Desmond Eastwood Explained

Desmond Eastwood
Birth Place:Lisburn
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2017-present
Television:Normal People

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

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 Finnish drama Stormskerry Maja.[14] He has an upcoming role in the Christoph Waltz comedy action film Old Guy.[15]

Partial filmography

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Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2018KryptonTaz-Ran
2020Normal PeopleNiall
2020VikingsMessenger
2021Black Medicine Conor
2022Derry GirlsBenny
2023In the Land of Saints and SinnersCurtis June
2023-Blue LightsDS Murray Canning
2023The Last RiflemanTony McCann
2024Stormskerry MajaLieutenant John Wilson
TBAOld GuyColton

Notes and References

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