Desmond Eastwood Discusses the Significance of Playing St. Patrick in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Saints’

Desmond Eastwood Discusses the Significance of Playing St. Patrick in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Saints’

Actor Desmond Eastwood takes audiences beyond parades, shamrocks, and green celebrations in Fox Nation’s ‘The Saints.’ In this series, he shares the profound story of St. Patrick, a tale shaped by hardship, conviction, and unwavering faith.

Reflecting on his journey into this iconic role, Eastwood stated, ‘It was an honor and a privilege. What an incredible opportunity and experience.’ His commitment to embodying such a significant figure resonates deeply, particularly with the second season premiering soon.

The Influence of Martin Scorsese

Ahead of the show’s second-season debut on Sunday, Eastwood joined Fox News’ Sandra Smith on ‘America Reports.’ He discussed what portraying St. Patrick means to him, as well as the influence of Martin Scorsese, who serves as executive producer.

Eastwood emphasized the special nature of working under Scorsese’s guidance, saying, ‘To have someone of the caliber of Martin Scorsese involved, it’s pretty special.’

St. Patrick’s Extraordinary Journey

The upcoming episode follows St. Patrick’s remarkable journey, beginning in his teenage years in Britain. Irish raiders captured and enslaved him, leading to years of hardship before he found the strength to escape and return home.

Guided by faith, he made the courageous choice to return to Ireland, dedicating his life to sharing Christianity with the people who had once held him captive. This act of transformation ultimately led to his legacy as the Apostle of Ireland.

Building Ireland’s Christian Heritage

St. Patrick is credited with establishing churches, schools, and monasteries that laid the foundation for Ireland’s rich Christian heritage. This legacy continues to inspire people today, reminding us of the resilience of faith and conviction.

A Unique Audition Experience

Eastwood shared an interesting anecdote about his audition for the role. It took place while he was traveling in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. He joked that this unique environment might have aided him in channeling a more earthy and reflective quality for the role of the fifth-century icon.

‘I was actually in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco at the time,’ Eastwood recalled. ‘I don’t know if auditioning with a slightly more mountainous, earthy quality helped, but maybe it did.’

A Personal Connection to the Role

The opportunity to portray St. Patrick holds immense significance for Eastwood, especially as a native of Ireland. He described the experience as both humbling and profound.

‘It’s a great story of transformation and finding goodness through hardship and pain,’ Eastwood remarked. ‘I think everyone can relate to that and it is probably more important than ever.’

Accessing the Story

For those interested in learning more about St. Patrick’s compelling journey, Fox Nation subscribers can now stream his episode in ‘Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints.’ This assures that audiences have the opportunity to engage with a narrative that transcends mere celebration and delves into the heart of historical significance.

Fox Nation programs offer an extensive library of content available on-demand and accessible from mobile devices, but only for subscribers. New viewers can begin a free trial to explore the vast offerings from various Fox Nation personalities.

Contributions to this report were made by Fox News’ Benji Ferraro.