GRITTY Roy Keane would make a perfect big screen hitman after wowing on set yesterday, a top director has revealed. The Manchester United icon brought the seaside town of Skerries, Co Dublin , to a standstill as he filmed a Sky ad — with experts now calling for him to become a movie sensation. Acclaimed Irish director Robbie Walsh, best known for Irish movie The Letters, told The Irish Sun: “I don’t know why Roy Keane hasn’t gotten into the movies sooner.
“Watching the clips of him acting on the streets of Skerries, I think he has amazing presence and a great look. "Roy has this real cool, silent character about him — if I was looking for a gritty silent hitman, Roy would be perfect.” Skerries locals looked on in astonishment as the Cork man filmed scenes at four different locations in the north Dublin enclave.
And although the former Ireland skipper is often accused of being cranky, Keano delighted the throngs of well-wishers in attendance, exchanging hurling banter with a thrilled youngster. Roy was also happy to pose for a snap with The Irish Sun. But the 52-year-old was saying nothing about the filming and new Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson .
A local insider revealed how the filming had started the previous day inside a new luxury home in Red Island, overlooking the Skerries harbour. The source told The Irish Sun: “It’s a really funny scene which starts with Roy in his house trying to watch the match. But there’s a window cleaner bothering him.
“So Roy sets off to watch the match on his mobile, visiting various outside locations around Skerries including The Rock bakery.” His natural ease in front of a camera often has producers drooling, with the Sky Sports pundit a natural heir to football hardman Vinnie Jones . Insiders have also stressed how impressed they’ve been with Keane’s on-screen abilities and social media impressions since he joined Sky Sports as a pundit.
A source who worked with Keane on a recent project told The Irish Sun: “He was a joy to work with. He arrived early and stayed beyond filming just to make sure everyone had what they needed. Roy couldn’t have been more helpful.
” Starting at 10am yesterday, Roy filmed inside a local shop before breaking in upmarket Potager restaurant, which is famous for its fine cuisine — although it wasn’t their prawn sandwiches he was after. Potager’s Sarah Ryan told The Irish Sun: “Roy came in to visit us but he wasn’t dining with us. They needed a quiet spot out of the way in between filming.
"Roy was absolutely lovely to deal with. We were thrilled to have him visit.” Resuming the shoot on nearby Church Street, Roy was joined by a hound resembling his beloved Trigger, made famous following Keane’s Saipan walkout in 2002.
Throughout the day Roy was happy to pose for selfies with locals and even make quick videos for loved ones. As word got around the soccer star was nearby, Skerries turned into a town of Reds. Father and daughter Aidan and Leah Kivlehan, who live locally, were among those who met the player-turned-manager.
Leah, 11, told The Irish Sun: “We only heard this morning that Roy was in Skerries. So I wanted to go and meet him. Roy was super nice.
"I really liked him. He signed my football as well. I love United.
” One local told us: “Roy couldn’t have been nicer and it was a very easy going shoot. The film people were lovely.” It’s not Roy’s first foray into adverts.
He famously starred in a Walkers ad with Gary Lineker , and a hilarious “prawn sandwich”-inspired Barclaycard ad with Niall Quinn and Angus Deaton after his infamous interview raging against corporate football fans. Most recently he did an Adidas promo with his dog..
