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The Actors
Directed byConor McPherson
Written byConor McPherson
Produced byNeil Jordan
Redmond Morris
StarringMichael Caine
Dylan Moran
Lena Headey
Michael Gambon
Miranda Richardson
Michael McElhatton
Abigail Iversen
Aisling O'Sullivan
Ben Miller
Simon Delaney
Alvaro Lucchesi
CinematographySeamus McGarvey
Edited byEmer Reynolds
Music byMichael Nyman
Production
companies
Distributed byMomentum Pictures[1]
Release date
  • 17 April 2003 (2003-04-17)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryIreland
LanguageEnglish

The Actors is a 2003 Irish film written and directed by Conor McPherson and starring Dylan Moran and Michael Caine. In supporting roles are Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson and Lena Headey.

The Actors is a contemporary comedy set in Dublin. It follows the exploits of two mediocre stage actors as they devise a plan to con a retired gangster out of £50,000. The gangster owes the money to a third party, whom he has never met.

The actors take advantage of this fact by impersonating this 'unidentified' third party, and claiming the debt as their own. To pull it off they enlist Moran's eerily intelligent nine-year-old niece, who restructures the plan each time something goes wrong.

The two protagonists are acting in a version of Shakespeare's Richard III in which everyone dresses in Nazi uniform, a nod to Ian McKellen's production.

The film is centred on the Olympia Theatre, and it is noteworthy for featuring the famous glass awning over the entrance which has since been destroyed in a traffic accident. The glass awning has since been rebuilt to its full former glory.

Cast

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Reception

[edit]

Empire gives the film 2/5, describing it as "Based on an idea by Neil Jordan, The Actors had the potential to be gut-achingly funny. But instead it ends up raising a few paltry smiles."[2]

Soundtrack

[edit]
The Actors
Soundtrack album by
Michael Nyman,
Conor McPherson, Fionnula Flanagan
Released19 May 2003
GenreSoundtrack, contemporary classical, minimalism
LanguageEnglish
LabelEMI Records
Michael Nyman chronology
Sangam: Michael Nyman Meets Indian Masters
(2003) 		The Actors
(2003) 		Man and Boy: Dada
(2004)
  1. Act One - The Michael Nyman Band and Moss Hall Junior Choir
  2. Star Of The Sea - Laura Cullinan, Bebhinn Ni Chiosain, Cliona Ni Chiosain & Niamh H Reynolds
  3. Zinc Bar Walk - The Michael Nyman Band
  4. A Certain Party - The Michael Nyman Band
  5. House On Fire - The Michael Nyman Band
  6. Act Two - The Michael Nyman Band
  7. Could This Be Love? - Lena Headey & Dylan Moran
  8. Mary Directs Tom - The Michael Nyman Band
  9. Una's Waltz - Una Ni Chiosain/Conor McPherson
  10. Rope Trick - The Michael Nyman Band
  11. Dolores On The Beach - The Michael Nyman Band
  12. Return To The Scene Of The Crime - The Michael Nyman Band
  13. Seems So Long - Cathy Davey
  14. Wheelchair Chase - The Michael Nyman Band
  15. Tubbetstown Elegy - The Michael Nyman Band
  16. Lovely Morning - Cathy Davey
  17. Mrs O'Growny Appears - The Michael Nyman Band
  18. Zinc Piano - The Michael Nyman Band
  19. Final Act - The Michael Nyman Band

