Colin Farrell has admitted his son James was “a big part” of him getting clean and sober.
James, who is now 20, was born with Angelman Syndrome, a rare neuro-genetic disorder characterised by a stiff, jerky gait, an inability to speak, excessive laughter and seizures.
This week, the Irish actor opened up about his son’s condition for the first time as he launched the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support for adult children who have intellectual disabilities through advocacy, education and innovative programs.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, the 48-year-old said James was behind his decision to check himself into rehab back in 2006.
“James was about two when I got clean, got sober. He was a big, big part of me putting the bottle down because I was in no condition to be the father of a child with such exacting needs,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for my sobriety, I wouldn’t be able to be there for James and join in the marvels of his life and support him in the way that I can.
“I don’t want to paint a picture of me being the perfect dad. I f*** up right, left and centre. But you have to be present… I’m around.”
Colin shares James with his model ex Kim Bordenave, whom he dated for two years.
He also has a son Henry, 14, with his former partner Alicja Bachleda-Curus.
The Dublin native continued to tell the publication that he had wanted for many years “to do something in the realm of providing greater opportunities for families who have a child with special needs, to receive the support that they deserve, basically the assistance in all areas of life”.
He admitted James and other young adults with special needs “earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy on life, and a greater degree of community”.
“This is the first time I’ve spoken about it, and obviously the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to do this.”
“I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he’s 20 and has perfect fluency with the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability.”
Colin continued: “But I can’t discern a particular answer from him as to whether he’s comfortable with all this or not, so I have to make a call based on knowing James’s spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart.”
He said “that if James knew getting his photograph in the back garden with me, which is not my favourite thing to do, if us doing this could help families and other young adults who live with special needs, he would say, ‘Dad, what are you talking about? Why are you even asking me? It’s a no-brainer’.”
“So that’s why we’re doing it. This is all because of James – it’s all in his honour.”
He said: “It’s a terrifying thought that I’ll miss the last, you know, 40 years or 50 years of his life. Yeah, just ’cause I won’t be there to shepherd and protect.”
“But what would the perfect [alternative be?] You know, just a life of connection. And so, James’s last 20, 30, 40, 10 years of James’s life, he’ll be somewhere where he feels like he belongs.”
“Where he feels like he’s safe and where he can garden and watch movies and swim in the pool and go out to the beach, and just have a full and meaningful and connected life. That’d be the dream,” he added.
The website for the Colin Farrell Foundation said the organisation is “committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy, and innovative programs.”
Colin is the president of the foundation and his sister Claudine Farrell is vice president.