Person to Person: 'I've worked with Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi and Gillian Anderson'

Tell us about yourself:

Hello! My name is Stefan Brennan-Healy and I’m an actor from Millstreet, Co. Cork.

I had quite a lovely childhood there and around the age of seven I decided the stage was where I wanted to be. I started doing any weekend and after-school classes I could, as well as performing with Banteer Drama Group, before going on to study Drama & Theatre at UCC.

I was super-active in the UCC Dramat Society, performing in six shows at our beloved Granary Theatre. After graduating, I knew I wanted to further pursue a career in acting and it was actually our wonderful director Éadaoin (we were in the same year in UCC) who suggested the idea of drama school to me.

I applied to audition for three of these in 2020 and got accepted into RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). So I moved to London to begin the next chapter! The training at RADA was incredible and I graduated in 2023.

Since then, I’ve performed in several plays around the globe, from King Lear in New York to The Cherry Orchard in Morocco. I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with many actors I admire, including Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Wilton and Gillian Anderson.

I am beyond thrilled to be getting back in front of Cork audiences for Girl In The Machine, and to be once again performing alongside the brilliant Isolde Fenton, having shared the stage with her several times in our Dramat days!

Where were you born? Cork city, but grew up in Millstreet.

Where do you live? Chiswick, West London.

Family? No siblings! My parents live in Donabate, Co. Dublin. I am a quarter Polish; my grandmother (I call her Babcia) was born in Siberia during the Second World War. She lives with my parents and my other Nan lives on the old family farm just outside of Carriganima, Co. Cork.

Best friend? Keith and I have been best buddies since we were about four. Met at play school and that was it. We were pretty much inseparable all the way through our childhoods and we still text each other every single day. There’s an adorable picture somewhere of the two of us at Dublin Zoo dressed as a tiger and a penguin (I was the penguin). He now lives in Falkirk, Scotland, and works as an ecologist.

Earliest childhood memory? Unwrapping a brand new LEGO Harry Potter set on Christmas Day in our sitting room in Millstreet. I have always loved Christmas and the memories of those ones in the early ’00s fill me with a deep warmth. And the serene feeling of being surrounded by family, with everyone in good spirits - such a special time.

Person you most admire? There are several, but my mom and dad are right at the top. I truly couldn’t have asked for better parents. I would not be where I am without their continuous love and support. My grandad was also hugely influential on me growing up. He unfortunately left us ten years ago, but his impact on my life and soul remains constant to this day.

Acting wise, Cillian Murphy is a massive inspiration for me. His body of work is phenomenal and I really respect how unapologetically himself he is in the media. I’d so love to work with him some day.

Person who most irritates you? Parents who give their child an iPhone or iPad and leave them at it. Early exposure to all the nonsense ‘content’ online is going to be detrimental to their brain function and creativity. Particularly with the profoundly worrying and continuous rise of AI, which is spreading through the internet like a plague. It baffles me how oblivious a large majority of the population are to the danger this poses.

Where was your most memorable holiday? Universal Studios in Orlando with my parents when I was 12. I sobbed when we had to leave.

Favourite TV programme? My instinct is to say Game of Thrones but then I remind myself of that travesty of a final season. But before that it was just sensational. Such amazing memories of meeting up with the boys every week to watch it when we were teens. I watched The Pitt recently which was maybe the most binge-worthy show I’ve ever seen. Currently watching The Sopranos (no spoilers please).

Favourite radio show? I can’t say I listen to the radio much but, somewhat adjacently, I adore The Blindboy Podcast. He is a national treasure. Endlessly entertaining and intelligent. And I just saw Animals at the Abbey which brings some of his short stories to life. A wild, shocking and hilarious piece of theatre.

Your signature dish if cooking? I am certainly not known for my ability in the kitchen but I can whip up a half decent curry.

Favourite restaurant? Hillbilly’s!

Last book you read? All The Lovers In The Night by Mieko Kawakami. A bit bleak. Difficult to feel anything for the protagonist. And a very unsatisfactory ending.

Best book you read? Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon. Two lads in Ancient Syracuse who speak with Dublin lingo attempt to stage Euripides with dying Athenian prisoners as the cast. It’s absolutely genius, and Ferdia’s first novel. Immensely looking forward to seeing what he produces in the future.

Last album/CD/download you bought? Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C. I wasn’t sure about it after the first listen but it’s growing on me. Opening track Six Shot Morning is a banger. Last album I downloaded before that was Nightflight to Venus by Boney M.

Favourite song? Right now - Paranoid Android by Radiohead. Favourite song of all time? Oof…. probably All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, it just contains the essence of life itself.

One person you would like to see in concert? Elton John. I’ve twice been booked to see him live and on both occasions I couldn’t go for various reasons.

Do you have a pet? I had a dog, Dusty, growing up. We got her as a pup and thought she was going to be an German Shepherd because of her coat. Turned out she was a terrier. She was so sassy and we loved her to bits. She’s gone now but still holds a special place in my heart.

Morning person or night owl? Night owl biiiiig time. I tend to get a boost of energy and creativity at like 11pm.

Proudest moment? This is really tough but I think it has to be making my US debut in Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear in New York. Our first show fell on my 27th birthday. Just an incredibly special day that made my soul light up.

Spendthrift or saver? Such a saver. I rarely buy anything I don’t need, but then when I do it feels earned!

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? I really love my area, it’s got pretty much everything within walking distance. Maybe an outdoor gym?

What makes you happy? Being with my closest friends. I’m very fortunate to have a couple of friend groups that I am super close with and feel so comfortable around. Even when we don’t see each other for long periods, we can always pick up right where we left off when we do meet. And it’s always infinite craic.

How would you like to be remembered? As someone who approached all aspects of life with passion and kindness.

What else are you up to at the moment? I just finished shooting for upcoming short film Fatzer, an adaptation of the unfinished play Downfall of the Egotist Johann Fatzer by Bertolt Brecht. It will hopefully be released in 2027.

I am also working with friends on ideas we have had for stage and screenplays. As well as performing, I am eager to start creating more of my own work as my career moves forward.