing praises for The Emerald Isle. Here are some whose lives were changed after setting foot on this wonderful country.
Beyoncé: “It was one of the best memories of my life being able to ride around Ireland.”
In 2016, Beyoncé marked Croke Park in Dublin as one of the stops for her Formation World Tour. During the show, she professed her love for Ireland, which for her housed the loudest crowd in the world. Moreover, she recalled having an enjoyable, freeing bike ride years ago around the very park she performed in. This memory truly left a mark in the American pop star as she even took her daughter to Dublin Zoo several years after.
This love was proven mutual when journalist Amy O’ Connor wrote this piece on TheDailyEdge.ie, relating the results of her survey of Ireland’s T.D.’s and their thoughts about Beyoncé. Thirty-seven of them replied to her three-part query, asking whether or not they like the singer, what their favorite Beyoncé song is, and if ever, why they do not like her. While most responses were positive, with many favouring hits like Crazy in Love and Irreplaceable; other T.D.s mentioned their love of Destiny’s Child as proof of their long-time loyalty.
Tom Hanks: “Magical and wonderful.”
Filming 1998’s Saving Private Ryan in Wexford had been a magnificent experience for American actor Tom Hanks, who credits Cleveland for his start in acting. He even remembered how after a night of bonding with friends, he passed by the pub they had spent time in and saw how the pint glasses were still on the benches and ledges outside waiting to be collected.
Hanks’ disbelief that Irish people do not steal pint glasses compared to Americans earned chuckles from the locals, who do believe that basically anything that is not nailed down can be stolen by the Irish, too — it’s just that Hanks was not around to see it.
Perhaps his idealistic view of Irish people stemmed from his admiration and gratitude to the late Irish actor Vincent Dowling, who once worked at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Ohio. It was thanks to him that a 20-year-old Hanks was discovered for his role in the Shakespeare play, The Taming of the Shrew.
Of course, Hanks has come a long way since then, and has raked in plenty of accolades both in and out of acting. But his favorite pastime, it seems, is tending to his typewriters. A Poker.org celebrity feature reveals that he collects vintage typewriters, and likes to give them as gifts from time to time. He even released a collection of short stories inspired by them in 2017! Well, when he has the time to take a break from his varied interests, he will always be welcome to go back to Ireland and enjoy a pint — or two.
Anne Hathaway: “Someday I’ll end up living there.”
When this Oscar-winning actress visited Ireland, her father’s homeland, to film 2004’s Ella Enchanted and 2007’s Becoming Jane, she immediately fell in love. She looked back on how she threw her very first party in Ireland after being away from home for so long.
Of course, that was almost two decades ago, and now Hathaway has risen through the ranks and proved herself to be one of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses. From starring in The Princess Diaries to shooting the pandemic-produced movie Locked Down, she is an unstoppable star. Although her outstanding acting chops brought her popularity, she still attributes a part of her success to her “feeling very Irish”!
Countless celebrities have admitted being enthralled with Ireland — from Ed Sheeran getting inspiration for his hit Galway Girl to Mark Hamill enjoying filming on location for his role as Luke Skywalker. This only confirms how The Emerald Isle will always have a special place in visitors’ hearts.
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