Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
It is often said that being a professional footballer can feel like being in a gilded cage. The glamour, the money, the fame and the adoration that come with the lifestyle often overshadow the restrictions players endure in their daily lives, while criticism can cut like a razorblade. Hardwicke realised this very quickly.
“Footballers are generally quite young men and women in this very public field. We don’t often think about what it’s like when they have to get to that frame of mind where you must perform at the highest level every week. You’ve got to make sure everything’s right: your diet, your training, even your relationships.”
This meant Hardwicke had to undergo a rigorous training regimen of his own, which he says was daunting – but ultimately enjoyable too. And, as a football lover, he relished the opportunity to get back onto the pitch and have a kickabout.
“When we shot training scenes, we had some really good footballers in the team and coaching staff, so getting to play again and learning from them was one of the big joys. Then there was the physical preparation aspect of it at the gym in London. All the guys knew their football really well, and I said, ‘Look, you taught me how a footballer would train, but for me it always has to serve another purpose other than just getting into a certain shape.’ That purpose was to try and get into the physical routine a footballer would have. I have great admiration for footballers and how fit they need to keep every day.”
That kind of commitment is exactly why Hardwicke shines in his portrayal of Roy Keane. The little details always add up, no less than when a different set of cameras were trained on Keane in his pomp. Just like Keane, Hardwicke holds nothing back and, like the footballer himself, that’s what makes Saipan such compelling viewing.
Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
It is often said that being a professional footballer can feel like being in a gilded cage. The glamour, the money, the fame and the adoration that come with the lifestyle often overshadow the restrictions players endure in their daily lives, while criticism can cut like a razorblade. Hardwicke realised this very quickly.
“Footballers are generally quite young men and women in this very public field. We don’t often think about what it’s like when they have to get to that frame of mind where you must perform at the highest level every week. You’ve got to make sure everything’s right: your diet, your training, even your relationships.”
This meant Hardwicke had to undergo a rigorous training regimen of his own, which he says was daunting – but ultimately enjoyable too. And, as a football lover, he relished the opportunity to get back onto the pitch and have a kickabout.
“When we shot training scenes, we had some really good footballers in the team and coaching staff, so getting to play again and learning from them was one of the big joys. Then there was the physical preparation aspect of it at the gym in London. All the guys knew their football really well, and I said, ‘Look, you taught me how a footballer would train, but for me it always has to serve another purpose other than just getting into a certain shape.’ That purpose was to try and get into the physical routine a footballer would have. I have great admiration for footballers and how fit they need to keep every day.”
That kind of commitment is exactly why Hardwicke shines in his portrayal of Roy Keane. The little details always add up, no less than when a different set of cameras were trained on Keane in his pomp. Just like Keane, Hardwicke holds nothing back and, like the footballer himself, that’s what makes Saipan such compelling viewing.
Intimidating, no-nonsense and, at times, frankly terrifying, Roy Keane’s staunch demeanour has always been one of his most defining characteristics. It’s what many Manchester United fans loved most about him, seeing their captain put his body on the line, embodying a win-at-all-costs mentality that meant giving everything for the club was the minimum requirement.
Now a pundit on UK television, Keane remains prominent in the public eye, as uncompromising as ever. He is also the subject of a new film, Saipan, which focuses on the infamous falling-out between the Republic of Ireland captain and his then manager Mick McCarthy in the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup. Keane is portrayed by another Cork native, BAFTA-nominated actor Éanna Hardwicke, who faced a challenge every bit as tough as the sort the United midfielder used to mete out on a weekly basis.
“There were two strands to the preparation,” Hardwicke says. “It was all about research, which to me felt very much like rehearsal. First, I read everything I could get my hands on and then you just try things and see what works. The other half was to forget this person as a public figure. Forget what you think you know about them and just imagine what it would be like to be at the highest stage in the world, and then for things to start falling apart so fast.”
Saipan tells the story of the breakdown in the relationship between Keane and McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan) at Ireland’s Saipan training camp ahead of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, which led to the talismanic skipper storming out before a ball had been kicked. Hardwicke delivers an incredible, emotionally charged monologue during the big clash with McCarthy to crown his performance. Then, and throughout the film, he captures Keane’s swagger, mannerisms and temperament. So how did he manage that?
“I suppose it was always going to be my version of Roy Keane. I would never call it a biography or a biopic. But I was struck by lots of things. His dedication, his rigour, his commitment, his consistency. Doing it every day and showing his professionalism are all really admirable qualities. I think, as a rule, you need to bring those qualities to the film. For me, that meant just staying in that frame of mind and keeping the furnace burning, or you lose the shape of the character a bit.”