References

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The Actors

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from Grokipedia
The Actors is a 2003 Irish comedy-crime film directed by Conor McPherson, following two down-on-their-luck stage actors in Dublin who hatch a scheme to impersonate debt collectors and swindle a local gangster out of money owed to fictional clients.[1] Starring Michael Caine as the egotistical lead actor Anthony O'Malley and Dylan Moran as his hapless understudy Tom Quirk, the film blends farcical humor with themes of deception and the blurred lines between performance and reality.[1] With screenplay by McPherson from a story by Neil Jordan, it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2003, and received a theatrical release in the UK on May 16, 2003, with a runtime of 91 minutes.[2][3] The story unfolds during a disastrous production of Shakespeare's Richard III, where O'Malley's immersion in his role leads him to a seedy pub, sparking the con after overhearing about the gangster's debts.[3] Supporting cast includes Michael Gambon as the intimidating gangster Barreller, Lena Headey as a pub singer, and Ben Miller in a comedic role, contributing to the film's ensemble dynamic of eccentric characters and escalating mishaps.[2] Produced by the Irish Film Board and others, The Actors is one of McPherson's early feature films as director, following his success in theater and screenwriting, such as The Weir.[4] Critically, the film holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews, praised for its witty script and Caine's charismatic performance but noted for uneven pacing.[5] With an IMDb user rating of 5.8 out of 10 from over 2,000 votes, it has been described as a lighthearted caper that showcases Irish humor and the acting prowess of its leads, though it underperformed commercially upon release.[1]

Synopsis and Cast

Plot

The film opens with Anthony O'Malley, a veteran but frustrated stage actor played by Michael Caine, starring as the titular character in a peculiar Nazi-themed production of Shakespeare's Richard III at Dublin's Olympia Theatre. Committed to method acting, O'Malley immerses himself by frequenting a seedy local pub to observe rough characters, where he overhears the gangster Barreller, portrayed by Michael Gambon, lamenting his £50,000 debt to the elusive London gangster Magnani, whom Barreller has never met in person.[6][7] Inspired by the opportunity for quick cash to fund their acting ambitions, O'Malley recruits his struggling young colleague Tom Quirk, played by Dylan Moran—who is also part of the theatre production as a stormtrooper extra—to join the scheme. The duo devises a con where Tom impersonates Clive, Magnani's menacing debt collector from the East End, complete with a fabricated backstory and accent, to extract the money directly from the gullible Barreller. Tom's precocious nine-year-old niece Mary, played by Abigail Iversen, contributes her sharp intellect by refining the plan's details and suggesting improvisations whenever flaws emerge.[8][7] The initial collection goes smoothly, with Tom successfully handing over a fake receipt and pocketing the cash, but comedic mishaps quickly ensue as Tom lingers for a drink and sparks an unexpected romance with Barreller's alluring daughter Dolores, portrayed by Lena Headey. Barreller's growing suspicions prompt violent confrontations, including pub brawls and frantic chases through Dublin streets, forcing the actors into increasingly absurd disguises and deceptions. Additional complications arise from secondary characters, such as the pub owner who witnesses too much and the theatre director whose eccentric demands interrupt their scheming, escalating the chaos as Tom must "kill off" his Clive persona and adopt new roles, like a hitman, to cover their tracks—complete with improvised excuses involving movie props like popcorn simulating gunfire.[6][9] The scam reaches its climax back at the Olympia Theatre during a performance, where the real Magnani, played by Miranda Richardson, arrives demanding her money, leading to a frenzied confrontation amid the ongoing Richard III staging. O'Malley, in a desperate bid, dons drag to impersonate Magnani herself, but the ruse unravels in a barrage of revelations and slapstick violence. The resolution highlights the actors' bumbling incompetence, as the money slips away in the ensuing pandemonium, leaving O'Malley and Quirk to reflect on their failed heist with wry resignation while their theatrical careers remain unchanged.[6][8]

