Los Angeles, Dec 19 (NationPress) The acclaimed Hollywood actor Colin Farrell, known for his role as an addict in the film Ballad of a Small Player, expressed his intrigue with characters that delve into the darker aspects of life, as he believes that every individual endures challenging times.

He remarked: "While I experience intense moments of joy in various aspects of my life, including my work and my children, I have always sensed that the shared experience of humanity is pain. Pain is a universal feeling we all encounter, along with fear and uncertainty. Not everyone has had the chance to feel joy, which is indeed a significant loss. My fascination lies within pain. Every act of aggression or violence can be traced back to a pain that has been internalized," he stated during a conversation with Jessie Buckley for Variety's Actors on Actors series.

Despite having faced his own challenges with addiction, Farrell clarified that he did not tap into his personal struggles for this particular role, as he considers addiction to be a very distinct experience, according to femalefirst.co.uk.

He explained: "Upon reading the Ballad, I found a character who had no explicit reason or backstory presented in the script—he was merely a person overwhelmed by an intense, agitated pain. I struggled to understand it when I first read it, so I created my own fictional backstory to explore the character's depth."

"Having a background with addiction, depression, and anxiety—essentially the full spectrum of human vulnerabilities—does influence my work. However, I did not feel that my personal experience with addiction informed my portrayal, as it is such a specific journey," he added.

He continued: "Addiction is merely a byproduct of unresolved issues or uncertainties that can be too daunting to face. People often choose to ignore them and pretend to have answers when they are unprepared for the questions at hand. It’s essential to confront and sit with the discomfort, sorrow, and fear that accompany these challenges."

Farrell, whose eldest son has Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, recognizes the privilege his profession offers him in exploring a wide array of emotions and experiences. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that acting cannot alter his personal circumstances significantly.

He reflected: "Granting ourselves and our children the permission to feel overwhelmed is crucial. I am acutely aware of the privileges I have enjoyed in life, particularly concerning my profession. However, ultimately, there is nothing I can achieve in acting that will enable my son, James, to communicate or develop language."