Hollywood star Colin Farrell has revealed a hilarious and cringeworthy chapter from his past: the time he almost joined Irish pop sensation Boyzone. The actor shared the story of his disastrous audition, where he mangled a George Michael classic, in a recent television appearance.
The Nightclub Encounter That Sparked It All
The unlikely sequence of events began on the dance floor of The Pod nightclub in Dublin. A young Farrell, dressed in what he describes as peak 90s attire—a tight rubber t-shirt and leather trousers—caught the eye of music manager Louis Walsh. Walsh, famously known as Ireland's answer to Simon Cowell, was in the process of forming what would become one of the biggest boybands of all time.
"I was on the dance floor showing a bit a leg back in the day," Farrell recounted. After his dance session, he was approached in the bar and told Walsh wanted to speak with him. The manager pitched his new band idea, telling Farrell he'd be "wonderful" for the group.
The Audition That Went Spectacularly Wrong
Fuelled with confidence and sporting a bandana, Farrell attended the open auditions. He even had his picture taken with future band members Shane Lynch and original member Mark Walton. Then came his moment to shine: a rendition of George Michael's 'Careless Whisper'.
By his own admission, the performance was a catastrophe. "Terrible tune coming out of this mouth, murdered it," Farrell said, laughing at the memory. The audition panel, perhaps in disbelief, asked him to sing the song a second time. "I sang it a second time and I didn't feel great about myself afterwards," he confessed.
The Phone Call That Ended a Pop Dream
Later that day, the phone rang at Farrell's home. His mother told him Louis Walsh was on the line. Taking the phone at the bottom of the stairs, Farrell received the gentle let-down. Walsh told him, "Look, eh Colin listen, today eh you know, it's not really… it's not going to work, you know."
This sliding doors moment, now circulating again due to the recent Boyzone documentary 'No Matter What', highlights a vastly different path Farrell's life could have taken. Boyzone debuted in 1994 and went on to achieve global fame, while Farrell pursued acting, eventually earning Oscar nominations and Hollywood acclaim.
Reflecting on the incident, it's clear things worked out for the best for both parties. While fans can only imagine what a Boyzone featuring Colin Farrell might have looked like—or how his film roles might have incorporated boyband dance breaks—the world gained a formidable actor instead. The story remains a perfect, self-deprecating anecdote from a star who nearly traded scripts for synchronised dance routines.