Cast

The principal roles in The Actors are portrayed by Michael Caine as Anthony O'Malley, an aging, hammy theatre actor struggling with a lackluster career who devises a risky con to swindle a local gangster.[6] Dylan Moran plays Tom Quirk, O'Malley's bumbling and reluctant young sidekick, a fellow out-of-work actor drawn into the scheme despite his reservations.[6] Supporting the leads is Michael Gambon as Barreller, the suspicious and volatile gangster who becomes the target of the duo's impersonation scam.[2] Lena Headey portrays Dolores, Barreller's daughter and a figure in the romantic subplot who complicates Quirk's involvement in the con.[6] Miranda Richardson appears as Mrs. Magnani, the formidable head of a London crime syndicate whom the actors impersonate as part of their ruse.[10] Additional supporting characters include Michael McElhatton as Jock, who interacts with the protagonists in early scenes, and Michael Colgan as the audition director overseeing the actors' faltering careers.[2] The film also features minor roles involving impersonated figures central to the con, such as creditors and mob associates, played by actors including Aisling O'Sullivan and Ben Miller.[2] Notable casting highlights the ensemble's dynamic, with Caine's established British screen presence contrasting the predominantly Irish supporting performers like Moran and McElhatton, enhancing the film's Dublin-set comedic tone.[11] The Caine-Moran pairing was selected to capture a mentor-protégé chemistry rooted in the script's exploration of acting styles and generational clashes.[6]

Production

Development

The Actors was developed as Conor McPherson's second feature film as writer and director, following his debut Saltwater in 2000. The script originated from an original story by Neil Jordan, with McPherson adapting it into a screenplay that emphasized comedic elements of deception and performance.[6][12] Drawing from McPherson's background in theatre—where he had gained prominence with plays such as The Weir (1997)—the script incorporated themes of farce and impersonation, reflecting his observations of Dublin's acting community and its blend of stagecraft and everyday pretense.[13] McPherson's vision centered on a lighthearted exploration of actors navigating moral ambiguity, using humor to probe ideas of identity and redemption without heavy-handed analysis.[13] Key creative decisions included setting the narrative in contemporary Dublin to ground the story in a recognizable urban environment, while integrating theatrical motifs like a troubled production of Richard III to merge onstage drama with offstage cons.[12] This approach allowed McPherson to highlight the performative nature of both theatre and street-level schemes, informed by his playwriting roots.[13] Pre-production took place in early 2002, culminating in principal photography starting on March 11, 2002, for a nine-week schedule in Dublin.[12] Produced by Stephen Woolley, Neil Jordan, and Redmond Morris, the film secured financing from Irish and UK entities, including the Irish Film Board and FilmFour, with the team casting Michael Caine in a leading role, capitalizing on his international draw to bolster the low-budget independent production.[12]

Filming

Principal photography for The Actors took place primarily in Dublin, Ireland, capturing the film's urban setting through various local landmarks. Key shooting sites included the Olympia Theatre, which served as the primary location for the stage performance scenes, as well as nearby pubs utilized for the con artist setups and Dublin streets for chase sequences.[14] Filming commenced on 11 March 2002 and lasted approximately nine weeks, wrapping up in early May. Directed by Conor McPherson, the production emphasized the script's comedic elements, with cinematographer Seamus McGarvey handling the visual style to support the farce's rhythm. Editor Emer Reynolds contributed to post-production by pacing the footage to sustain the film's energetic tempo.[12][15] The shoot encountered no major delays, though minor on-set adjustments were needed for performances, such as ensuring accent authenticity among the cast; Michael Caine, playing an aging English actor, noted the challenges of dialect work in the production, particularly praising co-star Dylan Moran's handling of a Scottish inflection in one sequence.[16]

Release and Reception

Distribution and Box Office

The Actors had its world premiere at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin on 8 May 2003.[17] It was subsequently screened at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2003.[3] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, The Actors was released theatrically on 16 May 2003 by Momentum Pictures, marking the film's primary commercial rollout.[7] Distribution in Ireland was supported by Bord Scannán na hÉireann (the Irish Film Board), which had co-financed the production. The release strategy emphasized the festival circuit and art-house theaters, with no wide international expansion beyond select markets such as Australia, where it opened on 13 May 2004.[18] There was no significant U.S. theatrical distribution.[18] The film achieved modest box office results, reflecting its niche appeal as an Irish comedy. In the UK, it earned $368,459 during its opening weekend across 270 screens.[18] The total worldwide gross reached approximately $767,000, primarily from the UK market ($759,537) and a minimal contribution from Australia ($7,698).[18]

