Born May 12, 1950, Gabriel Byrne (a Taurus who is this Capricorn’s perfect astrological match) is an actor’s actor: a solid, reliable talent who turns in excellent performances over and over again but who has never subscribed to the Hollywood game or become a major movie star.  He could have been, should have been, but I think he’s happy with his life the way it is and hopefully he has no regrets.  On his profession and success, Gabriel was quoted: "People who believe that being incredibly famous or wealthy or powerful is going to make them happier are on a fool's mission. I'm famous enough, that suits me fine. The relentless emphasis on celebrity in this country drives me around the fucking bend. The new religion is celebrity, but nobody stops to question what it means when you achieve it. Honestly, I'm very scared of the whole notion of fame. You take it on at your own peril."  I urge everyone to revisit his Filmography because within it there are some truly precious gems; a body of work he can be proud of, particularly for a man who didn’t start acting until he was 29 years old.  Before he became an actor, Gabriel’s eclectic résumé included working as a short-order cook, schoolteacher, archaeologist, and a bullfighter.

Gabriel has done it all: theatre, television, film and he even wrote a beautiful 1995 autobiography entitled Pictures In My Head, a book that I hope he will update and re-publish some day.  He has also worn the hats of writer, director and producer - most notably producing the delightful 1992 family film he did with Ellen Barkin, “Into The West”, the Oscar-nominated “In The Name of the Father” starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and the short-lived 2000 television series “Madigan Men” in which he starred with Beauty and the Beast’s Roy Dotrice.  I was really disappointed when it was cancelled!

From “Excalibur” to “Assault On Precinct 13”, Gabriel has given us some wonderfully memorable performances in such interesting movies as “Gothic” (in which he played Lord Byron), “A Soldier’s Tale”, the fantastic Coen Brothers film “Miller’s Crossing” which first got him noticed in North America, “Cool World” with a young Brad Pitt, “Point Of No Return” and “A Dangerous Woman” (two of my favourites), “A Simple Twist Of Fate”, the brilliant “The Usual Suspects”, “Frankie Starlight”, “Summer Fling” (a.k.a. “The Last of the High Kings” which he also wrote and produced), “Smilla’s Sense Of Snow” with Julia Ormond who he was reported to have had a relationship with, “Weapons Of Mass Distraction”, “Polish Wedding”, “The Man In The Iron Mask” (he played D’Artagnan), “Enemy Of The State”, “Stigmata”, “End Of Days” (the only actor ever to play both a priest and Satan in one year!), “Virginia’s Run”, “Spider”, “Killing Emmett Young”, “Ghost Ship”, “Shade”, “Vanity Fair”, “P.S.” and the movie I saw most recently “The Bridge of San Luis Rey”.  I have seen over 40 of Gabriel’s movies and own no less than 20.  My only complaint is that not enough of his most recent work features him in a lead role.  He’s done many supporting parts in the past few years but his last major part was in David Cronenberg’s twisted mystery about madness, “Spider” in 2002 with the gifted Miranda Richardson who he also starred with in Richard E. Grant’s 2005 film “Wah-Wah”. “Wah-Wah” made it to the Toronto Film Festival but hasn’t been seen on Canadian theatre screens since.  I want to see more of Gabriel Byrne as a leading man.

What else can I tell you about Gabriel that you might not know?  He’s a devoted human rights activist involved in Croi - the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation; was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor in Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon For The Misbegotten” (2000); plays the accordion; has a passion for designing socks, cooking and soccer.

I think it’s safe to say that I’m addicted and always will be.  I even wrote a poem once called “Gabriel Byrne Doesn’t Know Who I Am”.  What do you say Gabriel: you, me, a romantic week in Galway with a few pints of Guinness, you reciting Joyce and a Van Morrison soundtrack to accompany us?  Are you in?  Sigh…a woman has to have her dreams.

If you want to learn more about this dazzling and prolific actor, check out his official website at www.gabrielbyrnesite.com and Gabriel Byrne’s Domain at http://gabriel.byrne.net (although it hasn’t been recently updated).