MAIN Art & ... Pop Culture Actors Colin Farrell

The Hollywood movie hunk about to star in a remake of "Total Recall" was born Colin James Farrell in Dublin, Ireland on March 31,1976.

As a youth, he planned to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, footballer Eamon Farrell, but the admitted "wild lad" was barely out of his teens when he was encouraged by older brother Eamon to attend acting classes in Dublin.

After trying out for bit parts, the 22-year old actor was billed as Col Farrell in the TV series Ballykissangel, in the role of working-class Danny Byrne. The part soon led to others on British television before his big film break came in 2000 playing a young Louisiana army recruit in TIgerland. The movie generally received mediocre reviews, but garnered the actor almost unanimous praise.

A string of notable roles followed, including appearances in American Outlaws; in Hart's War opposite Bruce Willis; in Minority Report with Tom Cruise; and as the comic book villain Bullseye in Daredevil.

In 2004, the long-awaited release of the historical epic, Alexander opened to lukewarm reviews all around for Farrell, co-star Angelina Jolie, and director, Oliver Stone.

Farrell appeared again to mixed reviews in A Home at the End of the World, with more news made of the sexy full-frontal nude scene of the actor (later cut in test previews as "too distracting") than for the film's quirky plot. The actor then retreated back to the small screen in 2005, resulting in a very successful appearance as host of Saturday Night Live.

Farrell's most recent & varied film projects have included the Depression-era drama, Ask the Dust, the role of explorer John Smith in The New World, as undercover detective Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice, and as a hapless hitman in In Bruges, for which he won a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in 2009.

Meanwhile, offscreen the actor has also settled a lawsuit filed against former Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain, seeking compensatory damages as well as a restraining order and injunction prohibiting the sale and exploitation of a 14-minute sex tape which the Hollywood leading man says the pair recorded with the agreement it would never be made public.

Named one of the sexiest men alive by People magazine, Farrell has been romantically linked to model Kim Bordenave with whom he has a son, James, born in 2003 with a reportedly rare form of cerebral palsy.

Back at work filming In Bruges, Farrell took home a Best Actor award at the Golden Globes in 2009 for his performance as an Irish hitman in the offbeat comedy.

In September 2009, more news headlines were made about Farrell's personal life when it was reported that he was to be a father for the second time with current girlfriend, Polish actress Alicja Bachleda. The couple, who met while filming Odine, welcomed son Henry Tadeusz Farrell on October 7, 2009.

In 2010, Farrell starred in the drama The Way Back about prisoners who escape a 1940's Siberian gulag, and returned to light comedy with a starring role in Horrible Bosses in 2011 and then in the horror comedy Fright Night playing a charismatic vampire.

Another remake is in the works for 2012 as Colin Farrel stars in Total Recall, a new take on the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi hit about a sleeper agent who is compelled to travel to a colony on Mars.

More about Colin Farrell around the Web:

Colin Farrell - Complete filmography, bio, a list of notable TV appearances, extensive photo gallery, related message board from the IMDb.

Colin Farrell - Yahoo! Movies - Biography, details on the actor's past, present and future films, photo galleries, with links to messageboards and Yahoo! Groups pages and related Web sites.

Colin Farrell :: Fansite - Frequently updated with news and the latest rumors, plus details on film appearances and upcoming releases, a complete biography, photo galleries, messageboard.

Irish Bad Boy - Extensive fan site, in French only, featuring news and updates. bio, filmography, video clips, a collection of picture galleries including childhood photos, shots from the actors modeling career, films and candids, wallpapers and more.

Showbiz Ireland - Colin Farrell Launches Film Festival - Archived 2003 feature with photos including that of Farrell's brother, Eamon, Jr., and sister, Claudine.

View London - Colin Farrell Interview - Archived interview with the "hell raising, drinking, womanizing Irishman" about his family, sudden fame, and future plans.