Richard Harris’ BAFTA-winning son Jared reveals armed defense after IRA threat
The son of famous Irish actor Richard Harris has revealed that he was walking around New York with armed guards after his father was placed on the IRA’s hit list.
AFTA-winning actor Jared Harris has enjoyed a hugely successful acting career in recent years, emerging from the considerable shadow of his legendary father.
He has now opened up about the security threat to his family after his father spoke out against the IRA following the 1983 Harrods bombing.
The explosion killed three police officers and three civilians and although Richard Harris was a strong supporter of a united Ireland, he publicly suggested that he could not justify the bombing and the devastation. the damage it causes.
That led to concerns that he could be an IRA target, with Jared telling the site he needed an armed guard to his father following his comments.
“I remember walking around New York City with armed guards with us everywhere we went at a time when the threat was considered greatest,” Jared told us, as he He’s promoting The Ghost of Richard Harris, a new Sky Arts biopic about him. father’s life.
“Before that, he was a very loud proponent of a united Ireland. He was for the cause, but not for the method after the Harrods bombing.
“We’re young, teenagers or maybe just in our 20s. You tend to think of yourself as immortal at that age.
“And I don’t look back on it as a particularly scary time. It’s more dramatic in a way. It’s like something out of a movie and good people always survive. We have to believe that. and luckily it was on this occasion.”
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Richard Harris is an attractive man as seen through the eyes of his three sons, BAFTA-winning actor Jared Harris, actor Jamie Harris and director Damian Harris.
Jared goes on to recall his father’s controversial remarks, as he thinks they led to an enjoyable experience during his school days.
“He would make controversial statements about Ireland or whatever and it would be on the front pages of the newspapers,” he continued.
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“The kids will come to you and say things about your dad, but you’ll have to answer his opinion.
“That’s who he is. He says what he thinks and doesn’t worry too much about what other people think and he can get away with it.
“Frank Sinatra calls it the quality that drips in the room and he has that quality. He has that star quality. You know people who have that right away.
“As an actor, you only really appreciate, discover and fully understand his abilities and personality when he’s on stage. On camera, he has to restrain himself and attract it.
“That kind of showiness doesn’t always involve cameras because it’s intrusive and flashback. That kind of personality is much easier to appreciate in a live performance.”
While Jared is proud of his Irish roots, he admits that he “give up” from trying to identify himself as Irish a long time ago, after being told he would never be accepted. take.
“I remember I was in Ireland making a movie and I said I thought I was Irish,” he added. “I have said quite frankly that I need to realize that I will never be treated like an Irishman. I was not raised there, I am not part of the culture and that’s all.
“They’re absolutely right and while I have tremendous love and respect for Ireland, I didn’t grow up there. It’s a bit insulting to them if you didn’t grow up there.
“So even though I’m proud of my Irish roots, proud of my father’s and I’ll always be Celt, you can’t pretend to be Irish unless you grew up there , especially if you speak with a British accent.
“It’s because of the history between the two countries and in Ireland everything is very tribal. Especially when it comes to Ireland and Britain.”
The specter of Richard Harris is now on Sky Arts
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/richard-harris-bafta-winning-son-jared-reveals-armed-guard-protection-after-ira-threat-42166534.html Richard Harris’ BAFTA-winning son Jared reveals armed defense after IRA threat
