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The Irish Sun
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Irish comedian Chris O'Dowd's life – from love for wife & kids, Hollywood roles, leaving America & TV triumphs
WHEN it comes to effortlessly blending Irish charm with razor-sharp wit, few do it better than Chris O'Dowd. From his breakout role as the hilariously awkward Roy in 5 Chris O'Dowd has been acting on our screens for over two decades 5 Chris is married to best-selling author Dawn O'Porter 5 Chris first found fame on the comedy series The IT Crowd But behind the cheeky charmer is a normal Here's everything you need to know about the funny man's life. LOVE AT FIRST REQUEST The couple tied the knot back in 2012 and have since welcomed two children together, Art, 10 and Valentine, seven. READ MORE IN CHRIS O'DOWD The happy couple first came into contact after Chris requested Dawn as a friend on Speaking on a recent episode of Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, Chris joked: " I sent a couple of friend requests on Facebook . Dawn said no a couple of times, and then she was short on numbers for her birthday, so invited me along. " The lovebirds first met when their mutual pal, history . Dawn recently told how the key to a successful marriage was "not to expect perfection". Most read in News TV The author added: "That took me a long time to learn. Sometimes, it will be stressful and hard, but as long as the majority of the time it's not, I think you're doing pretty well." 5 Chris' wife Dawn with their young son FINANCIAL STRUGGLE Despite being one of Hollywood 's biggest actors, Chris's wife recently revealed she is Imelda May opens up on friendship with late Irish icon She expressed to work pay cheque to pay cheque. I'm always broke. My card got declined last week. I'm like, what the f*** is happening? When will this end?' Meanwhile, Chris, has starred in some of Hollywood's biggest productions, including This Is 40, Thor: The Dark World, Gulliver's Travels and St. Vincent. SMALL TOWN TO BIG TIME Chris's acting career took off with a bang when he landed the role of Roy Trenneman in the critically acclaimed British sitcom The IT Crowd. He remained on the show from 2006 to 2013. Chris successfully crossed over into Hollywood, making a memorable impact with his supporting role in the smash hit Bridesmaids in 2011. O'Dowd then co-created and starred in the Irish sitcom MANY TALENTS The series, set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, followed 12-year-old Martin Moone and his imaginary friend Sean Caution Murphy, portrayed by O'Dowd. Chris continued to demonstrate his range with performances in comedies like This Is 40 and heartfelt dramas such as The Sapphires. Beyond live-action roles, Chris has also shown versatility through voice work in animated films like The Lorax and Trolls World Tour. His talents extend behind the camera too, having co-created and starred in the Family Tree. More recently, Chris has been praised for his work in the Emmy-winning short series AWARD-WINNING STAR One of his most notable achievements came in 2019 when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his nuanced performance in State of the Union. Earlier in his career, Chris earned critical acclaim in his home country with multiple Irish Film & Television Academy Awards. His role in Bridesmaids earned him an IFTA for Best Supporting Actor in Film, and he also received IFTA nominations for his work on the autobiographical sitcom Moone Boy. LEAVING HOLLYWOOD 5 Chris and Dawn pose on their wedding day O'Dowd and his family moved from Los Angeles to pandemic . Speaking to star admitted: "I loved it there. I think we just felt very disconnected, very far away, and parents were getting older and all that kind of jazz, so we just kind of made a run for it." The star has drawn inspiration from his experience living in the states with his brand new Sky series, Small Town, Big Story, which was filmed close to his home town in Roscommon. He told "I'd walk the dog near it for two hours a day and it was the closest I had felt to home – the scenery reminded me of the forests where I grew up. It gave me a feeling of being far away. And this show is how that feeling manifested itself."
