When life gets messy (and letâs be real, it always does) some people hit the gym, others scroll TikTok until their thumbs cramp. But Colin Farrell? He finds his peace somewhere way quieter. In an exclusive with People, the Oscar-nominated actor shared the one thing that keeps him centered no matter whatâs going on around him: nature.
âNature is the golden answer, it really is,â Farrell said. âHonest to God, I like to jump in a river or go for a walk in a forest ⦠[itâs] medicine truly.â He went on to add, â[I’m a] simple man, simple.â Classic understatement. But thereâs something grounding about that.
Farrell has built his career on big emotions and complex characters; but behind the camera, heâs apparently happiest when things are stripped down to the basics. No Hollywood chaos, no spotlight, just fresh air, water, and maybe a little silence. And honestly? It makes sense. The guyâs been famous for decades. If anyoneâs earned a quiet walk in the woods, itâs him.
Finding Calm in the Chaos
Farrellâs relationship with simplicity goes beyond just solo river dives. He also talked about spending time with his two sons, James, 22, and Henry, 16; something that clearly means more to him than any award or premiere carpet. âOutside of that, Iâm just home with the kidsâ¦â he told People. â[I] go to the cinema quite a lot and sit at home and read and that kind of thing. Go for a run.â
Thereâs something really wholesome about that. Despite living a life thatâs anything but ordinary, Farrell keeps his priorities refreshingly human. Over the years, heâs become known not just for his range as an actor, but for his honesty about growth, self-awareness, and what it takes to stay grounded.
It seems like that same sense of balance shows up in his performances too. Whether itâs the raw emotion he brought to âThe Banshees of Inisherinâ or the quiet intensity in âAfter Yang,â Farrell knows how to slow things down⦠to listen instead of react. Even when heâs fully unrecognizable under layers of prosthetics as Oswald Cobblepot in âThe Penguin,â his focus shines through. And maybe thatâs the real secret: heâs bringing that same mindfulness from the forest to the film set.
Whatâs Next? âBallad of a Small Playerâ Hits Netflix
Of course, Farrell isnât slowing down career-wise. Fans can next catch him in Netflixâs âBallad of a Small Player,â dropping October 29, 2025. Directed by Edward Berger with a script by Rowan Joffé, the film is based on Lawrence Osborneâs 2014 novel of the same name. And honestly? It sounds like the kind of dark, stylized ride we didn’t know we needed.
According to the synopsis, Farrell stars as Lord Doyle, a man hiding out in Macau while drowning in gambling debts. His days blur together on the casino floors until he meets Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a mysterious employee who might just change everything. But looming in the shadows is Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), a private investigator determined to confront Doyle with his past.
Itâs a story about escape, redemption, and facing what youâve tried to bury⦠the kind of emotional territory Farrell thrives in. And if his off-screen calm translates into his on-screen intensity, âBallad of a Small Playerâ might just be another standout for his already impressive filmography.
So yeah, while the rest of us are still trying to find our zen, Colin Farrellâs already figured it out: nature, family, and a little perspective. And somehow, thatâs the most powerful thing ever.
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