Barry Keoghan attends the ‘Bird’ press conference ahead of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. Photo Credit: Victor Boyko

Is there any music in Barry Keoghan’s future? After dancing scenes in two recent films, including director Andrea Arnold’s new Cannes Film Festival entry “Bird,” the Irish actor joked that he’s on the lookout.

“Yes, I’m looking for a musical, if there’s one out there,” Keoghan told Reuters.

In “Bird,” newcomer Nikia Adams plays 12-year-old Bailey, who is living with her young and trained father Bug (Keoghnan) in Kent, southeast England.

To make easy money, Bugs imports a toad that sweats hallucinogenic mud, but only when it is relaxed by music.

In a nod to Keoghan’s infamous naked dance scene in last year’s black comedy “Saltburn,” Bugs’s least favorite song to play for Todd is none other than “Murder on the Dance Floor.”

Keoghan said that her boxing background was integral to her dancing abilities: “I do a lot of boxing, I grew up doing a lot of boxing and so, you know, shaking the hips and leaving the body free and loose, and It’s in my nature.”

Cast members Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, Nikia Adams pose during a photocall for the film ‘Birds’ in competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Photo credit: Clodagh Kilcoyne

The film, Arnold’s fourth entry in the competition for the festival’s top prize after “Red Road” in 2005, “Fish Tank” in 2009 and “American Honey” in 2016, was his most challenging to make.

“It was interesting, I had to leave it in a big way,” the British director said during a press conference on Friday.

“I was willing to do things differently because it (the film) was telling me things I needed to do differently,” Arnold said, without elaborating.

Franz Rogowski, who plays the titular Bird, an awkward, free-spirited man who arrives and eventually befriends Bailey, said that Arnold’s script-free directing style was a new experience.

“You’re very vulnerable and exposed. But you trust his process, and so you become family,” Rogowski said.

Cast members Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski pose during a photocall for the film ‘Birds’ in competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes | Photo credit: Clodagh Kilcoyne

Keoghan, who could draw on his experience of growing up in the downtrodden Summerhill district of Dublin for the role, found that he and his character differed on one aspect in particular: all of Bug’s tattoos.

“I have ADHD, so I’m sitting still… I’m trying to stay really still during the makeup process,” Keoghan said.

He added, “I thought about getting a tattoo after that. Not like a scorpion or anything like that, just like a little question mark or something.”