Barry Keoghan & Nykiya Adams Share What They Learned From Each Other On The Bird Red Carpet [TIFF]

Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, Bird had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. The drama stars Nykiya Adams as twelve-year-old Bailey, who struggles to come to terms with her father’s engagement. Although he loves his daughter, Bug (Barry Keoghan) is “oblivious to the needs of a fledgling teenage girl” and doesn’t understand the extent of Bailey’s hurt. Bailey seeks solace in nature, as her ability to communicate with animals and connect to the physical world prepares her for what lies ahead.

While Bird is Adams’ first feature, Keoghan is known for projects such as Eternals, The Batmanand Saltburn. The actor is also set to star in the Peaky Blinders movie alongside Cillian Murphy. Adams and Keoghan teamed up during their red carpet interviews, with the latter hyping up his co-star’s major debut. Adams also showed support for Keoghan’s upcoming roles, displaying incredible comradery between the performers.

Screen Rant interviewed Keoghan and Adams at the Toronto International Film Festival about what they learned while working together on Birdas well as their characters’ onscreen relationship.

Barry Keoghan And Nykiya Adams Have A Sibling-Like Dynamic In Bird

“There are these fathers that are quite young in real life, and, obviously, they have this comfortableness to argue with one another like brother and sister.”

Screen Rant: Nykiya, congratulations on your first feature. What do you each feel like you’ve learned from each other while filming Bird?

Barry Keoghan: I learned how to dress well. No, I’m always fascinated and always observing what the younger actors bring, and Nykiya didn’t have any training, so I was constantly watching and seeing how she approached her work. It was remarkable.

Nykiya Adams: I just learned to be yourself and keep on being you. That’s what I learned. That’s what I took away from the film.

How would you describe your characters’ dynamic?

Barry Keoghan: I think a brother and sister almost. There are these fathers that are quite young in real life, and, obviously, they have this comfortableness to argue with one another like brother and sister, so I kind of treated her like that.

About Andrea Arnold’s Bird

“A compelling, ultimately joyful story that tackles themes of identity, sexism, loneliness, and class struggle.”

Twelve-year-old Bailey (played by charismatic newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her father Bug (a devoted but emotionally chaotic Barry Keoghan) in a graffiti-strewn tenement. When Bug informs her that he’ll be marrying his new girlfriend soon, Bailey is furious and hurt, for what will become of her? Her mother lives with a violent, cruel man, and while Bug sports a ferocious love for his daughter, he can be oblivious to the needs of a fledgling teenage girl.

As she often does, Bailey retreats to the open fields on the outskirts of her hometown to seek comfort. It is here that she is most herself, with an uncanny ability to communicate with animals and experience nature in a profound way. It is on one of these walks that Bailey has a mysterious, yet deeply meaningful, encounter that helps her when she must force a confrontation with her mother’s vicious partner.

Check out some of our other TIFF 2024 interviews here:

Bird premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.

Source: Screen Rant Plus