RTÉ’s hit show Kin is a ‘family drama’ that offers viewers ‘an escape on a Sunday night’, according to lead actor Emmett J. Scanlan.

He was speaking after Dublin Cllr Mannix Flynn claimed the show was damaging the city’s reputation and urged Dublin City Council not to grant it any further filming licences.

The RTÉ drama portrays the fictional Kinsella family in their lives of gangland crime and the “enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family.”

Speaking to Pat Kenny, Scanlan said the show should be viewed as art, rather than reality.

“I'm here because I love the arts and I love to tell stories,” he said.

“It's entertainment if you like that sort of thing.”

Kinahan/Hutch feud

The actor rejected the idea the show is based on the Kinahan organised crime group.

“It's called Kin, because it's the Kinsellas and also because it's family – it's a family drama,” he said.

Scanlan said the role of Jimmy Kinsella appealed to him because of the dark nature of the character.

“As a child, I either always wanted to be an actor or I always wanted to be a hero, and I know which one I became … ironically, I get cast as the villain.

Emmett J. Scanlan features in Kin. Image: RTÉ

Getting cast

Mr Scanlan received the script for Kin from his casting agent at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

“All the jobs that we had that were in the pipeline fell apart,” he said.

“My email pings, and it was from [my] wonderful casting director … and she asked me to read for Jimmy.

“I fell in love with the complexity of Jimmy, and I fell in love with this story.

“When I was cast, I was over the moon.”

A scene from Kin featuring characters Bren and Jimmy. Image: RTÉ

The finale

The actor said he has specific plans for Sunday’s finale episode, as viewers wait to see Jimmy’s fate.

“I'm kind of away from the noise but within my insular bubble, the feedback has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he said.

“My mother stays up every Sunday until 10:30 pm to watch the episode … and at 10:31 pm she will text me how much she loved that episode.

“I'm gonna fly home for the finale that weekend … I'm going to watch it with her.

“I don't know if there's going to be a season three, but the response has been magnificent.

“The people have really taken it into their hearts and I can only hope that we get to continue to tell the story.”