Colin Farrell: Sober And Ready To Work

Last year, he had to skip being in Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There" so he could go to rehab. Heath Ledger took the role. Now, Farrell is about to open in three movies including Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream" in January.

Last night, at the Woody premiere, Farrell was drinking water and being sober, although still witty and with it as he reflected on his situation.

"I've been off for eight months. I'm ready to go back to work," he told me. Along with "Cassandra," he also has Gavin O'Connor's "Pride and Glory" ready for release this winter. On January 17, he'll bring Martin McDonagh's "In Bruges" to Sundance as the opening night film. But all these were made before his life got out of hand.

What was it like, I wondered, when he first tasted fame? "It was like this," he said, and waved a hand up close in my face. "I couldn't see anything. Yeah. It was wild." And it stayed that way. But he's 31 now, and even though he's never going to be tamed, Farrell seems to understand that the party is at least a little bit over now. (We wouldn't want him to be sitting at home, knitting, however.)

"I finally have a reason for all this," he told me, "I get what it is."

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Last night's screening with director Woody Allen: