| Ailish shows star quality in movie debut |
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| Thursday, 09 October 2008 | |
 IT’S not often that someone gets mobbed in the toilets of the cinema at the Dundrum Town Centre and asked for their autograph.Ailish McCarthy (16), from Ranelagh, found herself in that position when she went to watch ‘32A’, the movie in which she played the lead role and that has since earned her rave reviews. Set on the Northside of Dublin in 1979, it is a bittersweet coming of age tale, touching on the truths of adolescence, first love, heartbreak, friendship debacles, peer pressure and family woes. ‘32A’ premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh where it took top honours, including the Best First Feature Award. It also premiered internationally at the Berlinale in Germany, one of the world’s leading film festivals, and has since been screened in festivals all over the world. Ailish believes her innocent look contributed to her getting the part as Maeve Brennan. “If my character did something wrong, they wanted someone that the audience would still have empathy for,” she tells Southside People. “My innocent look was key.” With a superb cast that includes Aidan Quinn and Orla Brady, the film was directed by Marian Quinn and is partly autobiographical. Ailish said it was fantastic to work with Quinn and Brady who played her father and mother. “Aidan Quinn had great presence on set; it was incredible,” she states. “Orla Brady was brilliant too.” The fifth year Muckross College student made the film over five weeks in 2006 when she was just 14. Her teacher at the Independent Theatre Workshop based in Ranelagh, Gillian Oman, who is also a film agent, sent her a couple of scripts and three auditions followed. Audition She didn’t believe at the outset that it was going to be so big and that it would eventually end up in cinemas all over the country. “When I was eight and 11, I was given auditions for two short films and I thought this would be the same,” reveals Ailish. Following her success in ‘32A’, Ailish was offered an audition for Nickelodeon. She travelled to America in March and although she didn’t get the part, she was thrilled with the experience. Late last year she was an extra in an episode of Fair City and also had a walk on part in TV3’s ‘Rock Rivals’. Ailish also did an audition for a programme called ‘Ben 10’ on TG4, her proficiency in the Irish language serving her well – she went to Scoil Bhríde, an Irish speaking primary school in Ranelagh. Despite her instant fame, Ailish is keeping her feet firmly on the ground and revealed that acting may not even be her ultimate calling. “My education comes first and the important thing for me is to study for my Leaving Cert,” she states. “I would really love to do criminal law. Law is always in demand whereas there are a lot of insecurities with acting. “Sometimes your face might not fit, but with law it would be a more reliable profession and my aim is to get enough points to study it.” Fantastic If she does pursue a career in acting, Ailish would be interested in doing some light comedy. Her dream would be to star in a film alongside one of her idols, Lee Evans. “That would be fantastic,” she adds. “I’m into comedians and I’m mad about him. I went to see him at the Olympia in July and managed to get his autograph. I also like the ‘Mighty Boosh’ on BBC3.” Even at such a young age, Ailish is already giving something back as she teaches drama and dance to 6-11-year-olds in her community. Aged just four, she sang ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile’ in the musical ‘Annie’ on stage with a cast behind her, so she can readily identify with the local children. Following her excellent performance in ‘32A’, when she chased after Brian Power (Shane McDaid, another Southside actor), the youngsters certainly have someone to look up to in the hugely talented Ailish McCarthy. |
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Developed by Kevin Flynn