| Kelly’s ‘Kisses’ blow critics away |
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| Tuesday, 16 September 2008 | |
 A YOUNG Northside actress has wowed film critics here and abroad with her debut movie which was screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival last week.Kelly O’Neill (12) is the star of ‘Kisses’ which shot straight to the top of 4,000 film proposals at the Galway Film Festival in July and scooped a top award. Director of ‘Kisses’, Lance Daly, uses the film to take a glimpse at the dysfunctional lifestyles of two city kids, Kylie played by Kelly and Dylan, who was played by Shane Curry. The pair of runaways team up and set off on the streets of Dublin for one night after being forced to flee the horrors at home and with a mission to find Dylan’s lost brother in mind. The young pair encounter some sticky situations on their journey but their innocent love for each other keeps them going. With a sweet smell of romance to it, Daly honours Dublin city life with his heartfelt approach to the film. He chose to cast the leading roles to toughened city kids with no screen experience, projecting realness into the film. And it worked. Kelly, from Stoneybatter, had the privilege of being hand-picked from her school at the tender age of ten. The vibrant youngster was first introduced to the camera in her school hall, for what she thought was a workshop, “I just went up to the camera and said, ‘hey, my name is Kelly, I’m gorgeous, I’m single and I’m beautiful. They made me do this four times,’” she says as she rolls her eyes up to heaven. Being her natural playful self, Kelly was told off a few times by her teacher for messing while the camera was rolling. But it seems that it was her cheeky charisma that landed her the part. The following day Kelly’s principal approached the class with news that someone hat got the lead role in a film. When her name was read out, Kelly was totally shocked, “I put my hands up to my face,” she says. “But the best part was when my teacher apologised for giving out to me.” Scooped from school onto the streets of Dublin and Sweden for filming, Kelly was accompanied by her proud mother, Sinead. The young star spent her nights filming the scenes, returning home at 7.30am most mornings, proving her capabilities as an aspiring young actress. Kelly boasts about having her own trailer on set and spending her hard earned money to kit out her wardrobe, but she says her time off school was the best of all. Filming the many scenes set in different locations, Kelly admits her favourite was spending the night in the pick and mix shop where she got to eat all the sweets. When asked about her on screen kiss with Dylan, Kelly reveals she reacted shyly stating she was only ten at the time and kicked up a stink on set with the director and Shane. “I told him to get mouthwash, a toothbrush, dental floss and toothpaste,” she says. “I even made him swallow the mouthwash.” After the kissing scene which seals their love in the movie, the pair skate off on their wheelies while holding hands. Kelly’s only experience with fame was through her great uncle, musician Don Baker, who is also no stranger to acting. Kelly’s granddad was also a help to Kelly, as he has done some acting before and worked in front of the camera doing commercials. Kelly says her idol was Brittney Spears, but she’s not so sure now. “I used to love her, but now look at her, she’s gone bald,” she says. In true diva style, Kelly wanted to mention the people who helped her along the way to her first movie in what could be a lifelong career. “Can I just thank all my friends for being there for me; there is Mary Anne, Emma, Michelle, Jordan, Lauren, Lee, Kirsty and Aaron,” she says while counting them on her fingers. Kelly has just started secondary school and will return from her trip to Canada with high hopes for a bright future. Her growing success at the film festivals seems set to open stage doors to her, but she states she will only act again if she likes the role. ‘Kisses’ will be screened in cinemas across Ireland in November. |
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Developed by Kevin Flynn