NZ Herald
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
The 10 best comedy series to see before you die, according to the Herald's entertainment team
Seinfeld (1989-1988) Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld. A series that's essentially about nothing doesn't seem like the right grounds for a comedy masterpiece, but thanks to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld's impeccable writing, Seinfeld stands as (in my opinion) the best sitcom of all time. Spawning unforgettable pop culture references like Festivus and 'yadda yadda yadda', this show takes the concept of social normality and turns it on its head, letting the intrusive thoughts win every time and creating some of the funniest situations ever seen on screen. It paved the way for sitcoms to come, no matter how bad or good they ended up being. – MH Friends (1994-2004) Friends became iconic to a generation over its 10 seasons. The comedy series about six friends living and learning in New York City gave us the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Perry and became iconic to a generation over its 10 seasons. It was an easy watch, kept us laughing and ultimately gave us the endings we wanted. There was a character everyone could relate to, with every 90s girl declaring themselves a Rachel, Monica or Phoebe. As a Monica, I neatly put this on the list while declaring she should have ended up with Richard. – JM It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-Present) Andy Buckley, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, and Charlie Day were among the cast in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. At its core, this is a show about very bad people doing very bad things ... and boy, is it wild to watch. Danny De Vito is having the most fun he's ever had on screen playing a gremlin of a man who eats cat food for breakfast, and the rest of 'the gang' are equally despicable. Crimes are committed, psychopathic traits encouraged, and there's no filter when it comes to the moral depravity at play, but it's both a cautionary tale and a raucous romp. This show lets its characters' inner demons out in a cathartic and hilarious fashion, unlike any other show seen on screens, and deserves a spot on the list for proving that surreal comedy does have a place on TV. – MH The Office UK (2001-2003) Rickey Gervais as David Brent. Photo / BBC It was The Office that started it all, with the deeply unlikable David Brent at the helm of the show. It was its own brand of sharp comedy, and it pioneered the mockumentary-style show. In typical British comedy style, it offered us far fewer character arcs than were later seen on the US version, far less warmth and not an ounce of American cheese. But Ricky Gervais as Brent showed us a show could be grotesque, offensive, get it all wrong, fluorescent lit, set in Slough, and we would still all follow along. - JM The Inbetweeners (2008-2010) The Inbetweeners is the ultimate coming of age comedy. While The Office, Black Books, Blackadder, and The IT Crowd paved the way for British comedy, The Inbetweeners cemented it in modern pop culture history. Still as relevant as ever in the TikTok age, this series about growing up has just the right amount of gross-out humour and heart to make it appealing as a comedy series. While the actors for Will, Simon, Jay, and Neil may have grown up, their spirited mishaps and quotable quotes (some too rude to share here) will continue to stay in the minds of comedy buffs everywhere for years to come. Just make sure you read up on British slang before watching to get the full comedic effect. – MH The Office US (2005-2013) The Office US featured Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard and John Krasinski as Jim Halpert. Photo / NBCU Photo Bank The softer US iteration of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's series gave us Steve Carell as Michael Scott and plenty of beautiful and horrific characters to follow – I still detest Toby more than any character, ever. But The Office US gave us the UK Office with optimism, and more unforgettable moments and quotes than virtually any other show. Pam and Jim's love story is elite. Dwight's character is unmatched, and Michael finding love with 'the hottest girl in the world' warmed even the coldest of hearts. Dunder Mifflin forever. – JM The Simpsons (1989-Present) The dynamic of our favourite yellow family, The Simpsons, never gets old. Photo / Fox A best comedy series list isn't complete without the longest-running American animated comedy series ever, and The Simpsons has stood the test of time for good reason. It continues to reflect the world we live in, satirically touching on relevant issues with just the right tone and style to still entertain. The dynamic of our favourite yellow family never gets old, and new and legacy characters create an iconic world worthy of the movie and theme park rides it spawned. To this day, we are still waiting for the next opening credit couch gag, and will no doubt continue to look forward to it. – MH New Girl (2011-2018) Seasons 2-4 of New Girl were lessons in elite comedic