Colin Farrell Reveals It Took Him 56 Takes to Nail One Line: ‘I Was a Disaster’

Sounds like the 56th time was the charm? Colin Farrell has admitted that he was once so hungover on the set of a film that it took him an absurd amount of takes to nail just one line.

“There were a couple of hairy days. I asked them with a great array of arrogance that they not work me the day after my birthday, the 43-year-old recalled to The Mirror. “I said, ‘Please don’t have me working on June 1st, ­because my birthday is May 31st.” The star would be turning 25. And yet, Colin’s plea fell on deaf ears.

“I thought a 100 million ­dollar film would at least listen to that ­request … but I worked. It was a rough night and I didn’t get any sleep.” That movie? The Steven Spielberg 2002 classic Minority Report, which starred Tom Cruise and Samantha Morton.

The Irish actor eventually had to show up on set not feeling his greatest, and found himself struggling to say this line: “I’m sure you’ve all grasped the fundamental paradoxical pre-crime methodology.”

“I only know it now, still, 16 years later because it caused so much panic and anxiety. It should be on my tombstone,” the A-lister said. “My sister was on the set that day and she had to leave the set after 56 takes. I was a disaster.”

The film was a big success and launched the young actor at the time to mainstream status. Colin would go on to win a Golden Globe for his performance in the 2008 thriller In Bruges. He would also star in films like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as Dumbo.

Colin was also part of the big-budget production Alexander — a film he met Angelina Jolie on and started a longtime friendship. It certainly sounds like needing 56 takes for one line certainly did not kill Colin’s career.