Biography
John Connors is a groundbreaking Irish actor, writer, director and producer from the Irish Traveller community, who has blazed a trail for his community in the world of film, television, and theatre. Best known for his powerful performance as Patrick Ward in the acclaimed Irish crime drama Love/Hate, John won Best Actor at the 2018 Irish Film and Television Awards for his lead role in Cardboard Gangsters, cementing his place as one of Ireland's most compelling screen talents.
His recent screen credits include a featured role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen, and he stars in the upcoming, critically acclaimed Re-Creation, directed by six-time Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan and David Merriman. He also leads in Crazy Love, set for its world premiere in September, and appears in the highly anticipated new film by Werner Herzog, alongside Kate and Rooney Mara.
While acting remains at the core of his craft, John is also an award-winning filmmaker. His directorial debut came in 2016 with the documentary series John Connors: The Travellers, which won Best Documentary Series at the 2018 IFTAs. He later directed the short hybrid drama Eden, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh, and the award-winning Innocent Boy, which toured internationally and received recognition at VMDIFF 2020.
John's feature documentary Endless Sunshine on a Cloudy Day won the Audience Award at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival in 2020 and received critical acclaim, going on to win the prestigious Radharc Award for excellence in documentary filmmaking. His narrative feature debut The Black Guelph won Best Film and Best Actor at the Oldenburg International Film Festival in 2022.
A published playwright and outspoken human rights activist, John has consistently used his voice and platform to challenge stigma, fight for justice, and represent his community with integrity. He was named one of the 50 most incredible people shaping modern Ireland by the Irish Independent in 2017 and listed among the 22 young voices likely to influence Ireland and the world by The Irish Times in 2018.
John Connors continues to work across film, theatre, and television-pushing boundaries and telling untold stories with heart, grit, and authenticity.
