Breaking Ground in Ransom Canyon: Eoin Macken Rides Again

For Greay Magazine’s May 2025 cover, we sit down with the ever-evolving Eoin Macken—actor, director, writer, and true Irish storyteller—who brings a layered charm and edge to his latest role as Davis Collins in Ransom Canyon, one of the year’s most anticipated dramas. Known for effortlessly straddling the worlds of network TV and indie film, Macken invites us into his creative universe, where storytelling is both a craft and a calling. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about the thrill of playing complex characters, the lessons learned behind the camera, and how his Irish roots remain at the heart of every performance.

1.Ransom Canyon is being called one of the most anticipated shows of the season. What drew you to the role of Davis Collins, and how does he challenge you as an actor?

Well that’s good to hear that people are excited for it! Davis wasn’t like anybody I had played before, he’s got a lot of complexity to him by ways of being a proud father and family man, but also being very driven with a really dark side on the edge of his charm, and that made me excited to explore him.

2. What can audiences expect from Ransom Canyon, and how does it stand out from other dramas in the Western genre?

I think they can expect fun. I grew up on Westerns like a Fist Full of Dollars, and loved the adventure and excitement to it, and I think that’s really important. To care about the characters and be drawn into their world, and enjoy and relish it. Ransom is a really interesting show and it’s fun to watch.

3. You’ve worked on both network television and streaming platforms. How does the experience of working with Netflix differ from NBC or BBC productions?

I think at the end of the day you’re really always working to be true to the character and the show, and the experience comes down to the people you work with, all across the board. We had a magic crew, and honestly a great group to work with, and that came from April and Amanda being a joy to work with and creating an atmosphere that allowed people to do their best work.

4. Your role in La Brea earned People’s Choice Award nominations. How did that recognition impact your career, and what was the most rewarding aspect of playing Gavin Harris?

It earned a couple of nominations, and shame for never winning, we deserved it! La Brea was a great show, we were unlucky to come into our third season as the strikes were happening which curtailed the show, but we were lucky enough to get to finish an arc to the story – although the show was number 1 on Netflix across the world when season one was released in December, so maybe we can manifest a manifest style season 4 somehow because I feel La Brea always had more of the world to explore. Gavin Harris was a blast, he was a tough cookie and a very demanding character emotionally to hang onto, but the relationship with his kids, Zrya Goreki and Jack Martin really gave him a grounding and drove the show forward. I honestly loved it.

5. You’ve portrayed a wide range of characters—from medieval knights to modern-day doctors. Do you actively seek variety in your roles, or does it happen organically?

Yes and no, I wish I had that power, but I’ve just been lucky enough to come across some interesting and diverse characters on the way, although they always seem to be troubled internally in some way, so I must be pulling in something in somewhere!

6. Beyond acting, you’ve directed and written films like Cold and Here Are the Young Men. How does directing compare to acting for you, and do you prefer one over the other?

They don’t compare but they’re also all part of the same thing. I just love the process of storytelling. Once I started acting, I studied and worked as an editor, cinematographer, dolly grip, as well as wrote and directed and produced on lots of indie projects so I could learn and because I love it. Acting is what I love doing, and I feel compelled to do, but I love the art form of creating a story, and directing gives you the power to do that.

7. Your documentary The Fashion of Modeling explored the fashion industry. What inspired you to take on that project, and did your own modeling background play a role in shaping its narrative?

Ah, well researched! That was one of my very first projects, a little film we pulled together and then sold to television, which was a big win for us at the time. At the time I just really wanted the opportunity to be in the same room as some creatives I admired, like the photographer Mike Bunn, and learn how their creative minds worked, and discuss the art of creating a truly great photograph, and how modeling, fashion, styling and photography all fed into it. I had met those people through my modeling work, and I like understanding the how and why a fashion shoot came together.

8. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from working behind the camera that influences your approach to acting?

To always be collaborative, and to always listen.

9.Are there any directors or filmmakers who have had a significant impact on your storytelling approach?

Oliver Stone, David Lynch and Tony Scott are my filmmaking idols, but I worked on two projects with the great Mike Figgis, and I adore both him and his way of working. He got nominated for Oscars for Leaving Las Vegas with Nic Cage, and still carried on making indie films from the ground up, because he loved telling stories and exploring new methods and that enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring.

10. If you could adapt any book or story into a film, what would it be and why?

Oh, Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, but I think I’ve missed the boat and somebody else is already going to do it. It’s a very intense book that examines how a country can fall into authoritarian rule and people abandon societal norms and it’s harrowing.

