Ready Or Not: Alex Grendon praised as the next ‘Barry Keoghan’

The “next Barry Keoghan”, 16-year-old Alex Grendon from Cherry Orchard, has been cast as the male lead in the upcoming coming-of-age drama, ‘Ready or Not’.

Alex started taking acting lessons at an early age from the renowned Irish actor, writer, and producer Paul Ritchie, the founder of Hour Hearts Productions, a film, media, and talent management agency based in Ballyfermot.

Paul, Alex’s mentor, noticed his innate talent and dedication at this point.

After realising Alex’s potential, Paul gave him the chance to demonstrate his abilities by getting him involved in a number of TV commercials and short films.

These formative encounters helped Alex develop his love of acting and laid the groundwork for his future career.

He was able to get an audition with well-known casting agent Maureen Hughes, thanks to the assistance of Hour Hearts.

Impressed by his audition, Maureen cast him in the film, which is produced by Ruth Coady, directed by Claire Byrne, and written by Lynn Ruane, and promises to be a significant milestone in Alex’s burgeoning acting career.

Actors everywhere can find inspiration from Alex’s journey to the big screen.

Alex is positioned to leave a lasting impression on the entertainment business thanks to his talent, perseverance, and the assistance of industry veterans and mentors.

When asked about his influences on his performance style, Alex cited Barry Keoghan because they come from “similar circumstances” and he wants to be at “his level of success in the next 5–10 years.”

Maureen, who had also cast Barry in ‘Love/Hate’ and many of his early films, praised Alex as the “next Barry Keoghan.”

However, Alex wishes to pave his own path and hopes that kids from “disadvantaged areas” can look to him as an example of how someone who comes from these circumstances can make it to the big screen.

He prepares to perform by studying the performances of different actors as well as rehearsing his scenes with fellow actors who are clients of Hour Hearts; they all “have each other’s backs” in that sense.

The work involved in the production process of ‘Ready or Not’ has included early starts, long days, and many rehearsals with the people in the agency before going on set and working with new faces.

Alex worked with Katie Fitzpatrick, who has been cast in the lead role in ‘Louise Lives Large’, an RTE drama series premiering in April, to run lines once filming had wrapped.

In regards to his plans for after the release of ‘Ready or Not’, he has been cast alongside Katie in a film that has just wrapped development with Screen Ireland and is now going into production called ‘Blind Man’s Bluff’; he has also been cast as the lead in a feature that is unannounced as of writing.

For his success, Alex would like to thank his family and friends, his girlfriend, and everyone at Hour Hearts, especially Paul, who has been extremely supportive.

‘Ready or Not’ releases in theatres this May; don’t miss out!