Key Highlights
- Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty star in The Slightest Touch, a documentary about Fogarty’s life with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
- Farrell ran the final four kilometres of the Dublin Marathon alongside Fogarty in her wheelchair to mark her 40th birthday.
- The HBO Max documentary explores the pair’s 16-year friendship, Fogarty’s rare condition, and Farrell’s family life with sons James and Henry.
Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty’s friendship takes centre stage
Colin Farrell has opened up about The Slightest Touch, an upcoming documentary featuring his “super good pal” Emma Fogarty, who lives with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare condition commonly known as “butterfly skin.” The condition causes Fogarty’s skin to develop painful blisters and tear in response to even small amounts of friction or touch.
The documentary follows Fogarty as she approaches her 40th birthday and examines her long-standing friendship with Farrell. It also includes rare footage from Farrell’s home, with his sons James and Henry appearing in the film. Farrell has supported charities connected with Angelman syndrome since James was diagnosed with the condition as a toddler.
To celebrate Fogarty reaching an age doctors had previously told her she would not live to see, Farrell decided to run the Dublin Marathon with her. He completed the race earlier this year, accompanying Fogarty in her wheelchair for the final four kilometres.
Appearing on This Morning, Farrell joked that his legs “sped up” when he saw Fogarty and ran the last few miles. He also sought to correct the idea that their relationship is based on celebrity charity or pity.
He said: “I wanted it to be very obvious [in the documentary], the truth of our relationship is mutuality.” Farrell explained that it was not “this famous actor pitying her” and described the pair as “super good pals” who have known each other for 16 years.
Why Farrell ran four kilometres with Fogarty
The filmmakers describe The Slightest Touch as a “moving celebration of friendship, community, and the extraordinary strength found in human connection”. Fogarty explained on The Late Late Show that the four-kilometre distance represented one kilometre for each decade she had lived with EB.
Farrell said when the film was announced: “I can’t think of The Slightest Touch as a film, certainly not like any film I’ve ever been a part of before. For me, it’s simply a collage of home videos, moments in time that we all shared during its making.”
How Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty became friends
Farrell and Fogarty first met at a charity event in 2010, when Farrell sat beside her. Fogarty later told The Independent that it felt as though they had known each other “for 100 years” from the moment they met.
She said: “From the start, I always just wrote to him like I would any friend, filling him in on my life and asking questions about his.“He began to respond to me in the same way. We still write to one another a lot, and talk, like friends do, about deep and personal things …He can trust me – that’s the truth – and I can trust him. That is sacred to me.”
The documentary’s director, Rachel Fleit, said: ““Making this film brought me back, over and over, to what I think matters most in life: love, care, community, and the friendships that carry us.“It was an honour to bear witness to the extraordinary bond between Emma and Colin, and I’m deeply grateful to HBO Documentary Films for helping bring this story, and its message, to audiences around the world.”
Why This Matters
The Slightest Touch brings wider attention to Epidermolysis Bullosa, a condition in which fragile skin can blister or tear after minimal contact. By focusing on Fogarty’s life, her friendship with Colin Farrell, and her milestone marathon achievement, the film presents her experience through personal relationships, community support, and resilience.
The documentary also offers an unusually personal view of Farrell, including appearances by James and Henry and his continuing support for charities connected with Angelman syndrome. The Slightest Touch debuts on HBO Max on 26 November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Slightest Touch about?
The documentary follows Emma Fogarty’s life with Epidermolysis Bullosa, her friendship with Colin Farrell, and her effort to mark her 40th birthday by completing the Dublin Marathon with Farrell’s support.
How long have Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty been friends?
Farrell and Fogarty met at a charity event in 2010 and have known each other for 16 years.
When will The Slightest Touch be released?
The Slightest Touch debuts on HBO Max on 26 November.
