While Nesbitt’s family were largely unaffected due to living in the countryside, his sister and father narrowly dodged a car bomb explosion in the Seventies.
As a child of the Troubles-era, the star has taken a keen interest in the aftermath of those difficult times.
He’s also been a very outspoken champion of reunification and hopes for a “new union of Ireland”.
Nesbitt, who holds both an Irish and British passport, claimed he only began to see himself as Irish after he moved from County Antrim, where he was born, to London.
Bloodlands star James Nesbitt branded the money spent of Brexit a shambolic waste (Image: GETTY / BBC)
Nesbitt, a BAFTA and National Television Awards winner, lived in Broughshane, a village in County Antrim, during the Troubles but moved to London aged 19.
He admitted to only considering himself Irish when he moved to the UK and now holds both a British and Irish passport.
Nesbitt was concerned that leaving the EU would break up the broader “European family” – which he felt helped to unite the two Irish nations.
He raised concerns over an Irish customs border, while admitting it would need to be discussed at some point in the future.
Bloodlands star James Nesbitt raised his concerns over Brexit worsening tensions in Ireland (Image: GETTY / BBC)