Colin Farrell was born in Dublin, the son of Rita (née Monaghan), a housewife, and Eamon Farrell, a footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers F.C. and owned a company importing and exporting canned goods in Dublin City. He was raised as a Roman Catholic. He was inspired to try acting after being brought to tears while watching E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Farrell unsuccessfully auditioned for the Irish group Boyzone when he was still unknown.
