Corkonians Abroad: 'I'm in a film with Timothée Chalamet .. and even used my Cork accent'

How did you end up in New York, Ed?

I was a very shy child, and was like that for most of my teens. At 19, I took a very good improv class with a woman named Belinda Wild. I really enjoyed it and, apparently, I was not bad at it, which made me consider acting as a possible profession.

I moved to New York City in 2007 after two years training in Paris, first in School Jacques Lecoq and then with the master clown teacher Philippe Gaulier at Ecole Philippe Gaulier.

In the last few months of my time with Gaulier, I began to have this inexplicable burning desire to move to New York.

Well, I’ll try to explain it: Gaulier’s teachings engage in fantasy. He believes the actor must have big dreams and must share those dreams and fantasies with an audience.

Also, he would often say: “You must see yourself as an expensive artist” - this resonated with me as I wanted to move here and become a movie star. I have not given up on that dream!

Gaulier would also say: “When you do something idiot, you must believe a big Hollywood contract is coming soon!”

I’m doing lots of ‘idiot’ things and I have complete faith that those big Hollywood contracts are on the way!?

How is life in the Big Apple?

Very rock’n’roll. I’m currently single and living with an amazing friend Amy, who has been like an angel for me after some recent turbulence in my personal life.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in New York?

Surviving in this city as an artist can be challenging, but in 2015 a former lover casually suggested I should teach and that has helped enormously. My class has become very popular over here.

And, of course, I owe a lot to Gaulier for that as I have adapted his teachings to suit my own unique voice. Gaulier’s teaching style is very performative. This inspired me. In other words: the class is utter madness! And was described quite flatteringly as “the best show in New York City” by one former student.

Also, not to name drop, but Chloe Fineman from Saturday Night Live has taken the class as have a few other ‘big names’ in the industry.

How might you spend your weekends?

Teaching, directing, devising, or walking. I live in a place called Inwood in Manhattan which has lovely parks. As I’ve got older, I’ve embraced nature.

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live?

I hope the readers in Cork don’t take this the wrong way! But I was struck by how incredibly attractive everyone is in New York!

So is everyone in Cork, like, but New York City is a bit bigger. And for the most part the people here love the Irish, which is handy obviously. I would say culturally there’s less shame.

Tell us about your line of work/career?

I’m an actor, director, teacher, writer.

Tell us your thoughts on opportunity - and how a different part of the world might offer more opportunities

I mean, that’s probably the most obvious reason I moved here. Although there’s lots of wonderful things happening in Ireland creatively at the moment, New York just spoke to me for the kind of artist I dream of being and am at this point, aka, a complete headbanger! That’s a joke, mum!

Jesus, I hope if any family are reading this, they won’t kill me. I’m not a headbanger, I’m just a “strange Irish poet”, as Gaulier once called me.

I used to love New York movies as a young fella, like Pacino in Panic In Needle Park, so I dreamed of being in movies like that myself.

Are there any wider societal issues that you see in Ireland that aren’t a problem in your new home? Or vice versa

I want to be brutally honest: I’m a disgrace in the sense that I’ve turned my back on social and political issues in recent years as one finds it challenging enough figuring out one’s own life. I know that sounds selfish!

That being said, I was a hardcore Trotskyist for years and I do still have more than a soft spot for ‘genuine socialism’, which in my view can only be achieved through a genuine transformation of society on an international level.

That cannot happen through electoral, parliamentary politics in the current system, in my view, no matter how well meaning a politician may appear to be.

Inequality is sadly rampant in most parts of the world if you look hard enough.

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

I really enjoyed getting to work very briefly with Timothée Chalamet in the upcoming Josh Safdie movie, Marty Supreme. It’s released on Christmas Day here, so I hope it will be the same in Ireland! Blink, and you’ll miss me!

I’m in one short scene, but your readers will be delighted to hear I speak with a Cork accent in it!

Timmy and Josh were lovely, down-to-earth men. Timmy’s a Chelsea fan, by the way! Your readers might find that interesting. I, on the other hand, am a long-standing supporter of Liverpool football club.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

Yes! Too many to mention, but I’m gonna try!

Shout-out to Máirtín de Cógáin, the great Irish musician and storyteller who made this interview happen, and to Brian Desmond, the visionary theatre director, and to the great intellectual artist, Badger.

The four of us have a WhatsApp group chat called ‘Heskey’ which is of course a homage to the former footballer, Emile Heskey.

Also, a shout-out to a couple of other great Cork poets, Eddie Cash and Mark Stout.

And the great philosopher Pat Byrne and the F Scott Fitzgerald of Cork, Colm Mcauliffe! You should interview him! He’s currently based in London.

And my dear friend Shane Casey, aka Billy Murphy in The Young Offenders, whose acting success has filled my heart with joy.

And the great actor/writer/director John McCarthy, who in my opinion is the Mark Rylance of Cork. And the brilliant acting teacher Mary Curtin. And the great musician Dave Des.

And a shout-out to the amazing lads I grew up with in Blackrock, Ollie, Ronan, Pa, Shane, Kevin, and whoever I’m forgetting!

And, most of all, my incredibly supportive mother Maura, my sister Carol, and her husband Ken Bruton, who is a hugely successful legend in the Cork soccer scene (I’m sure your readers are familiar with him!), and their wonderful sons, Ethan and Sam.

Jesus, I answered this like I was accepting an Oscar! State of me!

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would the ideal day for you?

I would travel back in time to the early part of the century when I performed spoken word song lyrics in a Shakespearean accent on Paul Street. I would make a few quid and subsequently drink it in The Oval, which at that time was owned by the legendary Dennis Murphy.

At that time, I also collaborated on the streets with John McCarthy (the Mark Rylance of Cork), we were amazing together!

So, basically, I’d go back in time because I’m sure Cork has changed a lot and, sure, I don’t have a clue what it’s like now!

And of course, I would relive a few performances of my iconic debut solo show, The Self Obsessed Tragedy Of Ed Malone.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

I’m directing three solo shows that will be performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August by three incredibly talented woman.

One show is called I’ve Body Swapped With Noel Gallagher, where the writer/performer does what the title suggests! Very funny, and very timely now that the lads have reformed!

This is written and performed by a super-talented writer/actor from Missouri, McKenna Mobus.

The others are Escape, a beautiful darkly comic show about mental illness performed by a future movie star, Natalie Slaiman, and The Day My Sugar Daddy Dumped Me, written and performed by a hilarious comedian Becky Goodman. This show is of course about a young woman having multiple affairs with older men for a few quid!