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This famous actor and more abandoned plans to enter life in the clergy and switched to become a plumber’s apprentice in Dublin before he began his acting career. It seems that he’s a much better actor than he ever was a plumber.

Gabriel James Byrne is a Golden Globe winning actor, film director, movie producer, writer and audiobook narrator. His acting career began in the Focus Theatre before and after that he joined the London’s Royal Court Theatre in 1979. Gabriel Byrne has now starred in over 35 films of which the famous thriller Stigmata. His producing credits include the Academy Award-nominated In the Name of the Father.

Gabriel James Byrne was born on May 12, 1950 in Dublin, Ireland. He is the oldest of six children and is raised by a Guinness factory working father and nursing mother. When he was 12 years old, a Catholic priest came to his school to tell students what life was like saving souls in the South Pacific. This immediately sparked Byrne’s interest into entering the clergy and eventually resulted in him going to seminary in Birmingham. However, it turned out that Byrne was more interested in football and smoking cigarettes. He was often late for prayers and was eventually asked to leave. After that Gabriel returned home to Dublin.

“I came back to Dublin, aged 15 and a half, as a failed priest,” said Byrne. “So I got a job as a messenger boy in the post office, then worked in Dublin’s only gay bar, was an apprentice chef, and then became the worst plumber in Dublin. I had jobs in a morgue, repairing bicycles, selling encyclopaedias — it was then I had a road to Damascus moment when I realised I should go back to school.”

He landed a scholarship to University College, where he studied languages and archaeology. After graduating he worked for a while. Gabriel Byrne installed glass eyes in teddy bears at a toy factory, he working as a apprentice plumber, and taught English.

As he switched from one job to another, acting was “something to do in the evenings” and also a way to meet nice women. In 1976 he met Aine O’Connor, an RTE presenter, while working as a teacher. Byrne turned acting into a full-time job during their 10 year lasting relationship. His screen break came as a character of brooding farmer Pat Barry in the soap The Riordans.

Although a plumbing apprenticeship did not work out for Gabriel Byrne, doesn’t mean it’s not for you. If you’re interested in doing a plumbing apprenticeship contact apprenticepower today and see how they can help you.

Image by Bana gurl