So long John Boy – as Aidan Gillen gets set to become Charlie Haughey in a new RTE series.
But the former Love/Hate star has revealed that the former Taoiseach’s family has yet to see the drama, despite their concern it will be a “hatchet job”.
However Aidan, 46, insisted he wouldn’t have signed up for the role if it was completely over the top.
He told Goss.ie: “If it was a sensationalist, hatchet job, I would not have been interested in any way in doing this.
New role: Aidan plays Haughey in Charlie | RTE
“What I was interested in being part of was, as far as we could make out, a fair assessment of person’s character in a particular time in our history.”
And Aidan is glad the series doesn’t focus too much on Haughey’s relationship with journalist Terry Keane.
He added: “I wouldn’t have wanted to do that because then you would be moving really far into the arena of fictionalising something.
“Who knows what goes on in people’s affairs? Obviously it’s a recorded fact by now I’m sure that they had a long affair and that’s just the way it is. I wouldn’t have wanted to pry into that.”
But the ex-Wire actor revealed he didn’t think it was necessary to consult with Haughey’s family before filming.
“I didn’t get in touch with the family I didn’t feel that was necessary. I studied a lot of footage,” he said.
“I was going for a middle ground an approximation of what Haughey looked like and sounded like but most importantly what we were trying to get in this drama was what is he thinking and the thoughts behind the actions.
“If you are dramatising a public figure who everyone has such a clear image of that you have got to look a bit like him. But it was more of an osmosis thing.
“It is never going to exactly what he looked like. If it was just about little tiny details and understanding his thought process.
As we know him: Aidan played John Boy in Love/Hate | RTE
“There is such a vast of tapestry and the amount of time it could have covered. It includes everyone in the country. It is not sensational and quite understated.”
But the Dubliner told Goss.ie that he did have brief reservations about taking on the role of such a divisive character.
“From the outset I was well aware that it was going to be impossible to please everybody,” he said.
“People have very strong and active opinions on Haughey and it would’ve been an easy gig not to take – but it would’ve been crazy not to do it. It’s a risk but that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
