Barry Keoghan Opens Up About His Addiction Struggles

LOS ANGELES, California — Actor Barry Keoghan, 32, revealed his battle with addiction in a recent interview published on May 1. While discussing his upbringing, the ‘Saltburn‘ star shared that he lost his mother to heroin addiction when he was just 12 years old.

Despite this deep personal loss and the joy of becoming a father to his son Brando in 2022, Keoghan admitted he still struggled with drug use. “I’m not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict,” he stated. “You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on and learn to work with it.”

Keoghan’s family history with substance abuse weighs heavily on him. “My father passed away as a result of similar issues, and I lost my mum to it. I’ve lost two uncles and a cousin to drugs. That should be enough to say, ‘OK, if I dabble here, I’m f—ed.’ But your curiosity is a powerful thing,” Keoghan explained.

The actor discussed the enormous pressure he has felt since entering Hollywood. He recounted past experiences that resulted in physical scars, sharing, “I’ve got scars here to literally prove it. They’re a result of using. I’m at peace now, and responsible for everything I do.”

Reflecting on his childhood, Keoghan recalled a time when he and his siblings were kept away from their mother during her drug battles. “I remember being kids here and hearing my mum scream through the letterbox, asking for us,” he said. “We weren’t to go down and hug her.”

Looking back, Keoghan acknowledges how his mother’s struggles impact his thoughts and emotions today. “It’s always just in and around achievements that it’s really prominent—’cause you’d like to celebrate that with her, you know?” he remarked.

In his conclusion, Keoghan shared his desire to provide insight into his journey, explaining, “I want people to understand where I come from. I’m very proud to carry that, and for people in the acting world to know there’s a lot weighing on this.”