Patrick Bergin has defended criticism towards Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley’s new film, Blackbird, - saying people resent how successful the iconic dancer is.
The 64-year-old dancer and choreographer has written, directed and also stars in the spy thriller, in which he plays former MI6 operative Victor Blackley who is drawn back into a world of espionage he left behind.
The film screened at the Monaco Streaming Film Festival last year, where Flatley picked up the best actor award – but after it opened in Irish cinemas this week, people have been critical of the movie.
But Bergin said that although people didn’t take Flatley seriously, he believed in his script when he was first approached.
The Sleeping With The Enemy star told us: "I took him seriously because I read the script and it was a good script, and if he could complete what he had written, it was going to be a good movie.
“There is begrudgery of course. Michael is a very intelligent, successful person, and sometimes people resent that... I think it's a shame that people are being a bit mean about Michael's film, they should go see it and enjoy it.
“He was a dancer but he created a great show, both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance but he's an artist who knows how to communicate with people.
“Film is the art of communication as much as anything else and storytelling and he's good at that.”
Patrick said it was “a joy” to be part of the movie.
"It was a joy, we had a wonderful time, I didn't get to the Bahamas unfortunately, but we got to London and he put me up in the Savoy.
“We stopped the traffic in London filming and also retired to Michael's mansion in Cork and filmed some there, It's a wonderful place.”
It comes after Flatley said people told him it would be “impossible” to make his first movie.
He told us: “Everybody told me it was impossible. They would say ‘You can’t do it, you’re a dancer’… but you can’t let it stop you. I encourage all young people, get up and follow your dream and don’t listen to naysayers. Just go for it.”
And he said he wasn’t nervous about the criticism, adding: “No. All the hard work is done now and I just hope the average person likes it. What more could I ask for.”
But asked if he would make another film, he said: “I don’t know. You never know. Right now I just don’t have time. I’d love to, we would love to do that…”
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