Celebrities Chris O'Dowd, Birthday: 9 October 1979, Sligo, Ireland

We have half-acre or so of land behind our house, and my dad worked from home, so we bought him a do...Show more »

We have half-acre or so of land behind our house, and my dad worked from home, so we bought him a donkey for this fiftieth birthday. We had enough money for a donkey but not enough for a fence. So the donkey would just leave, and it was my job to go into town and find it. At exactly the time when you're starting to appreciate girls and feel very self-conscious, the worst thing that you could do is walk a donkey through the town. Show less «

Comedy writing is taking the brief thought and going with it.

What I think improv is great for is making dialogue more natural.

I've gone up for loads of jobs in the past that I knew were going to be terrible, and I've done my b...Show more »

I've gone up for loads of jobs in the past that I knew were going to be terrible, and I've done my best, and I still haven't got them. So I think I've been lucky in who's decided I'd be worthy of their time. Show less «

People in England talk about stupid Hollywood idiots, but the industry attracts some of the cleveres...Show more »

People in England talk about stupid Hollywood idiots, but the industry attracts some of the cleverest people in the world. Show less «

I've no interest in fame. Absolutely none. Now okay, when you start doing well, there's a novelty to...Show more »

I've no interest in fame. Absolutely none. Now okay, when you start doing well, there's a novelty to it that's kind of exciting. It's like nothing you've ever experienced. It's great. But now, it's not something that attracts me in anyway. The shriekers, I have no time for shriekers. It all feels so fucking fake. 'Yeah, I tell jokes on television, fucking relax.' There's so many shriekers. Like, generally, 13-year-old girls tend to shriek. And I want to be nice about it, I do, because they are excited but you think, 'just fucking calm down'. Everybody has gone fame mad. If somebody said to me I didn't have to be famous, I'd be delighted. But I love my job so much that it's one of the consequences of it. Show less «

I'm a Hawaiian shirt guy. I've made that life decision.

There tends to be a jealousy in England towards countries that are successful.

I'm more like a spoon symbol. I think women just want to spoon me.

I come from a musical kind of family.

A guy who's actually self destructive is quite fun to play.

I'd like my super power to be puns; I'd like to be great at puns: pun power. Then I could go on load...Show more »

I'd like my super power to be puns; I'd like to be great at puns: pun power. Then I could go on loads of panel shows and live off that forever. Show less «

When I say I hate nostalgia, I hate things set in the recent past where everything is shiny and new.

I often talk to myself while walking down the street. I did it as a kid.

I grew up among strong women so I know what it's like to be loved and humiliated in a heartbeat.

I cook rarely, but I've kind of got two or three dishes that I stick to. I do a great sweet potato a...Show more »

I cook rarely, but I've kind of got two or three dishes that I stick to. I do a great sweet potato and lentil curry. Show less «

I just am so tired of really badly written women. It's so boring.

Put it this way: singing is not my day job.

After 'Bridesmaids,' women know who I am.

I get asked all the time if I want to do more dramatic acting, and I really doubt that dramatic acto...Show more »

I get asked all the time if I want to do more dramatic acting, and I really doubt that dramatic actors get asked if they want to do more comedies. I don't really know why that is. Show less «

I definitely want to keep working in Ireland, and without being too worthy about it, if it's possibl...Show more »

I definitely want to keep working in Ireland, and without being too worthy about it, if it's possible to bring work into the country, that's no harm. Show less «

L.A. is fun, but it feels like one of those towns in the north of Scotland where there's an oil rig ...Show more »

L.A. is fun, but it feels like one of those towns in the north of Scotland where there's an oil rig just off the coast and whether or not you work for the oil rig, everyone is connected to it. Show less «

I think I'm going to keep my Irish accent forever now in any movie I make, because chicks dig it and...Show more »

I think I'm going to keep my Irish accent forever now in any movie I make, because chicks dig it and that's all I care about now! Show less «

I would be nothing if it wasn't for the town where I grew up and the people who gave me my inspirati...Show more »

I would be nothing if it wasn't for the town where I grew up and the people who gave me my inspiration. Show less «

The fame thing has happened very gradually, so I've been kind of lucky.

Going out with other actors is never good; actresses are neurotic, and actors are horrendous egotist...Show more »

Going out with other actors is never good; actresses are neurotic, and actors are horrendous egotists. Show less «

[on not pitching his TV show Moone Boy (2012) to Ireland's national broadcaster RTE] A show like thi...Show more »

[on not pitching his TV show Moone Boy (2012) to Ireland's national broadcaster RTE] A show like this is expensive. It just never came up. I don't think RTE even have a comedy department. I wouldn't know who the f**k to pitch it to. Show less «

I've always been conscious of the fact that there aren't enough Irish voices on British television c...Show more »

I've always been conscious of the fact that there aren't enough Irish voices on British television compared to the amount of Irish people who live there. Show less «

I don't mind being slightly fat-ish, I just don't want to be fat.

Reviewers are the worst laughers in the world.

