Brendan Gleeson has admitted that his new role in the television series State of the Union caused arguments with his wife, Mary, as he rehearsed the script with her at home. The Irish actor, 68, plays Scott, a curmudgeonly middle-aged man going through a divorce, in the comedy written by Nick Hornby and directed by Stephen Frears.
Gleeson, known for his roles in Harry Potter, In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin, said he and Mary would read the scenes together, and she would often object to Scott's attitudes. 'I'd say, 'Hang on a second – he does have a point,' which would start the row,' Gleeson told British Brief. 'Some things about Scott are fundamentally against the way I am. But some of them – well, it did cause a spillover.'
The actor, married to Mary for 40 years and father to four sons including actors Domhnall and Brian, said the show 'should come with a health warning' for couples. He laughed as he recalled friends saying they had been looking forward to golf in retirement after watching the series.
Gleeson also reflected on the loss of anonymity after decades in the industry. He recalled a warning from the late Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in Harry Potter: 'You can forget about walking through an airport again.' Gleeson said it is 'a big price to pay' and that he dislikes being unable to browse in shops or people-watch, which he considers vital for his craft.
The interview had to be moved from central Dublin to a remote seaside village after his agents pointed out he could no longer walk around incognito. Even there, he was approached by fans for selfies and chats about broadband.
