Armagh’s Eoin Mallon landed his very own golden ticket when he got to use his musical talents alongside Oscar winner Olivia Colman in the newest WONKA movie.
The former St Patrick’s Grammar School pupil, who has been a familiar face in pantos in Armagh over the years, has also starred on the West End stage.
Now, he has taken his gifts to the big screen as a vocal coach in the new Warner Bros production – and Roald Dahl classic – alongside stars Timothée Chalamet (Wonka); Hugh Grant and Rowan Atkinson.
Eoin, who studied musical theatre at MountView in London, was only nine years old when he first started theatre at the Market Place in Armagh. His very first role was as a barrister in the Wizard of Oz. And he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots either, regularly paying visits when he returns home to the city.
Over the years he has honed his craft with that effort really beginning to bear fruit.
His former school, St Patrick’s, said they were “extremely proud” of Eoin, but it is his biggest fan, grandmother Bernie Hamill, who is the proudest.
Bernie celebrates her 90th birthday on Saturday – so it’s a double celebration of that fantastic milestone along with her favourite grandson’s amazing achievement.
Taking to social media recently, Eoin posted: “Embarking on the WONKA adventure was a rollercoaster. I’m beyond proud of @_jtaylormusic and the phenomenal 3-year ride he took on creating musical magic for this movie. You are an absolute star.
“A massive shoutout to the incredible team at @WarnerBrosuk for letting me be a part of this cinematic masterpiece. I’m so grateful for the stars aligning and introducing me to the remarkable Olivia Colman. She’s not just an extraordinary talent but also one of the best humans this world has ever seen.
“Sharing credits with these inspiring coaches I’ve always looked up to, @fiona.mcdougal and the legendary @ericvetrovocalcoach, is an honour in itself. Here’s hoping the world falls in love with Wonka just as much as I have. Let the magic unfold! #wonka #wonkamovie #vocalcoach The @thevocalgymltd is in the land of the motion picture.”
Check out the trailer of WONKA below.