Getting Dressed With Daryl McCormack

Being labelled a rising star is an exhilarating, if slightly daunting achievement. For an actor, it's a sign that you should choose your next steps carefully. Pick the right scripts, identify the right roles, and you could soon leave any talk of "potential" in your critically-acclaimed wake. That kind of pressure can sometimes muddy an actor's sights and skew their judgement. But for Daryl McCormack, who’s chatting to me from a hotel room in Cannes, that’s not the case.

“I think for me, it won't really dictate how I go about choosing the work that I do. I think it just means that many more people will be looking forward to seeing what I do for them. It's part of the process.”

The 30-year-old is at the fabled film festival on the French Riviera to receive the 2023 Chopard Trophy, an award bestowed upon emerging film talent, and he's in the midst of suiting up for the occasion. Past winners include James McAvoy, John Boyega and Joe Alwyn, who have all taken home plenty of other prestigious trophies in the years since. Alongside Star Wars actor Naomi Ackie, McCormack is part of the next cohort.

And it’s not the first time that said up-and-coming tag has been pinned to the Irish actor. Earlier this year, McCormack was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award as well as Actor In A Leading Role for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. The British sex comedy follows a middle-aged widow (Emma Thompson) endeavouring to explore her sexuality with the help of McCormack’s Leo Grande, a paid-for paramour. He was handpicked by Thompson for the incredibly imitate role, who has since become “a dear friend and mentor” for the emerging talent – who better is there to give you career advice than a double Academy Award-winning Dame?

His next lead role is a stark jump from the promiscuously employed Grande. Premiering at Tribeca Film Festival next month, McCormack stars alongside Richard E. Grant in The Lesson, playing a young author tasked with tutoring the son of a famed writer. Soon you’ll see him on the tele in gothic thriller The Woman in the Wall, which explores Ireland’s scandalous institutional history, know as the Magdalene Laundries. These different projects are what have helped him to understand the kinds of personalities he's truly interested in playing.

“I'd say that characters that go through a deal of tragedy are what I found myself more and more drawn to. I like seeing someone challenged and going through something on screen. Those challenging stories can help display our humanity a bit more clearly.”

This curious nature is also evident within his style choices, describing his day-to-day style as constantly changing, “but somewhere between traditional and streetwear.” For tonight’s event, he’s dressed head to toe in Prada, opting for a maroon suit, topped with Chopard jewellery for good measure. “I just love how effortless Prada really is,” he says. “It’s super, super cool and I love that about the brand.”

“We fired photos back and forth of Prada’s fall collection, and both loved the browns and the tonal shirts and ties, so took that as the base inspiration for the look,” explains his stylist, Ben Schofield. “You always know that with Prada it’s a guarantee that their tailoring will always have a beautiful fit and shape, making this a perfect pairing for the way Daryl likes to dress for the red carpet.”

And while seasoned professionals may tire of the lengthy dressing-up process, McCormack is yet to be numbed to the experience. “These moments are really nice because you really get to try on clothes that you usually can't afford!” he laughs. “Which is such a gift and something that I really love, as well as working with stylists who help develop your own taste along the way.”