My Weekend: 'I'm a 15 alarms in the morning kind of person'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I’m an actor, singer, and voiceover artist from County Louth.

I’ve been working in theatre and film since I graduated in 2016 from the Gaiety School in Dublin.

I’m based in London, but back and forth a lot between Dublin and the UK, so it’s gorgeous to take in a new city and work at the Cork Proms for the week.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

My ideal Friday night is probably chilling out with some good food, a film, and feet up.

But love the odd theatre trip or trying a new restaurant too.

Lie ins or up with the lark. Which is it for you?

Lie in, all the way. I’m a 15 alarms in the morning kind of person and am rarely in bed before 1 am — which really needs to change!

Does work creep into your week end at all?

Yeah, I don’t know a single actor who isn’t working ALL the time, even if you’re not in a project.

If you’re not self-taping, you’re preparing for an audition or a project down the line, or you’re networking or reading scripts and plays.

Sure, even when you’re watching something casually, you’re looking at another person’s craft and thinking of parts you’d like to do and such.

I can be obsessive, so I need to remind myself often to re-inject joy and play into things.

Watch things for pleasure and ignore emails on weekends!

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I would definitely love to visit Sicily or Copenhagen at some point. More than anything, I would love to visit the pyramids in my lifetime.

I’d probably take my mother. She needs a holiday more than I do.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I do love my childhood home, to be honest. I was raised near the Crossmaglen border in Dundalk, so we’re pretty far out of town.

It’s very much a countryside vibe, lots of nature, hills, and fresh air. I’m very close to my parents and siblings, so I do love to recharge there as often as I can.

As soon as four days passes though, I’m itching to go city side again.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Yeah, love to catch friends as often as I can. The last while feels a bit like I live in Gatwick and Dublin Airport, and I’m beginning to realise how vital real life relationships are, not just online chats with them.

You need to SEE your friends, hold them.

We were never meant for so much online time.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I try to do as many hobbies as possible.

As an artist, it sometimes feels like you end up monetising them all! I once sang as a hobby and not for work at all, and now that doesn’t really feel possible.

I’m a classically trained pianist, which I don’t really use for my work, so I love to just sit down and play for a few hours.

That and the gym. I’d live in a pool or in the sea if I could; I’m a total water baby.

I’m also back into reading in a big way, which is just such an enjoyable and accessible hobby. Loving it.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter, do you have a signature dish?

Oh. Both if possible. Love being fed of course, but I love cooking for others.

I think my generation, living in house shares all the time, means we don’t get to host for each other as much as the ’90s…without disturbing your housemates, that is.

But when I am, I make a really mean Thai curry or pasta dish.

Sunday night comes around too fast. How do you normally spend it?

Depends on if I’m working on something — if I am, I will invariably be prepping for it.

I find it hard to chill out until I know I’ve got my Ps and Qs in order. But if I’m not working, I’d be just watching a show or gaming.

I love gaming, I’ve been doing it since I was about 12, and honestly think I’ll lose passion for it every year, but never do.

Lara Croft is my current play, but strategy or stealth games, I lose myself in them for about six hours probably.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

If I’m not working, 10am. But I’m not rolling out of bed until 10.30am, let’s be realistic.

Anything else you are up to right now?

I just wrapped on a gorgeous Screen Ireland short film called The Quiet Ocean, which I’m so excited about. It is directed by Katie McNiece and written by Barry Smyth.

It’s going to be very special. I have a gorgeous concert coming up with RTÉ Concert Orchestra in May for Aedín Gormley’s Movies and Musicals show, live at the Bord Gáis.

Very excited for that. Hoping to take some time off in between and after that.

Juliette is in Cork this weekend for the Cork Proms at the Cork Opera House. Curated by two dynamic Cork talents in Trevor Ryan and conductor John O’Brien, the evening will also feature Claire O’Leary, Shane O’Riordan, Ben Morris, and Jacinta Whyte. See corkoperahouse.ie.