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Ask
Event with Tara Lynne O'Neill |
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 We
held an Ask Event with Tara Lynn O'Neill from Eastenders on Thursday
16 Jan 2003. Tara plays Joanne, little louise Mitchell's nanny but
has also starred in BBC NI productions; a radio drama called Stumbling
and the film Wild About Harry. If you missed the event, you can read
the transcript below.
Question From Lesley: Could you please tell me where
you went to acting school? I'd love to get into acting?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I actually didn't go to Drama
School, drama schools cost an awful lot of money so I went about it
by sending CV's to local theatre companies in Northern Ireland and
went to lots of shows and hoped someone would take me under their
wing. That happened and then I learnt as I worked.
Penthouse: How are you enjoying life on Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It's great - surreal but fantastic.
Gazz Who is the funniest member of the cast
behind the scenes?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I would have to say Terry who
plays Billy.
Laura: Is it scary working with Phil Mitchell?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: No he's a big softie, he's really
good to work with.
becky46: what is it like playing with the one and only Barbara
Windsor?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It's an experience, she has been
the person that's helped me the most and showed me the ropes.
Annie: Who is your favourite character from Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill It has to be Kat Slater! I think
Jessie's a wonderful actress. Definitely Kat or Dot Cotton who was
always my favourite before I became part of the show.
Immy: Is working on 'Eastenders' a lot different from working
on 'Wild About Harry'?
Tara Lynne ONeill Completely different. With a film
you have your character from beginning to end, so it's much easier
to mould a character. With Eastenders you never know what your character
is going to do next, so you're never really prepared.
Paige: How long do you see yourself working in Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Soap is something that I never
thought I would be part of so at the moment I'm perfectly happy to
learn how it all works, and just see what the future holds.
Des: How long did it take to get accepted on EE?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I was very lucky to come under
the wing of the Mitchell's and thanks to Barbara, Steve and Lucy I
was accepted very quickly and I'm having a great time.
Razzi: If you had to be any other character, who would it
be?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It would have to be Dot, only
because she has so much comedy and she smokes a lot!
James: How did you get the role?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I flew over from Ireland to meet
producers, read some scripts on a Friday and got the phone call on
the Monday to say I was on board!
MichelleC2212: Is there going to be any relationship
between Joanne and Phil in future episodes?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: You're asking the wrong person!
I know as much as the public. It seems to be the question that even
my mum wanted to know. We'll have to wait and see.
leviathon90: Did you watch Eastenders when
you were younger and wished you could be on it?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I wasn't allowed to watch it
when I was younger. But in the last five years I became a big fan,
especially when Dot and Sonia had their big scenes because I think
they're both great actors, but never believed I would be part of it.
Kitty1 What did you feel like on your first day?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It was very strange and very
hard work, but I tried to be as professional as possible, even though
my mum wanted Barbara Windsor's autograph, I thought I'd leave that
until day two.
Vick: Are there any actors that you fancy or find
attractive?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I'd rather not say because my
boyfriend's sitting beside me!
LLcoolJ: Do you enjoy working with the Eastenders crew?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I've always found when working
as an actress the crew are the best people to know. The crew are always
down to earth and up for a laugh, the Eastenders crew is no exception,
they're always making me laugh.
Maz: Do you get lots of people coming up to you and asking
for autographs?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I tend not to, because people
say I look so different in real life than on telly, but the few times
I have been asked, people have been so nice.
Sarah Smith: Are you anything like Joanne?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Apart from being Irish, and not
bad with kids - no. If someone like Phil Mitchell was to shout at
me, he'd be frightened!!
robrymond: What would you say is the best
scene you have played in so far and why?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It would have to be the New Year's
Eve episode were Joanne got drunk and told Ricky she had filthy thoughts.
Myself and Sid laughed and laughed - it was a great days filming.
jacksr: Who would you like to play the role of your
mum on the set if the job came up?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I suppose she would have to be
Irish, but I wouldn't insult any actresses I know by saying they were
old enough to play my mother!
