Colin Farrell has offered an unusually personal glimpse into his family life, and it comes through a brief but memorable moment in the trailer for his upcoming HBO documentary. The footage features the actor at home with his eldest son, James Farrell, giving viewers a rare look at the father-son relationship that Farrell has generally kept away from the public spotlight.
The appearance is part of The Slightest Touch, a documentary exploring Farrell’s longstanding friendship with Emma Fogarty and her experiences living with a rare genetic condition. While James’ moment in the trailer has attracted attention, the film’s central story reaches far beyond the actor’s family, bringing together friendship, resilience and an extraordinary personal challenge.
James Farrell Makes Rare Appearance in Colin Farrell’s Documentary Trailer
Released on October 28, 2026, the trailer for The Slightest Touch includes a short scene featuring Farrell and his 23-year-old son, James Padraig Farrell, whom he shares with former partner Kim Bordenave.
In the footage, Farrell is at home with James as the two share an embrace. The actor also acknowledges how unusual it is for cameras to enter his personal space, before making a lighthearted remark about his son.
“I’ve never had a camera crew come near my home,” Farrell says.
He then jokes:
“He gets away with nothing!”
Although the moment is brief, it offers a particularly personal glimpse into a side of Farrell’s life that audiences rarely see. The actor has generally maintained privacy around his family, despite occasionally discussing fatherhood and his experiences raising James in interviews.
Importantly, James is not the subject of the documentary. His appearance is part of the intimate home footage included in the film, which primarily follows Emma Fogarty and her friendship with Farrell.
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Who Is Colin Farrell’s Son James Padraig Farrell?
Born on September 12, 2003, James is Farrell’s eldest son with Kim Bordenave. He is 23 years old as of October 2026.
Farrell publicly discussed James’ diagnosis with Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder, in 2007. Over the years, the actor has spoken about his son’s development and milestones while making it clear that James should be recognised as an individual rather than defined solely by his condition.
In 2008, Farrell described his son with affection, saying:
“nothing but a gift”
He also added:
“He’s, as far as I’m concerned, exactly the way he should be.”
Farrell’s openness about James has gradually become connected to his wider advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities, an issue that has personal significance for the actor and his family.
Colin Farrell Foundation Was Inspired by His Son James
Farrell took a significant step in his advocacy work in 2024 by establishing the Colin Farrell Foundation.
The organisation aims to improve the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disabilities through education, awareness, advocacy and innovative programmes.
James’ experience with Angelman syndrome is identified by the foundation as a personal motivation behind Farrell’s involvement in the intellectual-disability community.
According to its official history, the foundation recorded its first donation in August 2024, held its inaugural fundraiser in December 2024 and launched its first Innovation Grant in June 2025.
Its initial grant initiative identified several priority areas, including inclusive housing, integrated employment, accessibility tools and cross-sector partnerships.
Speaking to PEOPLE in 2024, Farrell also highlighted the challenges families can encounter when children with intellectual disabilities reach adulthood.
“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” he said.
Explaining his motivation for using his public platform to encourage greater understanding and support, Farrell added:
“I want the world to be kind to James. I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect,”
The foundation’s work reflects a commitment Farrell has discussed publicly for years, rather than a cause newly introduced through the documentary.
What Is The Slightest Touch About?
While James’ appearance has drawn attention to the trailer, the documentary focuses on Emma Fogarty, her life with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and her longstanding friendship with Farrell.
Fogarty lives with EB, a rare genetic condition that causes extremely fragile skin. According to HBO’s official synopsis, her skin can blister and tear with minimal contact.
The film follows Fogarty as she reaches her 40th birthday, an age she had previously been told she might not reach, and takes on the challenge of completing the Dublin Marathon alongside Farrell.
Through their friendship, the documentary explores Fogarty’s experiences, the pain associated with EB, the dreams she has had to relinquish or reimagine and her determination to approach life on her own terms.
When HBO Documentary Films announced that it had acquired worldwide television and streaming rights in February 2026, Farrell described the project as something deeply personal.
“I can’t think of THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH as a film, certainly not like any film I’ve ever been a part of before,” he said.
“For me, it’s simply a collage of home videos, moments in time that we all shared during its making.”
He continued:
“Whatever the film is, whatever people may find it to be, we’re so grateful that our adventure, our friendships, and our shared love for each other has found a home on HBO.”
Director Rachel Fleit also reflected on the friendship at the heart of the project.
“Making this film brought me back, over and over, to what I think matters most in life: love, care, community, and the friendships that carry us,” Fleit said.
Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty’s Dublin Marathon Challenge
One of the documentary’s central moments follows Farrell and Fogarty’s participation in the 2024 Dublin Marathon.
Farrell completed the marathon before joining Fogarty for the final section, pushing her wheelchair as they approached the finish.
The final four kilometres carried particular meaning. As Fogarty celebrated turning 40, Farrell pushed her for one kilometre for every decade she had lived with EB.
Rather than presenting the event simply as an athletic achievement, the documentary uses the marathon as part of a broader story about friendship, community and human connection.
Directed and produced by Rachel Fleit, the film also has a substantial production team. Its producers are Claudine Farrell, Colin Farrell, Trevor Birney, Eimhear O’Neill and Frank Marshall.
HBO Documentary Films presents the project, produced by Fine Point Films and Chapel Place Productions, in association with The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Original Films, Deshe Capital LLC, The deNovo Initiative, Union Editorial, Northern Ireland Screen and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
The Slightest Touch Already Screened at Dublin and London Film Festivals
Before its HBO premiere, The Slightest Touch was introduced to festival audiences at the 2026 Dublin International Film Festival in February.
It subsequently screened at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival, with showings on October 12 and October 15.
The BFI listed the documentary as a 103-minute USA-Ireland production directed by Fleit and described it as a story about “the power of friendship and connection”.
The official trailer followed on October 28, ahead of the documentary’s scheduled television and streaming release.
Colin Farrell Has Two Sons: Meet Henry Farrell
James is Farrell’s eldest child, but the actor also shares a younger son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, with former partner Alicja Bachleda-Curús.
Born on October 7, 2009, Henry is 17 as of October 2026.
Unlike James, Henry has accompanied his father to several public events. The pair attended the 95th Academy Awards in 2023, when Farrell received a Best Actor nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin. Henry also joined him at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Farrell has previously explained that he wants his children to find their own identities rather than feel pressured to follow his acting career.
At the September 2025 New York premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, he discussed the possibility of Henry pursuing acting with Extra.
“I know he’s busy figuring out what his own footsteps are, which is the most important thing,” Farrell said.
“And even if he went into acting, it wouldn’t be, I refuse to believe, they are my footsteps. He will always make his own.”
Reflecting on spending time with both sons during the Emmy weekend, he also said:
“Both my boys living their own lives, but it’s great to share [a] night like last night with them,”
Farrell has even joked about his sons’ reactions to his on-screen roles. During a 2022 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he remarked:
“They’re sick of me being a bad guy,”
When Does The Slightest Touch Premiere on HBO and HBO Max?
The Slightest Touch is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. It will also stream on HBO Max, with the documentary set to be available globally, including in the UK and Ireland.
| Documentary detail | Official information |
| Title | The Slightest Touch |
| Director | Rachel Fleit |
| Main subjects | Emma Fogarty and Colin Farrell |
| Documentary focus | Friendship and life with epidermolysis bullosa |
| Marathon featured | 2024 Dublin Marathon |
| Trailer release | October 28, 2026 |
| HBO premiere | November 25, 2026 |
| Premiere time | 9 p.m. ET/PT |
| Streaming platform | HBO Max |
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Conclusion
James Farrell’s brief appearance in The Slightest Touch offers a rare look at Colin Farrell’s family life, but the documentary’s deeper story belongs to Emma Fogarty and the friendship that brought them together. From their 2024 Dublin Marathon challenge to Farrell’s reflections on their shared experiences, the film explores the importance of connection and support.
For Farrell, the project also brings together two meaningful parts of his life: his longstanding friendship with Fogarty and his advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities, shaped in part by his experiences raising James. Audiences can see the full documentary when it arrives on HBO and HBO Max on November 25, 2026.
Source and Research Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on research of the sources provided, including HBO Pressroom, HBO Documentary Films, the Colin Farrell Foundation, PEOPLE, ABC News, BFI London Film Festival and Hot Press. All documentary details, dates, statements and quotations reflect the information available from these sources as supplied for this article. The coverage does not imply independent verification beyond the referenced material.
Sources
- HBO Pressroom: The Slightest Touch November 2026 release information
- HBO Documentary Films: The Slightest Touch acquisition and official synopsis
- Colin Farrell Foundation: About, mission and program timeline
- PEOPLE: Colin Farrell’s son James’ rare appearance in the documentary trailer
- PEOPLE: Colin Farrell’s two sons, James and Henry
- ABC News: Colin Farrell discusses James and Angelman syndrome
- ABC News Australia: Colin Farrell launches foundation inspired by James
- BFI London Film Festival: The Slightest Touch
- Hot Press: The Slightest Touch trailer and documentary details
Featured Image Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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