Hollywood actor Vince Vaughn recently visited Belfast to make a television documentary on Northern Ireland’s unique murals

Words: James Bartlett

WEDDING CRASHERS ACTOR and paparazzi favourite Vince Vaughn was a world away from Hollywood when he recently flew into Belfast, Northern Ireland, to film a documentary he is presenting on murals, the iconic paintings that are found all over the city and in many parts of the country. Vaughn, 36, who is of part-Irish origin, is a constant feature across the media thanks to his romance with Friends star Jennifer Aniston, but he first shot to fame in cult 1996 film Swingers, when his fast-talking role as Trent led to his phrase “Vegas, baby!” becoming a national phenomenon. Director Steven Spielberg was so impressed by what he saw that he cast Vaughn in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and just 10 years later the star has been seen in The Break Up (with Aniston), Mr and Mrs Smith, Dodgeball and as Norman Bates in the 1998 remake of Psycho. Belfast locals were impressed by Vaughn’s down-to-earth nature. “He was really friendly,” said a passer-by. “He talked to the local people, signed some autographs and had a bit of craic [fun] with them.” Vaughn’s interest in the murals was sparked on a previous visit when he took a black taxi tour of the city. First painted over a century ago, the city’s murals came to worldwide notice in the 1970s, but since the 1994 ceasefires they have become a major tourist attraction, and just like the Hollywood tours which drive past the homes of the rich and famous (though not Vaughn’s – he lives in Chicago), tourists in Belfast can take bus and taxi trips to see the murals. Often painted anonymously at night, but sometimes done quite openly, many of the murals are beautifully designed works of art on a huge scale. Over the last few years the subject matter has changed from conflict to promoting peace or community awareness and paying tribute to local people of note like The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe author CS Lewis and legendary Manchester United soccer player George Best. The Dee Street mural depicts people coming in to work at Harland and Woolf, the shipyard where the doomed sea liner Titanic was built almost 100 years ago. A recent Government arts project earmarked £3.3m for 60-100 projects over the next three years, although transformation in some areas began several years ago. Repainting of murals is a high priority, but other forms of art including sculpture, street furniture and mosaics are expected. The Arts Council will be awarding grants to individuals and organisations that are looking to transform parks and housing estates and reflect a shared future. Some locals see the murals as legitimate folk art, while others see them as nothing more than graffiti. Either way, they have become regarded as something historical and Vaughn’s documentary will hopefully utilise his star power to shed some light on a fascinating part of the city and the country.