‘It’s a Privilege’: Say Nothing Star on Reprising Role in Bob Dylan Musical and Following Fellow Belfast Actor

For rising star Conor McNeill, stepping back into the spotlight feels less like déjà vu and more like destiny. The Say Nothing actor, who turned heads with his intense and nuanced performance in the gripping adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s Belfast-set thriller, is now reprising a very different kind of role—this time on stage in a musical inspired by the one and only Bob Dylan.

McNeill is no stranger to transformation. From the shadowy, politically fraught world of Say Nothing to the poetic, soul-searching spirit of Dylan’s lyrical universe, his range is becoming undeniable. But for the Belfast native, this return to the stage is more than just a professional challenge—it’s a homecoming. “It’s a privilege,” McNeill says with a grin. “Getting to interpret Dylan’s music through theatre is something you don’t take lightly. There’s a weight to those songs. They carry history.”

The musical, Girl from the North Country, set in 1930s Minnesota, uses Dylan’s iconic songs to tell a story of hope, despair, and resilience. McNeill plays a central character in a reimagined version of the production, bringing a fresh yet emotionally grounded energy to the stage. His Belfast roots lend authenticity and depth to a show steeped in working-class struggle and poetic rebellion.

And as for following in the footsteps of fellow Belfast actors who’ve gone global—Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, and Kenneth Branagh among them—McNeill remains humble. “It’s inspiring. Belfast produces storytellers, and I’m just honored to be part of that tradition,” he says.

Fans of his screen work will see a different side of McNeill in this musical chapter—one that sings, literally, with quiet power and raw vulnerability. He’s not just performing songs; he’s living inside them. From haunting renditions of “Forever Young” to emotionally charged moments in “Like a Rolling Stone,” his stage presence is drawing praise from both Dylan purists and theatre critics alike.

For McNeill, it’s not about mimicking Dylan, but embodying the feeling behind the music. “These songs speak to the outsider, the wanderer. Maybe that’s why it resonates so deeply,” he reflects.

As he continues to navigate between screen and stage, one thing’s clear: Conor McNeill isn’t just riding the wave of Belfast talent—he’s carving out his own path, one powerful role at a time.