Colm Meaney: ‘Male violence on females starts in the playground and that’s where it should be stopped’ – Independent.ie

With its acerbic wit and edgy depiction of down-at-heel Dublin, The Commitments is considered a snapshot of the 1980s.

ut despite the critics who say political correctness is killing comedy, actor Colm Meaney, who starred as Jimmy Rabbitte Sr in the movie, sees no reason why the film could not be made today.

Yes, I think it could still be produced today I dont see whats offensive in The Commitments, he says.

But its time we stopped I dont get this backlash against political correctness. Whats wrong with being decent to people?

He insists that there is no need for comedy to be offensive and that society is waking up to the awful hurt caused by misogyny and racism.

Im raising two daughters (Brenda, 38 and Ada, 17) and I saw this through their school years, he says.

Male violence on females starts in the playground and thats where it should be stopped. Guys dont just suddenly learn this when they go to college or work. Its there from the beginning.

Reverting back to the screen comedy debate, the father-of-two continues: I think peoples sensibility changes over the years.

John Cleese has become a bit of a reactionary gentleman in his old age.

Im a huge fan of John and I love his work, but he has developed reactionary tendencies.

I dont have any problem with that. Weve developed a sensitivity and an understanding to what language means, especially to minority people.

There was a time when it was OK to call us Micks and Paddys and all that kind of stuff. It never particularly bothered me, but it wasnt very nice, was it?

So equally, there is much more offensive racial names, so we dont need them to be funny.

With an acting career spanning four decades, a Golden Globe nomination and success on both sides of the Atlantic, its fair to say Meaney is one of Irelands greatest exports.

Sci-fi devotees will remember him from his Enterprise duties on Star Trek as Chief Miles OBrien, while others will immediately think of him in The Commitments.

But the acting veteran confesses that he ruled out a role in The Lord of the Rings straight away.

My agent was asking me about it at the time. There were enquires and I dont know what they were offering me, but I didnt want to go to New Zealand for three years. I hate all that fantasy stuff anyway and I probably would have been miserable.

Pressed on how hes managed to stay so fit and energetic as he nears his 69th birthday, Meaney says: I dont know drinking and smoking.

Both my wife and I eat mostly organic foods, and I think thats helped a bit.

Im lucky with my mothers genes. She died in 2018 and she was 96. Who knows? I dont have a secret. Its probably the Finglas in me.

He says Covid finally crept up on him after two years of avoiding it.

Despite receiving his booster jab in Dublin just before Christmas, he still fell victim to the Omicron variant.

We went two years without getting it and then suddenly Ines and I felt a bit sniffly, and we soon realised wed caught it, but Ive had worse head colds. I guess when its your turn, its your turn.

We had a quiet Christmas and New Years here in Majorca where we live, and we havent been out much since then and if we have, its just been to the grocery store.

So Ive no idea where we picked it up, but I guess this Omicron gets around.

The Dubliner divides his time between his homes on the Spanish island and Los Angeles.

He currently stars as Father Peter in Confession, which is out now on digital platforms.

Im usually in Ireland around three or four times a year, but I can sometimes go six to nine months without visiting, so I didnt really miss it during lockdown.

I was home before the festive period as I was doing a film called Marlowe. We shot the exteriors in Barcelona and the interiors in Dublin. Its based on the novel The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville. Neil Jordan and Liam Neeson directed it.

Reflecting on his friendship with Taken legend Neeson, Meaney adds: Ive known Liam for 40-odd years.

We were in The Abbey Theatre together many moons ago, when we were both boys.

Colm Meaney stars alongside Stephen Moyer in the church-based suspense mystery thriller, Confession, which is available on digital platforms now.

The rest is here:

Colm Meaney: 'Male violence on females starts in the playground and that's where it should be stopped' - Independent.ie