timing. While the series starts slow, and season 1 of the Fox show can be considered anything but its best, seasons 2-4 of New Girl were lessons in elite comedic timing, perfect casting and characters who seamlessly feed off each other. The greatest TV friendship of all time sits in the form of Nick and Schmidt, Winston's mess-arounds will forever live rent-free in my head and Jess (played by Zoe Deschanel) and Nick's fiery (literally) love story reminds us that sometimes your person comes in the form of your best friend. – JM Veep (2012-2019) Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was over the top but scarily real. Scarily real, yet ludicrously over the top, this political satire from the genius mind of Armando Iannucci acts both as a warning and an expose of just how stupid politics can be. With some of the best comebacks and one-liners ever constructed, this show paints fictional US politician Selina Meyer (played by the superb Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as an unfiltered, morally despicable clown who will do everything and anything to retain power – and the result is rib-shatteringly hilarious. What makes the show even better is its supporting cast, who bend to the will of Meyer, often at their own expense, resulting in a circus of errors that leaves viewers in hysterics. – MH Derek (2012-2014) Ricky Gervais in a scene from Derek. Photo / Netflix Ricky Gervais as Derek could easily be misconstrued by pictures or even trailers. But Derek is one of the most beautiful characters in comedy history, showing us that kindness and believing in others are undervalued qualities. The gullible Derek, who works in a retirement home, shows us through the lens of humour, shows us that despite all odds, it's possible to find the good in everything. The cast of Kerry Godliman, Karl Pilkington, Barry Martin and Brett Goldstein (of Ted Lasso fame) turn a high-risk storyline into a comedy masterpiece. – JM Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald's entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke's Bay Today. Jenni Mortimer is the NZ Herald's chief lifestyle and entertainment reporter. Jenni started at the Herald in 2017 and has previously worked as lifestyle, entertainment and travel editor.
Miami Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Bridesmaids' Star Unrecognizable While Attending Wimbledon in Quirky-But-Classy Blazer, Shorts and Boots Combo
A familiar face from the big screen generated a significant buzz at Wimbledon this week, but for an unexpected O'Dowd, the beloved Bridesmaids star, appeared almost unrecognizable, sporting a distinctively quirky-but-classy ensemble that stood out from the crowd at the prestigious tennis tournament. O'Dowd's standout look at the event perfectly blended unconventional elements with a touch of sophistication. He sported a crisp mint green blazer, offering a fresh, summery hue. This vibrant jacket contrasted playfully with navy shorts, creating a relaxed yet unexpectedly chic silhouette. Grounding the unique outfit, O'Dowd opted for khaki Chelsea boots, adding an earthy, rugged edge to the otherwise light attire. His bright and bold choice for a top, a bright blue shirt which looked to be adorned with a lemon print, injected a whimsical and very summery motif, ensuring his look was far from traditional Wimbledon fashion. Unlike the strict dress code mandated for the Royal Box, which requires attendees to dress smartly, Wimbledon's general spectator areas do not enforce a formal dress code. However, a tradition of smart-casual attire, often leaning towards summer elegance, subtly prevails among attendees. O'Dowd's full ensemble, particularly the unique combination of a blazer and Chelsea boots with shorts, offered a distinctive and fashion-forward take on the unwritten style norms of the prestigious event. This particular style choice might come as a delightful surprise to audiences most familiar with O'Dowd's extensive acting career, often characterized by his charming and affable roles. The Irish actor gained widespread recognition as Officer Rhodes in the hit 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, a role that cemented his status as a beloved comedic talent. O'Dowd captivated audiences as Roy Trenneman in the British cult fave The IT Crowd and showcased his dramatic range in critically acclaimed series like Girls and Get Shorty. His film roles also include appearances in This Is 40, St. Vincent, Molly's Game, and Slumberland. Chris O'Dowd attended the event with his wife, British author, television presenter, and fashion designer Dawn O'Porter. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Love, and other bugs: Deepanjana Pal writes on Materialists
