Colin Farrell revealed that wearing prosthetic makeup for his role in the new Max series “The Penguin” left him barely recognizing himself. The Irish actor described the experience, stating, “I looked in the mirror, and I saw something looking back that was not me.”
His transformation for the role was crafted by designer Mike Marino, impacting nearly every aspect of Farrell’s appearance, except his hands. The crime drama series centers around the iconic DC Comics villain, Penguin, and serves as a spinoff from the 2022 film “The Batman,” in which Farrell also portrayed the character. The series explores Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot’s journey through crime and his ascension to power in the fictional Gotham City.
Joining Farrell in the cast are Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Falcone, the daughter of a crime family, and Rhenzy Feliz, who portrays Victor Aguilar, a teenager becoming the Penguin’s driver. Milioti characterized their backgrounds, noting that while Sofia comes from immense wealth, both Victor and Oz hail from the city’s rougher neighborhoods, highlighting the depth of their shared struggles.
Produced by DC Studios in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, “The Penguin” will premiere on Max on Thursday, a part of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Farrell described his transformation as a “powerful” experience that extended beyond just physical changes to his appearance. “There was a particular internal change that happened with such an abundance of external brilliance that was placed upon me,” he explained.
Feliz also remarked on how strikingly different Farrell looked in character, likening it to a magic trick where the actor seems familiar yet transformed. Milioti praised the realism of the makeup, noting that it seamlessly integrated with Farrell’s performance, creating a very convincing portrayal.
She further expressed admiration for Farrell’s deep connection to his character, indicating he often embodied Oz on set. “Even if he would still talk, like ‘How was your weekend?’ I was with the visual of Oz because I do feel like I know this other person that’s very real to me and very real to him,” Milioti stated.