When I was about 13 I realised girls weren't going to kiss me because I was a gigantic, weird lookin...Show more »

When I was about 13 I realised girls weren't going to kiss me because I was a gigantic, weird looking creature from the depths. I was like 6 ft. aged 11. Show less «

For some reason, I find that in the course of my career I've worked with more women than most men ha...Show more »

For some reason, I find that in the course of my career I've worked with more women than most men have. Show less «

I feel like I need to start wearing a T-shirt saying 'This is not a photo opportunity'. People are s...Show more »

I feel like I need to start wearing a T-shirt saying 'This is not a photo opportunity'. People are so lovely but you do find that when you're out you spend 40% of your time posing for photographs. Show less «

Beyonce is the most amazing woman in the world.

Hey, I think comic actors are the best actors.

The bottom line is that female writers aren't being given enough opportunities by male producers.

[on Graham Norton show when he was asked whether having swallowed any of the fly in his drink]That's...Show more »

[on Graham Norton show when he was asked whether having swallowed any of the fly in his drink]That's why I'm a good girl. Show less «

I don't think the public here buy this idea that women and men speak different comedic languages.

Louis C. K. makes me laugh, I must say.

Social media is great, I guess, but it feels like technology is the sapper of innocence.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be serious, like Daniel Day-Lewis. No one really dreams of being a com...Show more »

When I was a kid, I wanted to be serious, like Daniel Day-Lewis. No one really dreams of being a comic actor, do they? Now I realise how stupid that is - and it's because comic acting isn't taken seriously enough. It's a discipline. You know instantly - either you're funny and getting the laughs, or you're not. Show less «

I play very sweet characters, so people look at me like I'm the kid from 'The Wonder Years,' rather ...Show more »

I play very sweet characters, so people look at me like I'm the kid from 'The Wonder Years,' rather than Brad Pitt. Show less «

I never go to these showbiz parties. I avoid them with a 10-inch pole.

I don't know if I'd do an action movie because I don't know if I could keep a straight face; honestl...Show more »

I don't know if I'd do an action movie because I don't know if I could keep a straight face; honestly, I just think it's so silly. Like, I love watching them but I can't imagine me doing one. Show less «

[on what he eventually plans to read to his three-month-old son] Right now the only one that we're r...Show more »

[on what he eventually plans to read to his three-month-old son] Right now the only one that we're reading is "Go the Fuck to Sleep". I'm looking forward to Roald Dahl. Show less «

I think Ireland, pound for pound, is the funniest country in the world. The thing I miss being away ...Show more »

I think Ireland, pound for pound, is the funniest country in the world. The thing I miss being away is the banter in the pubs - it is so strong and oddly civilized, smart. Show less «

I'd like to think that I'm getting slightly more mature as time goes on, but I don't know if my fian...Show more »

I'd like to think that I'm getting slightly more mature as time goes on, but I don't know if my fiance would necessarily agree. Show less «

In comedy it helps if there's a friendly atmosphere on the set.

I grew up in a house of forthright women.

I mean, I'm an uncle of seven or eight, and I don't mind it at all! Kids are great. Kids are the bes...Show more »

I mean, I'm an uncle of seven or eight, and I don't mind it at all! Kids are great. Kids are the best six-hour experience you can have! Show less «

I'm never overawed by a situation and I think that's because I've always looked several years older ...Show more »

I'm never overawed by a situation and I think that's because I've always looked several years older than I am. So because people were treating me like I was 40 when I was 29, I've always felt in control of a situation. People used to say, when you're 32, you'll look 32. I'm still waiting for that moment, where my age catches up with my appearance. Show less «

Well, when you're the youngest of five, parents kind of lose interest more and more through the chil...Show more »

Well, when you're the youngest of five, parents kind of lose interest more and more through the children. I think my eldest brother was under loads of pressure to do something amazing with his life, but by the time I came around they were like, 'Well, let's hope he doesn't kill a guy.' Show less «

Being at the genesis of the creative process is definitely something I want to keep doing. It's just...Show more »

Being at the genesis of the creative process is definitely something I want to keep doing. It's just such a great buzz. Show less «

[re his role in The Sapphires (2012) with Aboriginal girl singers] I was really surprised by how sim...Show more »

[re his role in The Sapphires (2012) with Aboriginal girl singers] I was really surprised by how similar Aboriginals and Irish people are, like in their mentality, particularly coming from that time [1960s]... I think it's why the character as an Irish guy works quite well, because we're all part of the same team. Show less «

I'm a huge, huge believer in love. Huge!

I'm probably working on three different scripts at any time, so there's never a time where I've got ...Show more »

I'm probably working on three different scripts at any time, so there's never a time where I've got nothing to do. Show less «

All of this talk of recession offends me. I am delighted that bankers have less money.

I think there's something in the fact that it's hard to be good looking and funny. You have to have ...Show more »

I think there's something in the fact that it's hard to be good looking and funny. You have to have an oddball quality; people have to sympathise with you to find you funny. Show less «

Chris O'Dowd

Chris O'Dowd's FILMOGRAPHY

Chris O'Dowd'S roles

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