Critical Response

Upon its 2003 release, The Actors received mixed reviews from critics, with a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews.[5] Empire magazine awarded it 2 out of 5 stars, describing the film as "mildly amusing but not funny enough."[19] Similarly, The Guardian called it a "shamingly bad comedy," though it acknowledged Michael Caine's "game performance" as providing the only laughs through his portrayal of an eccentric ham actor.[20] Critics praised the chemistry between Caine and Dylan Moran, highlighting their comedic timing as an engaging duo that carried the film's lighter moments.[21] Michael Gambon's menacing turn as a gangster was noted for adding intensity to the ensemble, leveraging his authoritative presence effectively.[6] However, the film faced criticism for its uneven pacing and flimsy plot holes, which undermined the overall coherence and humor.[21] In retrospective assessments, The Actors holds an average user rating of 5.8 out of 10 on IMDb from 2,045 ratings (as of November 2025).[1] It has been viewed as an underrated entry in Conor McPherson's oeuvre, with 2020s reevaluations appreciating its low-key Irish humor and the central performances as elements of a cult comedy.[22][21]

Soundtrack and Legacy

Soundtrack

The original score for The Actors was composed by Michael Nyman and performed primarily by The Michael Nyman Band, featuring a mix of orchestral elements like strings and piano alongside minimalist and jazzy influences, including brushed cymbals, vibraphone, and Hammond organ, to heighten the film's farcical tension and comedic beats.[23][24] The soundtrack comprises 19 tracks, with contributions from vocalists such as Dylan Moran, Lena Headey, Cathy Davey, and a children's choir, blending instrumental cues and whimsical songs to support the narrative's blend of theatrical and street-level antics.[23] The album, titled The Actors: Music from the Motion Picture, was released on 19 May 2003 by EMI Soundtracks in the UK, with a total runtime of approximately 47 minutes.[24][23] Notable tracks include "Wheelchair Chase" (5:08), a frenetic pursuit cue underscoring chase sequences; "Zinc Bar Walk" (2:14), evoking the film's pub scenes with lively brass and percussion; and "Could It Be Love?" (2:23), a duet performed by Moran and Headey that adds humorous romantic flair.[23] While the album did not achieve commercial chart success, it received praise for demonstrating Nyman's versatility in lighter, carefree compositions following his more dramatic orchestral work on The Piano.[24][25] In the film, Nyman's score facilitates smooth transitions between backstage theatre preparations and chaotic street impersonations, amplifying the humor of the protagonists' schemes through subtle, non-intrusive cues that emphasize timing and absurdity without overshadowing the dialogue-driven comedy.[24][26]

Cultural Impact

The Actors represented Conor McPherson's second feature film as director, succeeding his 2000 debut Saltwater, which adapted his stage play This Lime Tree Bower and marked his initial shift from renowned playwright to filmmaker.[27][28] Both films drew on McPherson's theatrical roots, with The Actors incorporating dialogue-driven humor and ensemble dynamics reminiscent of his stage works like The Weir, bridging his expertise in Irish storytelling across mediums during the early 2000s.[29] Michael Caine's portrayal of the vain, down-on-his-luck actor Anthony O'Malley provided a comedic highlight, showcasing his versatility in a lighthearted con-artist role amid a career spanning over 100 films.[6] This appearance coincided with Caine's Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for the dramatic lead in The Quiet American, underscoring his continued prominence at age 70 while contributing to British-Irish cinematic collaborations through co-stars like Dylan Moran and Michael Gambon.[30] The film's original score by Michael Nyman, featuring frenetic rhythms, vibraphone, and vocal interludes by cast members including Dylan Moran and Lena Headey, earned praise as a "winning combination" in his oeuvre of emotive film music.[24] Released as a 19-track album by EMI, it integrates Nyman's signature minimalist style—evident in acclaimed works like The Piano—and holds niche appeal among enthusiasts of his discography for its whimsical yet tense underscoring of the comedy's chaotic energy.
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