Hollywood actor Mel Gibson has thanked the people of Ireland for the role they played in the making of his Oscar-winning movie Braveheart and has said its success could not have been achieved “anywhere else”.
Mr Gibson, who directed, produced and starred in the 1995 film, was speaking in Trim today as part of a series of events that are taking place to mark the 30th anniversary of the making of the movie.
A host of other actors from the film are also in town as part of the King John Summer Prom Festival, which takes place this weekend.
Despite its Scottish setting, the iconic film was primarily shot in Ireland with locations in counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, providing the landscape for many of its medieval scenes.
Reflecting on the shooting of the movie 30 years ago, Mr Gibson said Ireland was “very hospitable” when it came to the requirements of the production.
Mel Gibson in Braveheart
He said: “[There were] battalions of talented actors, actresses, all the extras help that, you know, local people from the town [who] put on the wig and the outfit, and they were all in here doing their best.
“They were all pretty good. There was no fakers in the crowd, you know.
“But honestly, from the ground up, even, like camera assistants, focus pullers, guys that never really got a shot before, a big shot, where all of a sudden they were in positions and they had to achieve cinematic excellence, and they they were up for the task, and they did it.”
Mr Gibson, who has been a controversial figure in the past, went on to outline some of the other factors that made Ireland so attractive for the filming of the movie.
Mel Gibson in Trim. Photo credit Liam Murphy
He said: “We initially went to Scotland, and of course, it was fantastic. And we filmed for six weeks in Scotland. And, it did everything we wanted it to. I mean, Ben Nevis [Mountain], you know, fits perfectly in the frame. And we got a lot of great stuff there.
“But, unfortunately for the big battle scenes, the ground in Scotland wasn’t as horse friendly as here, so you had more horses, and the ground was friendlier to the horses.
“We were fortunate, at the time, the Minister of Arts and Culture was Michael D. Higgins. He opened up the doors for us and said, hey, we got good ground, we got horses, we got the reserve army, and they were all within proximity.
“So, that was a great help in achieving what we had to achieve. And we achieved it, I think, thanks to Ireland and the open arms to bring us in and make things easy for us creatively [and] in every other way.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it anywhere else,” Mr Gibson added.
Mel Gibson posing for a selfie at a Braveheart event in Trim. Photo credit Liam Murphy
Other Braveheart actors who will also attend the King John Summer Prom Festival over the weekend include David O’Hara (Stephen, the Irishman), Angus Macfadyen (Robert the Bruce), Mhairi Calvey (Young Murron MacClannough), John Murtagh (Lochlan) and Andrew Weir (Young Hamish Campbell).
Mr Gibson, who portrayed the character of Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England, will sign 200 limited edition posters in Trim this morning.
Organisers said that all proceeds from the sale of the posters will be donated to the Irish Equity Benevolent Fund, with the money ultimately being given to actors who have fallen on hard times.
A matinee concert with the 65-piece Irish Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Niall O’Sullivan, celebrating the music of some of cinema’s greatest composers, will take place this afternoon at the big top on the outskirts of the town.
Mel Gibson portrayed the character of Scottish warrior William Wallace
This evening, Mr Gibson and his fellow cast members will attend a special 30th anniversary outdoor screening of the movie, which is often credited with kick starting the Irish film industry.
The events form part of the King John Summer Prom Festival with organisers promising a weekend of “cinematic soundscapes, soaring vocals and symphonic wonder”.
With around 300 performers from home and abroad, those behind the event said the weekend is expected to be the “largest orchestral festival on the island of Ireland”.
Eric Lawlor from the festival committee, as well as several of those who were involved in different aspects of film’s production, have been recounting their fond memories of when Braveheart and Hollywood came to town.
The King John Summer Prom Festival is taking place in Trim
Tax incentives, as well as the availability of members of the Defence Forces to act as extras, helped to seal the deal for Mr Gibson, following a meeting with Irish producer Morgan O’Sullivan and then minister for the arts Michael D. Higgins in 1994.
He announced that the movie, which had an estimated budget of $72 million, and was originally scheduled to be filmed entirely on location in Scotland, would instead be, for the most part, made in Ireland.
Trim Castle was portrayed as the fortified English town of ‘York’ while the ‘London square’ was also created on the other side of the castle wall.
The film proved to be a global success and was nominated in ten categories at the 68th Academy Awards, taking home five awards, including Best Picture.