Colin Farrell's 'gift' son

Feb 27, 2008, 7:35 GMT

Irish actor Colin Farrell (L) arrives with his mother Rita (R) at the 80th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 24 February 2008. The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Colin Farrell says his son is "a gift".

The Irish actor insists four-year-old James, who suffers from the neuro-genetic disorder Angelman syndrome, is "as happy as could be" and that everybody could learn something from his wonderful approach to life.

Colin, who shares custody of James with his ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, told Irish TV show 'Tubridy Tonight': "He's nothing but a gift. As far as I'm concerned he's exactly the way he should be.

"I look around and I see people who move perfectly, who walk with grace, who speak with great diction and clarity and a great use of the English language and we're all miserable f***ers - including me, at times.

"And then I see this fella who doesn't move the way what's perceived to be 'normal' is, and he's as happy as can be."

The 31-year-old star decided to break his silence about James' condition - which affects only one in 12,000 people and impairs speech, movement and balance - last year because he didn't want people to think he was ashamed.

He said: "I didn't talk about my son but I felt like I was betraying him, like it could be misconstrued as shame, which would be terrible, because he's such a celebration."

In a separate interview, Colin has also revealed how he burst into tears when James started to walk last autumn.

He told In Touch magazine: "James is just perfect. He's great. When he took his first steps last year, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I'm a very fortunate man."

(C) BANG Media International