Brendan Gleeson has told how a natural curiosity keeps him at the top of his game – without feeling the need to ‘tear around’ after work.
The Hollywood legend, 71, is preparing for the screen adaptation of The Weir, the Conor McPherson play in which he made his West End debut last year.
The Dubliner also stars in The Good Daughter, a US TV series due out in November.
But the actor, whose remarkable body of work includes The Banshees of Inisherin, In Bruges and Paddington 2, is not entertaining retirement any time soon.
“I’m not sucking on a pipe or putting on my slippers just yet, but I’m not tearing around after things either,” he said.
“I won’t do something for the sake of it anymore, but I’m still curious.
“There is a grind where you feel you’ll fall off the wagon if you don’t continue working, but I don’t feel that any more, the body of work speaks for itself, it’s nice to be asked to do work, but it’s becoming easier to say no.
“I’m always curious as to whether something is worth exploring or not.”
He was speaking at St Francis Hospice in Raheny, as construction work began on a new in-patient unit accommodating 24 single-patient rooms.
Gleeson, whose parents both received end-of-life care at the existing unit, is backing a multi-million euro Buy-a-Brick campaign to support the development, which will provide care for an additional 3,000 patients over the next 25 years.
The new build expects to open its doors to patients in Spring 2028 and includes an underground car park and clinical support facilities.
Thousands of people have so far bought €250,000 worth of ‘virtual bricks’ and left messages on www.sfh.ie/buy-a-brick/ – many of them to remember loved ones.
Businesses, trusts and philanthropists have brought the total generated to €3million – but the hospice needs to raise an additional €7.4million.
Gleeson said there are ‘lessons’ to be learned about how to run a country from the way hospices are managed.
“When you see the results of people who are good humoured and kind, that’s the way we should be heading, there’s a lot of divisiveness out there and I believe most people don’t want to live in a place that is constantly snarling at itself.
“What I love about the hospice (model) is that they constantly want to make things better, improving privacy and going to huge amounts of effort to make that happen.
“It reinvigorates my feeling that things can always be improved.
“We all have to embrace the reality of death and fight the instinct to deny its presence, but hospices will always alleviate the worst aspects of, it, even the fear, it feels like hospices are unafraid.
“It’s only when you have personal experience that you can fully appreciate it.”
St Francis Hospice says the future impact of the new development across North Dublin and surrounding counties, will be immense.
“Over the next 25 years, it will allow us to care for nearly 10,000 patients – compared to the current figure of 6,750 – and touch the lives of 100,000 more through their loved one,” said its CEO, Fintan Fagan.
“Our patient numbers have grown by 88% in the last decade, so we have to innovate and adapt to meet these growing needs.
“Palliative care is not just for end-of-life; it can help people with life-limiting illness, ensuring they can live with comfort and dignity.
“Now that construction has commenced, we are once again appealing to our community to get behind the building to help us achieve our overall target of €10.4million. Every brick and donation makes a difference.”
People are asked to buy a brick for €25, €100, or €250, on www.sfh.ie/buy-a-brick/ or contact the Fundraising Department at 01-8327535.
The campaign will run throughout the construction phase and until the new unit is completely paid for.