Desmond Eastwood

Last updated
Desmond Eastwood
Born
Lisburn
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2017-present
Television Normal People

Desmond Eastwood is a stage, television and film actor from Northern Ireland.

Contents

Early life

Born in Lisburn, the son of Mary and Desmond Eastwood, he attended Friends' School, Lisburn. He graduated with a law degree from Queen's College, Belfast in 2014, before moving to Dublin to study acting at the Gaiety School of Acting. He has five siblings. His brother Colum is a film maker. [1] [2]

Career

He has appeared in television productions including Krypton , Vikings and Blood , working alongside Adrian Dunbar, and worked on Game Of Thrones . He also appeared in his brother's first feature film Black Medicine, which starred Antonia Campbell-Hughes. [1]

He could be seen in 2020 television series Normal People playing Niall who befriends the character Connell, played by Paul Mescal. [3] For his role in the series he was nominated for best supporting actor at the 17th Irish Film & Television Awards. [4] [5] Eastwood and Mescal were performing in The Lieutenant of Inishmore together on stage in Dublin when the production was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. [6] Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee labelled his Normal People character "the soundest one", [7] and Eastwood later appeared in her series as Benny. [8]

He has roles in 2023 Liam Neeson film In the Land of Saints and Sinners , [9] and Pierce Brosnan film The Last Rifleman . [10] [11]

He plays Detective Murray Canning in the first two series of the BBC One Northern Ireland police drama Blue Lights . [12] [13]

He can be seen in 2024 Swedish drama Stormskerry Maja . [14] He has an upcoming role in the Christoph Waltz comedy action film Old Guy . [15]

Partial filmography

Key
†Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Krypton Taz-Ran
2020 Normal People Niall
2020 Vikings Messenger
2021Black MedicineConor
2022 Derry Girls Benny
2023 In the Land of Saints and Sinners Curtis June
2023- Blue Lights DS Murray Canning
2023 The Last Rifleman Tony McCann
2024 Stormskerry Maja Lieutenant John Wilson
TBA Old Guy †Colton

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References

  1. 1 2 Coleman, Maureen (11 May 2020). "Normal People: Lisburn actor Desmond Eastwood's star on the rise thanks to latest TV role". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "MEET DESMOND EASTWOOD – NOT JUST ANOTHER 'NORMAL' QUEEN'S LAW GRADUATE". alumni.qub. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Ross, Alex (4 May 2020). "Fans are totally divided over the ending of Normal People". Planet Radio. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Olivia Colman, Mark Hamill and Colin Farrell to present IFTA awards". RTE. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ↑ McCartney, Esther (15 June 2021). "'Dating Amber', 'Normal People' head Irish Film and Television Awards nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Corr, Shauna (6 May 2020). "Normal People Lisburn actor Desmond Eastwood says his parents were 'delighted' to see him in BBC hit" . Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Corr, Shauna (2 May 2020). "Derry Girls writer feeling "smug cos the soundest person in Normal People is a Nordie"". Belfast Live. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Derry Girls". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Coleman, Maureen (14 April 2024). "Co Antrim Blue Lights star: 'I've no interest in televisual tropes about Catholics and Protestants'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Hegarty, Tasha (22 July 2022). "James Bond star Pierce Brosnan is unrecognisable in first look at new movie". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "On the road with Pierce Brosnan". Irish News. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Interview with Desmond Eastwood who plays Detective Murray Canning in Blue Lights". Press Party. April 15, 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  13. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn (16 February 2024). "Blue Lights confirms new and returning cast in first look at season 2". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  14. ↑ Balaga, Marta (September 24, 2022). "Amanda Jansson, 'Normal People's' Desmond Eastwood to Star in 'Stormskerry Maja' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  15. ↑ Ainsworth, Paul (April 18, 2023). "Lucy Liu says cheese as star spotted filming in Belfast city centre". The Irish News . Retrieved April 14, 2024.



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