Childhood & Early Life
Robert Sheehan was born on January 7, 1988, in Country Laois, Ireland. His father worked in the local police force. The youngest of the three children in his family, he was a pampered child and was never forced to do anything he did not want to do. Thus, when he started showing interest in music, he was free to go as he wanted. He played a number of musical instruments in school, such as the banjo and the bodhrán.
Having developed a keen artistic sensibility even before entering his teenage years, he started acting in school plays. His most profound acting experience in school was that of playing the role of ‘Oliver’ in ‘Oliver with a Twist.’
An eccentric and confident kid, he did not know the struggle it took to become a film star. He appeared in many auditions as a teenager, accompanied by his mother. He surprised his family by being selected for a role in the film ‘Song for a Raggy Boy.’ He showed immense self-confidence while portraying his character in the film.
He then played the role of a cripple in the play ‘Cripple of Innishmaan.’ Once out of high school, he decided to acquire a professional degree in performing arts. He enrolled at the ‘Galway–Mayo Institute of Technology’ at the age of 17 but did not like the theoretical aspects of being an artist. After failing in his first year at the institute, he dropped out.
His mother was worried about him but continued supporting him and accompanying him to auditions. She became his manager, and this helped boost his confidence. Around the mid-2000s, he started receiving a lot of roles, and it was just a matter of time before he made his big debut.
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Career
In 2004, he auditioned for a major role in the series ‘Foreign Exchange’ and bagged the role. This was the first major role of his career. He played a college kid with a sharp mind and appeared in all the episodes of the series, which ran for an entire season.
He then played the role of ‘King Louis XIV’ in the historical drama series ‘Young Blades.’ He became a series regular and gained immense popularity with the audiences. The combination of his innocent screen presence and remarkable acting talent was proving to be working in his favor.
Robert then did small stints for the series ‘The Clinic,’ and ‘Bel’s Boys’ among others, during the 2000s. His role as ‘Liam’ in the two-part comedy drama ‘Bitter Sweet’ was particularly noteworthy and helped Robert in bagging the first breakthrough role of his career.
In March 2009, he appeared alongside renowned actors Sean Bean and Andrew Garfield in ‘Red Riding,’ a dark adaptation of the popular fairytale quartet written by David Peace. This got him further exposure.
In 2009, ‘Cherrybomb,’ a UK drama film, featured Robert in his first leading role in a major motion picture. The film depicted two friends, played by Robert and Rupert Grint, spending a weekend battling each other to win a pretty girl’s attention.
Around the same time, Robert appeared in the supernatural thriller series ‘Misfits,’ which told the story of a few small-time goons who acquired superpowers after being struck by lightning. Robert played a regular role in the series in its first two seasons. It earned him a ‘BAFTA’ nomination for the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in the year 2011, for his effective portrayal of a young petty offender.
In late 2010, he ventured into another career-defining stint with his major role in the four-part drama ‘Love/Hate.’ The series, directed by David Caffrey, one of Robert’s personal favorites, garnered excellent ratings. Robert’s performance too received immense accolades. The series earned him a nomination for an ‘IFTA’ award for his performance in the lead role, but he ended up winning the honor for the ‘Actor in a Supporting Role’ instead, at the same award function.
In 2011, Robert made a solid appearance in the American film ‘Season of the Witch,’ and in the same year, he portrayed the role of ‘Ivan’ in the Irish comedy ‘Killing Bono.’ The film was a loose portrayal of the life of Irish rocker Ivan McCormick and became a successful venture for Robert.
In the same year, Robert did a theatrical stint in ‘The Playboy of the Western World.’ In 2013, Robert played another leading role, in the film ‘City of Bones,’ which was a film adaptation of the 2007 novel of the same name. The film was appreciated by critics and so was Robert’s performance as ‘Simon Lewis,’ a musician.
In 2012, he became a series regular in the comedy series ‘Me and Mrs. Jones,’ which had him playing ‘Billy Delaney,’ one of the numerous love interests of the titular character.
He then appeared in significant roles in films such as ‘Moonwalkers,’ ‘Geostorm,’ and ‘The Road Within.’
Robert has received several honors for his immense contribution to the art of acting. In October 2015, he became the recipient of the ‘Burke Medal for Contribution to Discourse through the Arts’ from the ‘College Historical Society’ of the prestigious ‘Trinity College.’
Personal Life
Although Robert Sheehan is a committed man at present, he has dated quite a lot of women from the entertainment industry. His past relationship with actress Taylor Kranzle had become a hot topic for the media, but the couple parted ways soon after.
Robert then started dating French actor Sofia Boutella, and their relationship is still going strong.
In his free time, Robert likes to travel and relax with his friends at home. He also indulges in cooking occasionally.