I have a deep-seated aversion to AI-generated content. Even so, watching Chris Evans deliver his heroic monologue in Materialists (2025) made me wish there was a version of Celine Song's new film in which artificial intelligence had scrubbed Evans out and replaced him with Cary Grant. Or a young Shammi Kapoor. Or Gong Yoo (of Train to Busan). Or Richard Ayoade (of The IT Crowd). PREMIUM Even Pascal's crinkly-eyed smile can't plug the gaps. Materialists isn't nearly as heart-wrenching as writer-director Celine Song's last film, Past Lives (2023). Evans is the petard on which Materialists hoists itself. He plays John, the quintessential artist: short on money, but tall in every other way. He is a man of passion and sensitivity; a man who makes love seem easy. Unfortunately, when embodied by Evans, John has all the charm of melting vanilla ice-cream. He doesn't make one want to throw caution to the wind. Instead, he makes an excellent case for warily raising one's standards. It doesn't help that Pedro Pascal plays John's counterpoint, a capitalist Prince Charming named Harry. He lives in a $12 million penthouse in New York, works at a private equity firm. But, most importantly, he has Pascal's crinkly-eyed smile and gift for turning vulnerability into a pheromone trigger. One of the loveliest moments in the film is when Harry crouches to show what he'd look like if he was half a foot shorter, becoming smaller, sadder and more insecure with every lost inch. At the apex of the love triangle is Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a matchmaker who presents herself as an emotional calculator adept at cracking the math of romantic relationships, while also mournfully declaring early on: 'I'm going to die alone.' It's a line that makes everyone laugh, both in the film and outside it, because if someone as radiant as Lucy can't find love, well, what hope is there for any of us? Yet, as Song shows us over the course of Materialists, for all her slaying and sashaying, Lucy is floundering. She keeps repeating how important it is to be practical when looking for a match, but it soon becomes clear that the person she's trying to convince, first and foremost, is herself. Through the film, long-held conventions of gender and romance do little to empower either the men or the women. Meanwhile, even for those who appear to be thriving in the materialist world, marriage appears like the equivalent of a band-aid on a gaping wound: it can't heal the injury, but it can help cover it up. Writer-director Song's boldest play in Materialists is her bid to redefine marriage as an act of romantic agency, wrenching it away from its history as an economic and social contract that commodifies women. In the film, marriage ends up being the most impractical of decisions, taken by two people because they simply can't help themselves. It marks a compromise, not with one's dreams but with societal expectations. At the end of Materialists, Lucy 'settles' for a man whose greatest commendation is that he proposes to her with a ring fashioned out of a plucked flower. The 'loser' emerges as the prize catch. Or would have, if Evans hadn't played John so blandly that everything about him felt trite. Materialists isn't as heart-wrenching as Song's 2023 hit, Past Lives (2023), but it is full of beauty and hope. Much like its key characters, it doesn't check all the boxes, but it does serve as an antidote to cynicism. Song adamantly champions the idea that love at its sweetest and most impractical is a dream worth striving for. In a world full of grief and despair, its decision to celebrate unpretentious romance feels not just refreshing but like a necessary act of defiance. (To reach Deepanjana Pal with feedback, write to @dpanjana on Instagram)
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Harry Potter TV series update: Molly Weasley cast – Katherine Parkinson to take on the role of Ron's mother on the show
The new Harry Potter TV series pre-production is going on in full flow as new cast members are being announced. The main trio has already been cast, alongside other pivotal roles like Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape, to name a few. Recently, the casting for Molly Weasley, mother of Ron Weasley, has also been announced, building up excitement and anticipation of the series. Katherine Parkinson announced as Molly Weasley New cast announcements have been rolled out at intervals, with Katherine Parkinson being the latest name to join the star cast as per a report in Variety. Katherine has officially been selected to play the role of Ron Weasley's mother, the eccentric and strict Molly Weasley. Known for her role in 'The IT Crowd', Parkinson is a force to be reckoned with, and her official addition to the cast has excited fans about the future of the show. Know more about Katherine Parkinson The BAFTA award winner is well known for her roles in various films and TV shows. She previously scored a BAFTA award for her English sitcom show 'The IT Crowd'. She has also starred in a lot of other critically acclaimed shows and films, such as 'Christmas at the Riviera', 'Jonathan Creek', 'The Great Outdoors', 'Humans', 'Defending the Guilty', 'Spreadsheet', and 'Significant Other', to name a few. Other cast members A lot of other roles have also been cast in the TV series so far. Some of the names include Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy. Roles for Voldemort, Ginny Weasley, and Sirius Black are yet to be officially announced by the production studio.
