Abhiroop Das
Created by Steven Knight, Netflix’s ‘House of Guinness‘ is a fictionalized retelling of the Guinness legacy through the eyes of four siblings: Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Benjamin. This period drama series juggles the various dilemmas the characters find themselves in and the convictions that come out of it. While Arthur struggles to bear the weight of his responsibilities, Edward questions his moral fibre, with Anne and Benjamin carving out their own paths within the larger Guinness framework. However, the business end of things spins a web far more complex, and Byron Hedges brings in just the right amount of grease to get things running. With his business insight and willingness to go the extra mile, he quickly establishes himself as a game-changing presence in the narrative. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Byron is an Invented Character Who Bridges Ireland and America Through Beer
Byron Hedges is a fictional character created by writer Steven Knight specifically for ‘House of Guinness.’ As one of the plot’s primary needle movers, Byron adds to the dramatization of the Guinness’s real history, addressing how the company made its way to the United States. The young businessman is not without his ties to reality, and in an interview with Vanity Fair, Knight confirmed that Byron is a composite of some of the illegitimate children of the Guinness family. He stated, “There were lots of illegitimate Guinness children. And there was a movement into the United States that was founded upon the efforts of some of [those] people.”
Historically, the Guinness family placed great emphasis on their Protestant heritage, and while that is depicted in the television show to a great extent, Byron brings up the necessity of bridging the gaps for the sake of business. To that end, he makes use of his unique background, with his mother being a wealthy and Protestant Guinness, and his father a martyred Fenian revolutionary, to mint new connections with the Fenians who live in America. In a conversation with Tudum, Steven Knight has expressed that Byron serves as an emblem of how the company used a hint of deceit to enter the United States, relying on the Irish Catholic population to expand its reach.
As ‘House of Guinness’ reinterprets many accounts of the brewery’s past, a character such as Byron is necessary to ensure that the plot moves seamlessly. The young businessman brings in some cunning and ruthlessness to the story, and is primarily responsible for the business deal that is made between Fenians and the Guinness. Given that there are no historical reports of any such transaction taking place, the show uses that to its advantage, turning Byron into someone who exclusively works from behind the shadows. This use of the creative license lets his actions occupy a gray space in terms of authenticity, allowing other major historical events to come into play organically.
Jack Gleeson’s Sharp Portrayal Brings Byron Hedges to Life
The character of Byron is inextricably tied to how he is portrayed, with actor Jack Gleeson stepping into the shoes of this eccentric fictional figure. Notably, Gleeson added his own touch to the character, creating something that went beyond Byron’s original scope. Steven Knight stated, “Jack brings something that’s not expected. I wrote Byron in a certain way, and then Jack is so gleeful. He’s so bouncy.” This adds an element of charisma and mischief to the series of twisted plays that Byron makes throughout the show, ensuring that his presence on screen remains equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking.
Gleeson spoke to Netflix Tudum about what the character means to him, stating, “When the audition came in, I read the scene, and Byron just felt like a really lively character. You could tell he was a really well-rounded guy. I just fell in love with the world that he (Steven Knight) had created— the playfulness, the cheekiness, the wiliness of Byron.” The fact that Gleeson was in perfect sync with the character was instrumental in bringing out his creative prowess, which added layer upon layer to the young businessman.
Notably, Byron’s sense of fashion and aesthetic also play into the visual storytelling of ‘House of Guinness,’ and Gleeson has detailed what the character’s clothing and hairstyles mean for him. He explained that Byron did not have a lot of money growing up, so he made use of his newfound power and exercised it very physically. To that end, his exuberant choice of clothes reflects an unbridled love for himself, with its flashiness also playing into how he does business in the first place. Byron also brings in the phenomenon of class mobility, which played a major role in shaping the geopolitical makeup of Ireland at that point in history.
Read More: Was Arthur Guinness Gay in Real Life? Was He in a Lavender Marriage?
