Trinity College's Burke theatre had seldom seen its like before. Al Pacino was in the hall and the crowd was going wild. There was whooping and whistling and a standing ovation before the Oscar-winning actor even got to the lectern.
The 66-year-old was in the university to receive the honorary patronage of the University Philosophical Society. And when he got the little red box, he held it aloft to the students like an Olympic medallist showing his prize.
Dressed in a tuxedo with a black tie, the relaxed actor told the crowd of more than 400 students that he never thought he would be standing there, receiving such an honour. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Salman Rushdie and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, had all received the honour in the past.
"I'm ashamed to admit this," he said. "My first visit to this gorgeous country, to this brilliant, beautiful city, Dublin." He said he had never felt "as at home, or at ease" in any other place he visited. "I expected that. I thank you for that."
He said he would "love" to do a film in Ireland. "Things almost happened, that kind of thing, several times," he said. The Philosophical Society's offer of patronage to Pacino was timely as the actor wanted to come to Dublin to film part of his Salomaybe documentary. The film follows his quest to find out more about one of his favourite writers, Oscar Wilde, and his influences for writing Salomé.
"Coming here has proven to be more invaluable than I ever predicted," he said. Pacino arrived on Tuesday by private jet and he has filmed at the National Gallery, at the Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square and at Wilde's birthplace on Westland Row.
Today he will travel to London for more filming, according to his friend, journalist Larry Grobel, who is travelling with him. He has just published a book of interviews with the actor.
Pacino is not doing any media interviews, but he agreed to briefly meet The Irish Times in his suite at the Westbury Hotel before receiving the honorary patronage. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, he projected a studious air as he bent over a desk in the suite, working on the speech he would give the students more than two hours later. "I like to walk on the edge," he said laughing before getting up to shake hands. Then he expressed the hope that RTÉ's Ryan Tubridy would guide the conversation with the students.
The RTÉ presenter took the actor through his early years and Pacino described The Godfather as "the movie that changed my life". His early years of fame were like "being shot out of a cannon", he said.
"It was scary, yeah . . . a lot happened to me that was good. I wish I could remember it."
