Jess Battison
Colin Farrell has issued a rare update on his son, who has Angelman syndrome, ahead of his 21st birthday.
The Banshees of Inisherin star shares his eldest child James with his ex, model Kim Bordenave. In 2007, Farrell publicly explained that James has the rare genetic disorder which affects a person’s nervous system, causing severe physical and learning disabilities.
His son is non-verbal and while those with Angelman syndrome have a near-normal life expectancy, he will need support throughout his life.
Ahead of James’ birthday in September, the star has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation ‘in his honour’, to support adult children with intellectual disabilities.
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He explained to PEOPLE magazine he had created this charity as he ‘can’t ask James if he wants to do it’ due to the effects of his condition.
“This is the first time I’ve spoken about it, and obviously the only reason I’m speaking is I can’t ask James if he wants to do this,” Farrell said.
“I mean, I can. I speak to James as if he’s 20 and has perfect fluency with the English language and age-appropriate cognitive ability.
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“But I can’t discern a particular answer from him as to whether he’s comfortable with all this or not, so I have to make a call based on knowing James’s spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart.”
The Irish actor said he wants the world to ‘be kind’ to James when he turns 21 next month, noting that he will then be too old for a number of the support systems provided for him.
“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” Farrell explained.
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“All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed (education) classes, that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and more often than not is left behind.”
The Batman actor added how James has worked ‘so hard’ his whole life.
“Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looked like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it,” Farrell said.
“But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. I’m proud of him every day, because I just think he’s magic.”
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The star explained he had wanted to do something or children with special needs and their families ‘for years’.
Farrell added James and those like him had ‘earned the right to have a greater degree of individuality and autonomy on life, and a greater degree of community’.