Born and raised in the Cherry Orchard area of Ballyfermot, Alex Grendon is on the way to becoming a promising young actor.
Last year, he auditioned for the coming-of-age film Ready Or Not, written by Dublin Senator Lynn Ruane, and inspired by teenage life in 1990s Dublin.
The film follows a group of teenagers as they enter adolescence in the late 1990s, navigating through peer pressure, sexualisation and the grey area of consent.
Alex is the lead male in the upcoming film, produced by Ruth Coady and directed by Claire Byrne.
“When I was younger, I used to go to youth clubs, and the youth workers would say I was good at acting,” Alex said.
“I never paid much attention to it, but I finally did it. There’s much more to come, the fact they said I could do it was great.
“I never went to acting classes. I was hanging around on the streets, walking around, there wasn’t much to do. Acting classes weren’t there.
“I enjoyed changing my personality and messing with people, I can fake cry and that’s what got people. I never thought about acting at that time, I just wanted to surprise people, it was funny.
“I did a few short films in the past, trying to keep off the streets and staying out of trouble. Last July, I went for an audition. My agent, who wasn’t my agent at the time, asked if I wanted to do it, but I wasn’t sure.
“I was very nervous. It was different, but I gave it my all and tried my best. Somehow, I got it out of all of those people.
“Working on a set is mind boggling, it’s weird to think that I’ve never done anything like this. I completely loved it, I was getting paid for it and the people were amazing, I made so many friends.”
Alex was never entirely sure about acting, but he thanked his manager Paul Richie, founder of Hour Hearts Productions, for believing in him, which led to him believing in himself.
Now he hopes to emulate the success of some of his favourite actors.
“I think Chris Evans is amazing, Captain America, I was always amazed by it and how brave he is. Cillian Murphy, I like how he’s nonchalant, he’s a brilliant actor, it’s clear how he won the Oscar.
“Now, I’ve two more films coming up. The next one is Blind Man’s Bluff,” Alex added.
Mr Ritchie now represents Alex and a number of other teenagers and adults from disadvantaged areas.
“I was asked to attend St John’s College in Ballyfermot and do workshops with the at-risk teenagers from Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot,” Paul said.
“I worked with his students for two weeks, one of whom was Alex. There was a lot of anti-social behaviour in the Cherry Orchard area with gangs of teenagers hanging around the streets.
“Coming from the area and being well known by the teenagers I was asked by local TDs and councillors to try to get them off the streets and I volunteered to do workshops in the area.
“I came across Alex again and invited him to my workshops. I ran acting classes and writing classes which Alex excelled at. However, he’d later be expelled from school aged 14.
“I cast Alex and a number of other teens in HSE ads and other adverts tackling social issues. Maureen Hughes was casting for Ready or Not and she asked if she could come to one of my classes.
“Alex wasn’t there and missed his chance to Audition. Luckily, I found out from my friend that Maureen was also attending one of his classes in Ballymun and I asked him if Alex could join his class.
“She absolutely loved Alex from the moment she met him and cast him as the lead male,” he added.
Alex will star in Ready or Not which is set to be in cinemas this May.