Richard E Grant says he ‘feels bad’ Colin Farrell missed out on BAFTA prize

Actor Richard E Grant said he felt ‘really bad’ after Colin Farrell missed out on the BAFTA Best Actor award – but that he hoped the Oscars would ‘rectify’ his disappointment.

Speaking with Ray D’Arcy on RTÉ Radio, after his debut hosting the BAFTAs, he said he had empathised with the Irish actor as he himself had been nominated in 2019 for Can You Ever Forgive Me – and lost.

Colin had been put forward for a BAFTA for his role in The Banshees Of Inisherin, but had to watch on as the award was handed to Elvis star Austin Butler. 

However, the Dubliner remains favourite to win an Academy Award on March 12 for his role in the Martin McDonagh film, and his fans will be paying close attention to next weekend’s Screen Actors Guild awards, where both men feature among the nominees.

Colin, 46, has been tipped for the win ever since he claimed the Best Actor gong at the Venice film festival last September.

Richard, 65, said: ‘Of course, you feel really bad, because it seemed like Colin Farrell was an absolute dead cert to win, so I felt so bad for him. 

‘I had been in that situation three years ago, when I was nominated for a film that I was in. 

‘You then spend your evening consoling the people who feel so disappointed for you. It’s a weird situation.

‘I could feel for Colin as I imagine that’s partly what he was going through. Hopefully the Oscars will rectify it.’

He said he had genuinely believed that Colin was ‘on the path to glory’, but that it wasn’t to be.

Ireland has received a record 14 Oscar nominations this year, claiming five of the 20 acting spots and, for the first time, earning a nod for a feature film as Gaeilge, An Cailín Ciúin.

One of the acting nominees is Barry Keoghan, who won the Bafta for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees.

Looking ahead to the Oscars, Richard said: ‘I hope Barry gets it, and I certainly hope Colin does.’

Unlucky: Colin had been put forward for a BAFTA for his role in The Banshees Of Inisherin, but had to watch on as the award was handed to Elvis star Austin Butler

He said he had never worked with Colin, but that he had got to know him as his late wife Joan Washington had worked with Farrell a lot as a voice coach.

On Friday, another Oscar nominee, Paul Mescal, will appear on the Late Late Show. 

The Aftersun star was also among the Irish Bafta contenders in London.

The Maynooth man joined Colin in missing out on a BAFTA for Best Actor but is already a BAFTA winner for his breakthrough performance in Normal People.

Triumph? Colin remains favourite to win an Academy Award on March 12 for his role in The Banshees Of Inisherin (Colin, right, seen in the film with Brendan Gleeson)