The Gist
The Penguin actor Colin Farrell has two sons.
Farrell and model Kim Bordenave welcomed their son, James Padraig Farrell, in 2003. James has a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome.
Farrell’s second son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, was born in 2009. The actor shares Henry with former partner Alicja Bachleda-Curús.
Colin Farrell isn’t just an Emmy-nominated actor—he’s also a father of two.
The captivating lead of The Penguin became a dad for the first time in 2003, welcoming son James Padraig Farrell with model Kim Bordenave. Six years later, he welcomed another son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, with then-girlfriend Alicja Bachleda-Curús.
Henry, 15, joined his father at the 2025 Emmy Awards in a rare public appearance. Previously, Farrell and his younger son stepped out together at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 and the premiere of HBO’s The Penguin in 2024.
While he’s the spitting image of a young Farrell, Henry may or may not become an actor himself, his father told Extra at the New York City premiere of his and Margot Robbie’s forthcoming romance A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Asked if he thought Henry might follow in his footsteps, he said that his son is “busy figuring out what his own footsteps are, which is the most important thing…Even if [Henry] went into acting, it wouldn’t be—I refused to believe they are my footsteps. He will always make his own,” the 49-year-old added.
In the meantime, The Banshees of Inisherin actor says his sons haven’t been too impressed with his filmography. “They’re sick of me being a bad guy,” he shared in a 2020 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Which apparently, reading between the lines, leads me to believe that they think I’m okay.”
Here’s everything to know about Colin Farrell’s two children.
James Padraig Farrell
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Model Kim Bordenave and Colin Farrell at the Academy Awards on March 23, 2003.
Farrell and model Bordenave welcomed their son, James Padraig Farrell, on September 12, 2003.
In 2007, the actor revealed that his son had been diagnosed with a rare neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome, per a People article from the time. According to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, the disorder is characterized by developmental delays and symptoms like seizures and balance issues.
“The reason I [revealed James’s diagnosis] was just because I was working with the Special Olympics and they were asking me questions, and I didn’t talk about my son [but] I felt like I was betraying him, like it could be misconstrued as shame—which would be terrible, because he’s such a celebration,” Farrell told Irish talk show host Ryan Tubridy of his older son in 2008, per People. “He’s nothing but a gift,” the actor continued. “He’s, as far as I’m concerned, exactly the way he should be.”
A few years later, the three-time Golden Globe winner opened up about the progress James had made to People. “Things like walking and talking and eating and feeding himself, all those things that so many of us naturally take for granted because they come so easily, to James, they come somewhat harder,” he explained. “Everything he’s achieved in his life has come through the presence and the kind of will that is hard work. He’s a lot to be inspired by.”
In 2024, the year James turned 21, Farrell launched the Colin Farrell Foundation to support adults with intellectual disabilities by offering advocacy, education, and other programs. “Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” he explained to People at the time. “All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.”
“I want the world to be kind to James,” he added elsewhere in the interview. “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”
Henry Tadeusz Farrell
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Colin Farrell and his son Henry Farrell at HBO’s “The Penguin” NYC Premiere in September 2024.
Farrell and former partner Alicja Bachleda-Curús welcomed the actor’s younger son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, on October 7, 2009.
At just 15, Farrell’s lookalike son has already made several red-carpet appearances with his famous father. His debut came at the 95th Annual Academy Awards in March 2023. The following year, he and his father appeared at the New York City premiere of HBO’s The Penguin. Mom Bachleda-Curús shared a picture of the duo to her Instagram, writing in the caption, “He’s becoming a pro at this! All grown up.”
More recently, Henry and his father wore matching tuxes on the Emmys red carpet, looking every bit the dapper duo. But behind the scenes, Henry and his older brother haven’t shied away from letting Farrell know what they really think about his films.
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Colin Farrell and son Henry Tadeusz Farrell at the 95th Annual Academy Awards in March 2023.
“A lot of the stuff that I’ve done, particularly with the ages that they were, they could never have a look at, but it doesn’t mean—I mean, we have our own little Rotten Tomatoes committee of two at home,” he joked in a 2024 interview with Extra, noting that his children could watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Dumbo.
Henry is also something of a fashion critic—at least when it comes to his father’s questionable ensembles. In a 2022 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Farrell revealed that his son was embarrassed when the actor wore short shorts. Although DeGeneres argued that they’re stylish, he said, “My youngest son would disagree vehemently with you. Because he’s mortified. He says, ‘Dad, please do not wear the short shorts.’”
Read the original article on InStyle