CJ: Would you ever like to go into film work or are
you happy with television?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Eastenders is the first television
I have done. For the last seven years I have been involved in a lot
of Irish films and I guess that's were my heart will always be, but
it's great to learn about the techniques of television acting. But
film is where I would like to be.
snoopyisgr8: What is it like working with baby Louise?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: She's lovely, very well behaved
and a terrible up-stager! She is starting to speak so every line that
I have, she now speaks over me, which is really really funny.
becky46: What would your dream job be after Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: If I was aiming high it would
be a film with the Cohen Brothers but I'll be realistic and hope for
a chance to play a completely different character and not fall into
the stereotype that some soap actors find themselves in.
dennie: How much has your life changed since joining the soap?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Not much, a lot less than I thought.
Obviously I live in London now but apart from that it's just nice
having a full-time job.
pie: Does it feel different coming back to Belfast after being
on the show?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: No not really. I just get recognised
a lot, but everybody is so nice and dying to know what happens next.
nobody: Will Joanne become a main character?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I have no idea. It all depends
on other storylines and were the producers see her going.
Rebecca: What did you want to be when you were younger?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I wanted to be a dentist but
didn't do too well at Chemistry, so don't ask me how I went from dentistry
to acting.It's just one of those things.
Greg: How is your family feeling about you being in Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: They are all delighted, especially
my nieces who have told all their friends previously that I was an
actress but were too young to watch any of the films I've been in.
So now all their friends believe them and hopefully everyone's sucking
up to them! My mum and dad I think, are the happiest. My dad's an
actor so they are delighted.
eminem: Do you have any bad habits?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I smoke, I would love to give
up but in acting there's a lot of sitting around which makes it hard
as everyone else around you is smoking, but hopefully this year.
cyc: Do you have much of a social life with the show's tough
schedule?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: We have weekends off and with
London having so many theatres I'm loving every minute of the free
time I have. I try to see as many shows as possible. As Belfast has
only one theatre a choice of a hundred shows at the weekend is as
social as I'd like to be.
Sarah Smith: What do you do in your spare time?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Learn lines and hang out with
friends.
Kate: Where in Northern Ireland are you from?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Belfast.
caroline devlin: What is the best thing you have done in your
career so far?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It was probably the last film
that I did, it was called The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone with Helen
Mirren and Anne Bancroft, in which I played an American movie star.
Emma: Who were your idols when you were growing up?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I did like Michael Jackson but
my granny thought he looked like the Devil!, but as far as acting
idols, it would have to be Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and Marlon Brando.
I could never really find a female actress that inspired me more than
these three.
vicky: What kind of music do you like?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I like Indie-rock and a lot of
old Jazz singers.
EmmaLou What would be your dream storyline in Eastenders?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: To be honest there would be so
many story-lines that Joanne could do but I would love if she became
one of the comedy characters in Eastenders, just to brighten up all
the misery that happens in Albert square.
Angel: If you had the choice of a partner for Joanne on the
show who would it be?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It would have to be Barry because
Barry is very funny and always messing everything up, and I think
Joanne's a bit like that, so I think they'd make a good pair.
nixk88: What has been your most embarrassing
moment on set so far?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: It would have to be on the first
day as I haven't done television before I wasn't aware that they shot
on four different cameras. In films they shoot on one and then go
for a close-up. I thought we were going for my close-up but was informed
that the scene was finished and all I did in the scene was stand and
stare in amazement because I was beside Barbara Windsor. So in my
first scene in Eastenders I wasn't even acting, I think that's embarrassing
enough!
helengolding: Are you nervous when you're
filming?
Tara Lynne O'Neill I was at first, but the actors
are so professional that everything is filmed so quickly that there
is no time for nerves.
carolinedevlin: Would you have any tips for anyone who is
wanting to become an actor?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I don't think any actor can really
advise anyone else. The only thing I could offer is to work hard,
observe the actors around you, watch a lot of films and cross your
fingers, it is a lot of luck.
Chris: Is your boyfriend famous?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: No, but he is in my eyes.
Rebecca: Which do you prefer - watching the shows you're in
or filming them?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: I try not to watch anything because
I become very critical. I haven't watched Eastenders since I've been
in it as the illusion has totally gone. Filming is the fun part, it's
up to the audience to enjoy watching it.
kelly1: Do you find it hard to remember your lines?
Tara Lynne O'Neill: No, if only I had remembered
all my schoolwork as well as I remember lines, I'd be a scientist,
or a dentist!
Tara Lynne O'Neill: Thank you to all you people at
home who've taken the time to write. It's great to know that people
enjoy watching Joanne and I hope I can entertain you for the next
while, see ya later folks, have a nice night.
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