The Hollywood star opened up about his son James, who has Angelman Syndrome, revealing how he became his ‘higher power’ during addiction treatment and describing him as ‘one of the happiest human beings I know’
Colin Farrell with his son James, who lives with a rare condition called Angelman Syndrome(Image: The Ellen Show)
Colin Farrell has spoken candidly about his son James, who lives with a rare condition called Angelman Syndrome.
Angelman Syndrome affects the nervous system and can cause intellectual disability, developmental delay, absent or limited speech and balance and movement issues.
The Hollywood star spoke openly about how James helped him achieve sobriety, whilst also discussing how he responds when people make insensitive yet well-intentioned remarks about him.
“I’ve had a couple of people say to me throughout the years, always with an Irish accent, so it’s on its way to potentially more forgiveness straight away by virtue of its origin… I had two women I remember in my life who, hearing about James, said, ‘Oh the poor thing’, and I didn’t take [offence].
“I can feel a little pinch inside, as a dad, wanting to go, ‘What do you mean the poor thing? He’s happier than any of us’.’ But I didn’t take offence as I knew it came from a place of care.”
Colin Farrell’s son James.(Image: Instagram)
Colin revealed that he gains more from James than James receives from him, describing how his son became his higher power during addiction treatment. “When I went to rehab, the first of two tours of duty, in 2005, it was a 12 step AA programme,” he told Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio One.
“At that stage I had a bit of a beef with my limited conception of what God may or may not be…. I did realise I needed to look to something outside of myself for both strength and guidance, or even the idea of really, really unfiltered love. Love without condition. And James represented that in my life.
“When I had my little homework folder, when I was doing my four week rehab thing, I had pictures of James, polaroids of James on the cover of the folder.
“People say, ‘You have to do it for yourself, you have to get sober for yourself’, if you go into rehab you might not care about yourself… that’s why a higher power, a plant, a child, or God, whatever it may be [is important].
Colin Farrell with his son James in Dublin in 2009. (Image: FilmMagic)
“James, he’s needed me in a very practical way, in a way that children need their parents of course, but it became clear to me very fast how much I need him.
“He’s an amazing young man. James, with all his very clear physical and intellectual limitations and all that jazz, he is one of the happiest human beings I know.
“That’s essentially what we are all striving for, but we are doing it in misguided ways. What’s life about if not having moments of joy?”.
Colin’s friend Emma Fogarty also featured on the programme, and she revealed that she frequently receives similar remarks of “you poor thing” from well-intentioned people, reports RSVP Live.
Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty approach the finish line at the 2024 Dublin Marathon(Image: INPHO/Ben Brady)
Emma suffers from a rare skin condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which results in her skin being extremely delicate and susceptible to tearing.
To safeguard wounds and prevent additional harm, 80% of her body is wrapped in bandages.
Recently, Emma and Colin participated in the Dublin Marathon to commemorate Emma’s 40th birthday, and the duo raised €1m for Debra Ireland, an organisation that assists individuals with EB.
They have also produced a documentary about their friendship, which debuts at the Dublin International Film Festival tonight.
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