11. You started your career in modeling before transitioning to acting. Was there a particular moment or project that solidified your decision to focus on acting full-time?

My first big film was an Irish football film called Studs, based on his own original stage play, by Paul Mercer, and it was not just my debut but also that of Donal Gleason. I was doing a film with my best friend, Emmett Scanlan, David Wilmots, Donal and Brendan Gleason, whilst finishing my finals in college, and had to get permission to not attend college to go to set, or I would fail my entire four years of college. We played one of the set up montage moments of a game of football against my old football team that I played for in my teens, and they made it so hard for me, giving me so much stick about some modeling campaign I had done and deliberately ruining the camera shots where I had to try score an overhead volley on camera. But by the end of it, we had a blast filming, they all relented with the slagging, and enjoyed the process and I just knew that I loved making films and being on a set.

12. Coming from Dublin, how has your Irish heritage influenced your career, both in terms of opportunities and the way you approach your work?

Ireland has a deep heritage of storytelling, and I think that has always been a part of how I see the world. I feel very proud to be Irish, and I think some of the Irish personality slips into every character in some way. 

13. Over the years, you’ve built a strong and diverse resume. Looking back, is there a role that was particularly transformative for you, either professionally or personally?

Honestly it will always be Merlin, because of what the character and the show meant to me, and because of the friends I made from that show who are still some of my dearest friends now. Playing Sir Gwaine was some of the most fun I’ve ever had and that character allowed me to be very free.

14. Hollywood can be unpredictable—how do you stay grounded and motivated in such a dynamic industry?

I just write, and hang out with my good friends. I think all you can do is be appreciative of everything, and try to surround yourself with good people, and when things are difficult, I just stay positive and focus on writing my next story. You interrupted my current novel with this interview right now!

15. If you could give advice to your younger self when you were just starting in the industry, what would it be?

Take a little more time with your scripts. I was in a hurry, and worked so hard to make films and create that I had too many stories I wanted to tell, and a little more curation to get the scripts tighter would have been great – but that’s also hindsight. I’ve learned over the years that the old adage of writing is rewriting is true, embrace the writing process and take as much advice as possible. 

16. You’ve worked on major productions across TV and film. Are there any dream roles or genres you haven’t explored yet that you’d love to tackle?

Cu Chulainn. I played a version of the Irish mythological character for Gary Shore, years back, but it never got completed. He’s the Irish equivalent of Achilles, and I’m working on a novel about him right now. That would be my dream role.

17. Would you ever consider revisiting the Merlin universe in some way, given the show’s enduring popularity?

I would, and I tried. Myself, Tom Hopper, Rupert Young and Adetomiwa Edun tried to broach doing a spin off, but we were unfortunately not encouraged. We were potentially going to bring in a podcast about it, and do a spin off of a version of the Knights of the Roundtable ourselves. If we ever got the right push we would all do it in a heartbeat – I have a show spin off and the entire season worked out ages ago. Just need the producers to come to us and give us the go ahead!!

18. What’s next for you after Ransom Canyon? Are there any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?

There are a few percolating, which hopefully I can talk about soon!

19. With the rise of streaming and independent filmmaking, do you think traditional Hollywood is evolving for the better?

I have no idea really, I think there is so much written and discussed, and I think the only thing you can control as an artist, actor or filmmaker is to keep creating, working and trying to learn. Like every skill it’s always evolving, so you need to keep learning as you go.

20. If you could collaborate with any actor or filmmaker—past or present—who would it be and why?

You know I’m always going to say Day-Lewis right…….but also if I could make a film with Richard Harris, directed by David Lynch, co-starring Day-Lewis, I think it would turn pretty decent. I’d be happy to be a runner on that film.

Whether he’s slipping into the boots of a Western patriarch or sketching out the mythic journey of Cu Chulainn in his upcoming novel, Eoin Macken is a storyteller committed to curiosity, collaboration, and creative freedom. As Ransom Canyon rides into our screens and new projects quietly take shape, one thing is clear—Macken is not just chasing roles, he’s building worlds. And as he tells us with a glint of mischief, all it takes to keep going in this unpredictable industry is good friends, a little gratitude, and the next story waiting to be written.

Photographer DaMarko GianCarlo

Story By Kyra Greene

Make Up Tamieka Gardner @tamiekamua

Hair Adrian Cobain @hairbyadrianc

Wardrobe TajayDupree @royalt_fashiion

Produced By The Greay Firm & The Coi Group