He’s Hollywood’s new darling, but has returned to his Irish roots for his latest TV comedy, Moone Boy. We meet actor Chris O’Dowd, 32, to talk oxygen facials, damaged women and Beyoncé.
Game on! Chris and Fabulous’ Emma get competitive
Where Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
So, why are we playing giant Connect 4, Chris?
Probably because I’ve written a show called Moone Boy about an 11-year-old boy called Martin who has an imaginary friend, because he’s lonely. And it’s set in 1990, when people played Connect 4. Well, I did anyway.
Is Moone Boy based on your own life? Did you only have one friend?
I’d say that’s accurate. Maybe I’m even being kind to myself. Around half of it’s autobiographical. But the kid playing me is far more charming than I was. I wouldn’t make an audience bear the actual truth.
Aww, bless! But you’re a big star now.
[Deadpan] That’s right. I am. Exactly.
So did you miss LA’s oxygen facials and soy-milk lattes while you were filming in Ireland?
Well, I stayed in my parents’ house so that was unusual – and cheap. But I don’t even know if people in Hollywood do all that s**t. Do they? Maybe Zac Efron does. I don’t know those people. The only thing I do differently when I’m there is that I drink slightly less during the day. But only slightly, and only during the day.
How has your life changed since starring in Bridesmaids?
My photo is on a lot of people’s Facebook profiles now. And I talk to a lot of people’s friends on the phone. The main thing is that women know who I am, which is kind of weird.
We bet you get chatted up loads…
Women want me to date their sister, usually. They’re like: “Oh, you’d love her. She has a drinking problem, and she’s been hurt before, but she’s lovely.” I’m suddenly a target for damaged women, which is all downto Rhodes [his character in Bridesmaids] being such a nice guy. It’s nothing to do with me.
Have you had any good celeb encounters lately?
I met Jerry Seinfeld and we had our picture taken. I put my arm around him and did a big smile and he whispered to me: “You know, I don’t think it’s necessary for a man to put his arm around another man’s waist.” [Pauses thoughtfully] So I moved my hand on to his ass instead.
Hilarious! You’re very open on Twitter – do you ever regret anything you write?
All the time. But if I regret it, I delete it. Actually, people are really positive to me on Twitter. I think the fact that I’m a 6ft 4in Irish guy with a beard means that guys aren’t necessarily going to give me s**t, so I probably get away with an awful lot. But Dawn [Porter, 33, his wife] gets a lot of s**t. Women are so mean to women.
Congrats on your recent wedding to Dawn, by the way. You’re like the new Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
Wow, I love that. I think I’m cooler than Jay-Z. But other than that, yeah. They’re the best couple in the world, aren’t they? I’m such a big Beyoncé fan. We went to see her at Glastonbury last year and it was amazing. I’ve been working with someone who knows them, and apparently they’re just funny and sweet and lovely. That kind of warms my heart.
● Watch Moone Boy on Sky1 HD, Friday, 9pm.
The damage
Number of games Chris won 5
Number of times Chris cheated 5
Number of fans who approached Chris during our interview Dozens. And he was lovely to all of them
