If you love a bit of high stakes sibling rivalry (or a pint of Guinness) then you're probably already watching Netflix's new drama, House of Guinness. It explores the origin story of the global beer brand and the siblings who turned it into a multi-million-pound empire in the 19th century.
Naturally, anyone binging the series will want to know more about the real Guinness family behind the characters, especially the four siblings at the heart of the series: Arthur, Benjamin, Anne and Edward. They also might wonder where they've seen Benjamin (Ben) Jr, the second son of Benjamin Sr, before given that the actor Fionn O'Shea starred in a very successful BBC show during the pandemic.
You've come to the right place to have your questions answered. Here's everything you need to know about Benjamin Guinness Jr.
Who is Benjamin 'Ben' Guinness?
Benjamin 'Ben' Guinness is the middle son of Benjamin Guinness Sr and grandson of Arthur Guinness, the brewery founder. He was born in 1842 and lived until 1900.
What was Benjamin Guinness' job?
Despite being his father's namesake, Benjamin did not get involved in the family business. Instead, he came a captain in the Royal House of Guards in England and spent most of his life there.
Benjamin inherited less shares of the Guinness brewery than his two brothers and it's unclear exactly why. One theory is that his ties to the military made him less suitable for business. Another is that he suffered from health problems, which deemed him not strong enough to handle the responsibility.
In House of Guinness, he is depicted as an alcoholic, which might explain why heading up a brewery wasn't considered a good idea too. A line from the trailer reads, 'I feel it is not wise to burden Benjamin and Anne [his sister] with the temptations that come with fortune.' It then cuts to Benjamin screaming in frustration.
Who plays Benjamin Guinness in House of Guinness?
Benjamin is played by Fionn O'Shea in the Netflix drama, who is best known for his role as Jamie (Marianne's insufferable boyfriend) in Normal People. He's also starred in Handsome Devil, Dating Amber and Hang Ups.
What is House of Guinness about?
The eight-part series by Steven Knight centres on the family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th century Ireland and New York, and the consequences following the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben.
Where can I watch House of Guinness?
The entire series is now available to stream on Netflix. If you want to find out more about how the modern day Guinness' feel about the series, read Grazia's recent interview with Daphne Guinness, who calls the name 'a blessing and a curse'.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).