Michael Flatley - the Irish dancer whose injuries have put his physio’s children through university and bought them their first home and labradoodle - has written, starred in, directed and financed his own spy film which in no way, shape or form makes it sound like a vanity project.
It’s fair to say critics had a visceral reaction to Blackbird. One called it a “disasterpiece” while The Irish Times described it as less of a spy action movie and more a “yellow-pack Casablanca than fell-off-the-back-of-a-lorry 007”.
In the film he wrote, Michael stars as Victor Blackley, codename Blackbird - a 007 with a P45 who comes out of retirement to deal with an arms dealer.
Michael says his mum pushed him to hang up the heavy shoes and shuffle in his sock soles into cinema. His body’s “wrecked” anyway he says.
“I am always in pain. Agony,” he once told the Daily Mail.
“I’ve wrecked my body with dance… physically I’m a mess. I have a recurring broken bone in my right foot which just spontaneously breaks itself.
“My hamstrings are ruined, my groin is gone and I’ve done irreparable damage to two points of my spine.”
Can someone check lost and found for Michael’s groin please?
Puting the injuries aside, Michael’s foray into film is unabashed. He says he was repeatedly told it was a daft idea for a dancer to try acting and hopped on to the BBC Breakfast sofa to tell groggy young people to reach for the stars and never fear failure.
“And I’ll tell you what, the big motivation for me making Blackbird is all the people that said ‘Impossible. You can’t do it. You can’t be an actor – you’re a dancer’. I mean, I’ve heard it till I’m blue in the face and you just have to go for it.
“And there’s so many people out there that have a dream to do something or be somebody or do something great, and they’re paralysed by fear. ‘What’s everybody gonna think? What are other people gonna say?’
“You can’t let that stop you, stand up, throw your best shot and let the chips fall where they may.”
He added: “Especially the young people, go for it. Don’t listen to other people. You have to just go for it. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.
“There’s no shame in failure, the shame is not getting up and trying. That’s the way I look at life.”
He’s right. How many of us don’t try something new because of how we’ll sound or look or what people might say about us? Let’s all be a little bit more Michael - in spirit at least.
Stand up, throw your best shot and let the chips fall where they may.”
Book and TV recommendations
September might serve us autumn or it might magic up a late burst of summer sunshine. Either which way, Sleb Safari has you covered with recommendations for books and TV shows. Check them out and let Sleb Safari know your thoughts.
TV
- Uncoupled - Netflix
- On The Verge - Netflix
Books
- Still Life by Sarah Winman
- Rachel, Again by Marian Keyes
Lindsay Lohan takes London
Lindsay Lohan has recreated a family photo taken in London more than 20 years ago when she was filming The Parent Trap.
She shared two pictures of herself posing with little brother Dakota Lohan in Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament, one from then and one from the other day.
If you’re feeling old imagine how her parents feel.
