Actor Colin Farrell has a career full of ups and downs, marked by both resounding successes and failures that are difficult to forget.In recent years, his name has once again shone brightly in the film industry, leaving behind complicated moments that even he himself considers “embarrassing.”2025 found him headlining two high-profile productions: A Great Daring and Wonderful Journey, alongside Margot Robbie, and the film Damned Luck. In addition, 2024 established him as the protagonist of one of the most talked-about series of the year, The Penguin.
Farrell’s consecration is not limited to public applause.His recognition has reached the highest levels of the industry: at the 2023 Oscars he received his first Academy Award nomination for his role in Inisherin’s Banshee.Although he did not win the statuette, he did previously win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, an achievement that confirmed his validity and ability to reinvent himself.
These recent triumphs contrast strikingly with an episode that the performer himself has described as one of the most difficult of his career. Almost two decades ago, Farrell was involved in a project that promised to take him directly to the big leagues of Hollywood, but it ended up being a disappointment both personally and professionally.
In 2005, and a year earlier in the United States, Alexander the Great hit theaters with the ambition of becoming one of the most impressive epic dramas of the time.The film, directed and written by Oliver Stone, represented a monumental challenge: to portray the life and legacy of the famous Macedonian conqueror.The cast brought together top-level figures, with Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, ValKilmer, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Hopkins and Christopher Plummer accompanying Farrell on screen.
Expectations were high from all fronts.It was a story that Oliver Stone had dreamed of since his university years, a story on a global scale, loaded with political elements, action and a personal background that promised to move the audience.In Farrell’s own words, “It was a story that Oliver Stone had dreamed about since he was in college, as big as it was, as global as it was, as political as it was, as violent as it was, and as essential as it was, it was really personal.”
The script, defined as brilliant and emotional, and the participation of a cast of stars predicted a sure success both at the box office and in the awards season.The atmosphere before the premiere exuded confidence.According to Farrell himself, everyone involved in the project took it for granted that they would attend the Oscars.”When I say expectations, we all had our suits ready. I’m not even kidding. Some were like, ‘Well, guys, we’re going to the Oscars. That’s for sure.’ Because we had Oliver Stone. We had a story of such magnitude. We had a script that was moving and brilliant.”
Reality hit hard when Alexander the Great was presented to the public and critics.Despite the expectations and investment – the budget amounted to 155 million dollars, while the worldwide collection barely exceeded 167 million – the production failed to attract the favor of either the audience or the analysts.
The negative reviews focused on several aspects.On the one hand, the film was pointed out for its historical inaccuracies, a point that generated controversy among fans and experts in the field.On the other hand, the film received complaints of xenophobia towards the Persian empire, which contributed to tarnishing its public image.Even the costumes and characterization of the characters were the subject of harsh opinions, and Farrell’s performance was especially punished by critics.
The actor clearly remembers the moment the tide turned.He was in Toronto when those closest to him warned him about the tenor of the reviews. His sister Claudine told him the bad news and another person in his circle, Danica, corroborated the seriousness of the situation.Farrell, still incredulous, asked for explanations and was soon inundated with devastating headlines: “Alexander the Dumb, Alexander the Boring, Alexander the Inarticulate, Alexander the Weak, Alexander the….”The succession of lapidary trials left him in a state of shock, and the actor himself relates: “I was like: ‘Shit.’ I thought: ‘What can I do?’”
The coup was not just professional.Farrell has acknowledged that the experience filled him with shame, a sensation that is difficult to cope with in the midst of media exposure.“I felt so ashamed,” she recalled.During those days, while he gathered his belongings and assimilated the magnitude of the fiasco, he had to face the harshness of the industry and relentless self-criticism.
It is not the first time that Farrell publicly refers to this episode.About three years ago, in an interview for The Late Late Show, he admitted that AlejandroMagno is one of the great failures of his career.The memory of the devastating criticism and the lack of recognition from the Academy accompanied him for a long time, marking a before and after in his way of facing new challenges.
Despite the pain that failure caused him, Farrell managed to transform that experience into a lesson in humility and resilience.In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he reflected on the dangers of excessive expectations: “Expectations are dangerous,” he warned.
The actor highlights the personal nature of the project for Oliver Stone, highlighting that the director’s dream also became a burden shared by the entire team.He recognizes that enthusiasm led them to lose sight of the possibility of failure and that the fall was doubly painful due to this excess of confidence.
With the passage of time, Farrell has been able to rebuild his career, chaining together quality projects and receiving recognition that he once thought was unattainable.The road back to the top was not easy, but today his name is once again among the favorites for the industry’s greatest awards, demonstrating that even the hardest failures can become a driving force for personal and professional growth.
