Did you ever watch a show and ask yourself, “Who is that actor?” That is the question several people asked after watching Éanna Hardwicke. He has not shied away from showing his true self on and off the screen. His journey is inspiring: he started from small theatre roles and now appears in major television shows. In this piece, we will explore how his journey started, which milestones etched his name in people’s minds, and understand why he is the talk of the town now.
Birth, Parents, and Education
Éanna came into this world on the 21st day of October, in the year of 1996. His mother is from Ireland, while his father hails from England. His childhood days were spent in the town of Glanmire, which is located close to Cork city.
Growing up, Éanna went to Cork School Project, which currently operates under the name of Educate Together, as well as Ashton School in the City of Cork. His family nurtured his acting abilities, which led him to join a youth theatre by the age of 10.
He kept on learning different skills of acting in various theatres while he was in school. Eanna Hardwicke received his first formal education at The Lir Academy, the National Academy of Dramatic Art, where he actively participated in school events to enhance his skills. He graduated with a bachelor’s in acting in 2018.
At The Lir, he took part in numerous shows, including “The Ash Fire,” “Dalliance,” and “The Winter’s Tale.” All the films he studied gave him sufficient knowledge of performance, which set him off on the right track towards succeeding in the television and film industry.
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Career
At a young age, Éanna developed a passion for acting, attending youth theatre classes at Gaiety School of Acting’s Cork campus, National Association of Youth Drama (NAYD), and the Cork School of Music. His first big acting role came when he was only ten years old.
In 2009, he starred in Conor McPherson’s horror film, The Eclipse. Éanna went on to study acting at The Lir Academy, Ireland’s National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin and graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Acting.
At The Lir, he participated in several productions, including The Ash Fire, Dalliance, The Winter’s Tale, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Silence is Requested, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Thyestes, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and No One Sees the Video. These experiences provided him with ample training and preparation for his career in both film and television.
More recently, Hardwicke has expanded his repertoire to include stage work at prestigious London venues. In 2025, he won third prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for his performance in “The Cherry Orchard” at the Donmar Warehouse, further cementing his reputation as a versatile performer across both screen and stage.
Notable Performances
Éanna Hardwicke has taken on several notable roles in recent television dramas, showcasing his range and depth as an actor.
Rob Hegarty in Normal People
He played Rob Hegarty, one of the significant characters in Normal People who is close to Connell, in the 2020 adaption of the book. Rob was part of Connell’s school group and, like most of his classmates, portrayed the social blend of their Irish secondary school.
Éanna’s character faces a tragic turn of events, which focuses on the series’ themes of mental health and young adulthood. Éanna brought convincing realism to the performance, showcasing group relations and the heavy emotions the narrative demands.
Joe Ryan in Smother
In Smother, the Irish thriller series that aired from 2021 to 2023, Éanna played the character Joe Ryan. The plot of the series takes Clare County and the Ahern family as a central focus. It deals with the sudden death of the family’s elder. Joe is a local Garda and was previously a boyfriend of one of the Ahern daughters.
His character dives into the family’s deep secrets and the ongoing inquiry. Éanna’s performance as Joe was remarkable and unique at the same time, and added more value to the show, getting much recognition.
Ben Field in The Sixth Commandment
In The Sixth Commandment, Éanna enacted the character of Ben Field, a churchwarden guilty of murdering writer Peter Farquhar, in the 2023 BBC true-crime show. The series explores the intricacies of the manipulation and deceit prior to the crime being committed.
Ben Field’s character was brilliantly portrayed by Éanna, and his chilling performance attracted a great deal of praise for capturing both the multifaceted aspects of the character and the disturbing nature of the true story. His performance was said to be profoundly nuanced, and that added so much to the impact of the series.
Roy Keane in Saipan
Éanna’s most high-profile role to date is his portrayal of Irish football legend Roy Keane in the biographical film “Saipan,” co-starring Steve Coogan as manager Mick McCarthy. The film, directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, dramatises the infamous 2002 World Cup incident where Keane left the Irish squad following a heated confrontation with McCarthy at their preparation base in Saipan.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 and has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Hardwicke’s intense and transformative performance. Critics have noted how he embodies Keane not just as the focused athlete he was, but as someone who could dominate a room without saying a word, playing the role with “near-terrifying aplomb.”
Awards & Recognition
Éanna Hardwicke’s career has been marked by significant recognition from the industry. In 2024, he was honoured as a European Shooting Star at the Berlin International Film Festival, a prestigious recognition that highlights rising talent in European cinema.
For his powerful performance in “The Sixth Commandment,” he won the Royal Television Society Programme Award for Supporting Actor – Male in 2024 and was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Most recently, on February 27, 2025, Hardwicke received the “Wilde Card” Award at the US-Ireland Alliance Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles. This award recognises rising talent, with previous recipients including Eve Hewson, Dónall Ó Héalai, Jenn Murray, Sarah Bolger, and Saoirse Ronan. He was honoured alongside veteran actor John C. Reilly at the prestigious ceremony.
Hardwicke was also named a Screen International Rising Star in the publication’s inaugural Irish edition, further establishing his reputation as one of Ireland’s most promising young actors.
Social Media Presence
Éanna does not have an active social mmediaaccount H.e has no public Instagram or Twitter handle. He does, however, show up in posts that others post by others, notably his co-stars and event organisers.
For instance, he was highlighted in a post by @endabowe in November 2020, where he showcased photos of himself from during the filming of “Normal People”.
Also, he was talked about in a post by @iftaacademy in April 2024, congratulating him for winning an award at the Irish Film & Television Awards.
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Personal Life
Éanna seems to be quite discreet when it comes to his personal life. He used to date another Irish actress named Alison Oliver. They both went to The Lir Academy in Dublin, and both featured in adaptations of Sally Rooney’s novels—Hardwicke in “Normal People” and Oliver in “Conversations with Friends.”
Hardwicke posted a picture of them on social media, acknowledging their relationship in 2019. However, their relationship has since ended, and Oliver is now reportedly dating actor Josh O’Connor. Since their split, Hardwicke has kept his personal life completely private, and there have been no reports about his current relationship status. He appears to prefer focusing public attention on his professional achievements rather than his personal relationships.
Net Worth
By 2025, Éanna Hardwicke’s net worth is estimated at roughly £800,000 due to his roles in “Normal People” and “The Sixth Commandment.” We arrived at this number after looking at many online websites that list his worth in dollars between $500,000 to 1 million.
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Conclusion
Éanna Hardwicke has quietly built a strong name for himself in film and television. His roles are thoughtful and real; they always leave a mark. From youth theatre in Cork to award-winning performances, his journey shows steady, hard work. With his upcoming starring role as Roy Keane in “Saipan” and recent recognition at major international film festivals and awards ceremonies, Hardwicke has firmly established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting acting talents. With more eyes now on his talent, there’s still so much to look forward to in the years ahead.
