When Barry Keoghan visited the home of Ringo Starr, it was more than just a polite pre-production meeting. It was a quiet, revealing moment between an actor on the verge of portraying a legend and the legend himself. Keoghan, cast as the former Beatles drummer in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopic series, didn’t show up to perform. He showed up to listen, observe, and, perhaps most importantly, to absorb.
According to Keoghan, who shared the story during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the visit was surreal. He sat in the living room of one of the most iconic musicians in history. And then, without warning, Starr offered him the sticks. Invited to take a seat at the drum kit and give it a go, Keoghan hesitated and ultimately declined. “He asked me to get on the drums,” Keoghan said. “I couldn’t. I froze.”
It’s the kind of moment you can’t rehearse. But maybe that was the point. Keoghan’s decision not to sit behind the drums wasn’t about nerves or lack of skill. It was about respect. “It’s like someone asking you to do your first scene with De Niro,” he explained. “You just don’t want to mess it up in front of the person you’re studying.”
The biopic, which Mendes plans to release in four parts, each from the perspective of one Beatle, has attracted attention not only for its scope but for its casting. Alongside Keoghan’s Ringo, the project will feature Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as Harrison. Each film will tell its own story while connecting to the others. It’s an ambitious idea, and one that hinges on each actor’s ability to step out of imitation and into something more honest.
That’s exactly what Keoghan seems intent on doing. During the interview, he stressed that his goal isn’t simply to mimic Ringo’s drumming or copy his public persona. It’s about understanding what made him tick. “I want to humanize him,” Keoghan said. “Bring the emotions. Not just what people saw on stage or on screen. The stuff behind that.”
The drumming, of course, still matters. Ringo Starr’s playing, understated, inventive, and deeply musical, was foundational to The Beatles’ sound. His style has been studied, debated, and imitated for decades. Keoghan has been doing his own homework, but meeting Starr face-to-face added something no lesson or YouTube video could provide.
What struck Keoghan most was Starr’s warmth. “He’s a gentleman,” he said, smiling as he recounted the conversation. The encounter wasn’t staged or press-driven. It was, by all accounts, two artists from different generations finding common ground. One offered a seat at the drum kit. The other, in his own way, was accepted by listening more than playing.
In a world obsessed with accuracy and performance, Keoghan’s restraint felt, ironically, more true to the role. Sometimes, portraying someone authentically means knowing when not to act. And for one afternoon, in the company of a Beatle, Barry Keoghan chose to be present rather than perform.
Whether that choice will translate to the screen remains to be seen. But if first impressions count, he’s already playing the part. Just not with sticks in hand yet.