AJ Buckley says it’s ‘good to be home’ as he returns to Ireland for film awards
One of the stars of hit US TV show Seal Team has said it’s “good to be home” as he returns to Ireland for the Irish Film and Television Awards.
AJ Buckley, who plays Sonny Quinn in the Paramount+ military thriller, was born into Irish parents in Dublin before his family emigrated to Canada when he was six.
“Even though I wasn’t in Ireland, I was still surrounded by stories and stuff like that.
“I grew up in a big Irish community and like any big Irish family, there was always singing and dancing and spoons being passed out and bodhran and parties.”
He said he couldn’t quite put into words how it felt to be back.
“There’s just something about it, like you feel a real connection.
“I think the Irish are the hardest working people in the world and they take great pride in what they do, and that’s the power of that connection to your family – that the richness of your life is the memories you have with your family.”
He said he would like to bring his children to Ireland in the summer of 2024. Buckley even recalled the moment he decided to become an actor in Dublin, when he was five years old and watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the city’s Abbey Theatre.
“I remember when Sneezy walked on stage, the audience laughed and I remember how excited I was.
“I asked my mum, ‘Who are those guys on stage?’ and she said, ‘They’re actors.’
“From that moment on, it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.”
Buckley recalls that his acting journey has had its ups and downs – but even the toughest parts have provided “great perspective”.
He says there was a time when he slept in his car for a year and a half, before finding success in his most famous appearances on CSI: New York, Justified and now the successful Seal Team.
He says he’s played nerdy characters before but wanted to play a John McClane type (the protagonist in Die Hard), a character he loves.
“I just worked hard to try to bulk up and just change my appearance.”
He says he’s grateful every day for his job at Seal Team, where he gets to “ride around in Black Hawk helicopters” and work alongside real former Navy SEALs.
“It’s the best job I’ve ever had in the world – call it the luck of the Irish.”
Seal Team was originally scheduled to start filming its seventh season this month, but the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike means that date remains uncertain.
Buckley said the show couldn’t be made without great scripts, but he said he didn’t think now was the right time to strike.
“I absolutely agree that writers and actors need to strike, I just don’t think it’s wise to strike right now.
“We’re just coming out of Covid, people are barely hanging on, we’re in a recession, studios have let go – whatever – 10,000 people in the last six weeks, their stocks are down.
“So, you know, you don’t go to war when you’ve got weak men.
“I just hope and pray that they figure it out sooner rather than later.
“Because people like to work on a paycheck, those are the people who get hurt the most.
“Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t want to see anyone hurt and I don’t think the writers want to see anyone hurt.”
Buckley will join guests from around the world to mark an incredible year for Irish cinema at the 20th anniversary IFTA Awards on Sunday, May 7. He praised Irish production, noting that one of his all-time favourite shows is Irish crime drama Love/Hate.
He also made a special mention of Barry Keoghan’s performance in the Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin.
“I actually think he’s probably one of my favourite new actors.
“His acting, he’s so delicate with his work and he’s so genuine.”
Buckley said it would be a “bucket list item” to work on Irish stage or film in the future.
“I really want to come and just immerse myself and work with all these incredible filmmakers and storytellers.”
According to Screen Ireland, among the nominees for the Actor Award on the night were Keoghan, Jessie Buckley, Brendan Gleeson, Caitriona Balfe, Andrew Scott, Colin Farrell, Sharon Horgan, Ciaran Hinds, Paul Mescal, Stephen Rea and Anne-Marie Duff.
Also in contention is Aislin
