Colin Farrell Admits He Doesn’t Know ‘Depth or Nuance’ of Son James’ Struggles With Rare Genetic Disorder

Colin Farrell is opening up about his son James‘ experience living with the rare genetic disorder Angelman syndrome.

The Oscar-nominated actor, 50, appeared on the Wednesday, November 11, broadcast of the British daytime television program This Morning to promote his upcoming documentary about his close bond with a friend living with Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Explaining his reasoning behind shooting the documentary, which follows his and Emma Fogarty‘s experience taking on the Dublin Marathon despite her condition that makes her skin deteriorate, Farrell said they have a mutual understanding.

His son James, 23 — whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave — was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, which causes developmental delays.

Farrell said there’s “no doubt” his two sons, James and Henry (whom he shares with Alicja Bachleda-Curús), have opened his “heart.”

“I’ve seen up close and personal James’ struggles,” Farrell explained. “His struggles — like Emma’s, even though none of us, even his dad, doesn’t know the depth or nuance of them — are very obvious.”

“If you see Emma, you see from her bandages in her hands, you know instantly that [she] is struggling,” said Farrell. “So if you have any kind of empathy as a human being — which we all do, in greater or lesser degrees — that just opens you up.”

Angelman syndrome, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, occurs in “one in 15,000 live births or 500,000 people worldwide.”

“People with Angelman syndrome have developmental problems that become noticeable by the age of 6-12 months,” their website states. “Other common signs and symptoms usually appear in early childhood like walking and balance disorders, gastrointestinal issues, seizures and little to no speech.”

“Despite these symptoms, people with Angelman syndrome have an overall happy and excitable demeanor,” the website says. “An individual with AS will light up a room with their smile and laughter.”

Farrell’s new film, which premieres November 25 on HBO Max, follows the actor’s experience running the Dublin Marathon with Fogarty, who doctors initially believed would not live long.