David O’Hara seized upon the dream of becoming an actor during his high school years. At just 17, he made the bold decision to leave Scotland to study at London’s prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama. With his dark hair and natural presence, David began his on-screen journey with a minor role in Bill Forsyth’s Comfort and Joy (1984). Not long after, he appeared on television as a Scottish boy in the BBC’s The Monicled Mutineer (1986), marking his first venture into small-screen acting.
Before long, O’Hara was making a name for himself on stage as well. In 1986, he played Tybalt in an open-air production of Romeo and Juliet, and by 1989, he had taken on the more complex and demanding role of Mercutio in the same classic. His career really began to take off when he portrayed Stephen, the fiery Irishman who sides with William Wallace (Mel Gibson) in Braveheart (1995). This role brought him wider recognition and opened new doors.
The following year, O’Hara starred opposite Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect V: Errors in Judgment, a Granada Television production that aired on PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre in 1997. That same year proved to be especially busy and diverse for David. He appeared in Alan J. Pakula’s The Devil’s Own, played a comedic love interest to Janeane Garofalo in The Matchmaker, took on the role of a biker in the Scottish film The Slab Boys, and portrayed the menacing Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist, part of The Wonderful World of Disney series on ABC.
When it comes to David O’Hara’s filmography, one standout performance that really shines is in The Sparrow (2022), which happens to be his highest rated movie. Over the years, David O’Hara has taken on a variety of roles, but this particular film seems to have resonated most with audiences and critics alike. On the other end of the spectrum, David O’Hara appeared in Jack Said (2009), a film that, while part of his diverse body of work, received notably lower ratings. It’s interesting to see the range in David O’Hara’s career—from intense dramas to more polarizing projects—yet his talent remains evident throughout. Still, if you’re looking at critical reception, David O’Hara’s peak comes with The Sparrow, while Jack Said marks a less acclaimed chapter in his journey as an actor.