Colin Farrell has revealed that he does not even fully understands his son James’ struggles with a rare neurological disease.
The actor’s eldest son, 23, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when he was a toddler.
The rare genetic disorder primarily affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and intellectual disabilities.
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James makes a rare appearance in his father’s upcoming documentary, The Slightest Touch.
During an interview about the film on Wednesday’s episode of This Morning, Colin was asked about the special moment caught on film.
Colin, 50, explained that James’ appearance wasn’t planned but he said that the parallels between his son’s struggles and those of the subject of the documentary – his longtime friend Emma Fogarty, meant it felt obvious to include the scene in the final edit.
Emma lives with the rare genetic disorder epidermolysis bullosa which causes fragile, blistering skin, which may appear in response to minor injury, even from heat, both inside and outside of the body.
‘I’ve seen up close and personal James’ struggles,’ Colin explained, ‘and his struggles like Emma’s, even though none of us, not even me as his dad, know the depths and nuance of them… his struggles are very obvious.’
‘And if you see Emma, you see her bandages and you know instantly the person is struggling. So that, if you have any kind of empathy as a human being, that just opens you up.’
Colin shares James with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave. The Irish actor is also father to 17-year-old son Henry from his past relationship with former Ondine co-star Alicja Bachleda-Curus.
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