Have You Ever Heard of...

Peter Daniel McDonald was born on January 28, 1972 in Dublin, Ireland. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine.

He graduated from the University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts, English and a Master of Fine Arts, English in 1994. He got his start in theatre while at University. He was part of UCD's very active Drama Society, "where you could do six full plays a year if you were to put your mind to it." and McDonald did so for four years.

When he graduated, he joined a small fringe theatre company, "Fly By Nights Theatre Company" where he first met Conor McPherson (screenwriter of "I Went Down") and did a couple of his plays. Peter McDonald also starred in McPherson's radioplay, "This Lime Tree Bower" for BBC Radio 4. McPherson has already adapted his play for film and intends to direct it. It is slated for next fall, starring McDonald.

McDonald went on to doing "Van Gogh's Ear" and "Inventing Fortune's Wheel" with Cork's Firkin Crane Theatre, "The Stars Lose Their Glory" with the International Bar, and "The Stranger", a one-man show at Players Theatre.

He went on to do his first small film, "Have You Ever Heard of Jimi Hendrix" directed by upcoming Irish filmmaker John Carney. "November Afternoon" followed soon afterwards.

However, "I Went Down" is generally considered to be McDonald's first film. It is the highest-grossing independent in Ireland's film history and opened many doors for McDonald. He plays Johnny in Atom Egoyan's latest film, "Felicia's Journey". Based on William Trevor's book, the thriller also stars Bob Hoskin and 18-year-old Elaine Cassidy. Other upcoming films include "Captain Jack" (as Andy), "The Opportunists" (as Michael), and in Conor McPherson's directorial film debut: "Saltwater", based on him play "This Lime Tree Bower".

When asked if he would like to work in America, McDonald says he would like to someday play an American, to go where the work takes him, but he says "I think I'd always go back home". He also wants to write. "[He] has a development deal on a script at the moment and [he]'d like to direct [his] material as well."