Bronagh Gallagher hails from Derry. During her acting career she has worked on many films including The Commitments, Pulp Fiction and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

How did you get involved in the industry?

Like most people I suppose, I started at school. I was always keen to get involved in the school drama productions and was a member of the school choir. I was lucky to have attended schools that took music and drama very seriously and the teachers were just brilliant. While I was still at school I joined my local amateur dramatics group in Derry, Oakgrove Theatre Company led by the late Tony O’Donnell. By now my passion for the stage had grown and I began auditioning for drama schools in England with no success. In my 6th year at school I was lucky enjoy to be cast in a channel 4 drama by a local director Margo Harkin on Michael Winterbottom’s debut drama “The Strangers”. This got me off the starting blocks and shortly after that I got a part in an RTE drama called “Dear Sarah”. A couple of years later my big break came with the part of Bernie in “The Commitments”.

Has your success been an easy thing to achieve or were there days when you felt that you should have taken a 'regular job'?

No I never felt that I should have taken a “regular job” I was always lucky enough to be in regular employment as an actress. This is always what I wanted to do and worked very hard at getting the roles that I have. I did have part time jobs as a teenager in a shoe shop and later vintage clothing store. They were both great fun but I always knew that I wanted to get involved in acting. But no matter what you want to do in life you have to be prepared to work hard to get to the level you want, and I have always been prepared to do that.

What have been your artistic influences in Northern Ireland?

Music and literature have always and continue to be massive influences. Writers such as Seamus Heaney and Frank McGuinness. I have always admired the humanitarians that I knew growing up in Derry who’s influence steered me in the direction of some of the work that I have chosen in the past. Music was massive from an early age. My parents were huge music fans, especially soul, and they played records in our house all the time and me and my brother and sister would dance and sing about the living room. It was magic, and as mentioned before the schools I attended, Nazareth House Primary on Bishop Street and St. Mary’s College in Creggan really encouraged me as well.

What projects have you been involved in?

Well I have been doing this since 1989 now, so there have been many. But the main TV and film projects are The Commitments, Pulp Fiction, Mary Reilly, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, You Me and Marley, Sinners, Holy Cross, This Year’s Love, Wild About Harry and the latest production is Tristan and Isolde due to be released early next year. On the stage I have worked in The Abbey, Dublin and in London with The Royal Court, The National, and The Barbican. But without a doubt my most favourite is Theatre de Complicite. I had roles in their productions of “The Street of Crocodiles, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

What is a typical working day for an actor?

It really depends on the job. For a movie the day starts early, usually 6 or 7 am. You are picked up and taken to makeup for and hour, hair usually takes ½ hour, then it’s onto the set to do the stuff behind the camera - a bite of lunch – back behind the camera and you usually finish about 7pm. Then it’s back to the hotel for a well earned wash and kip.

Career Highlights?

The Commitments, Pulp Fiction, and Star Wars and Mary Reilly have given me the opportunity to work with some of the world’s greatest directors and actors. I have loved all the travel involved, getting to see Japan, most of the USA, Canada and fair amount of Europe. Being involved in Pulp Fiction and working with a John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino was just fantastic and I had a wonderful time.

Any advice for budding actors?

Get involved in your local theatre groups, apply to drama or stage schools and try and read as much Irish literature , world and new literature as possible. Go to the theater as much as you can. Watch and learn, get involved, have confidence in yourself, be realistic, be prepared to work very hard and never take rejection personally, see it as a learning experience and learn from it. Never be afraid to ask for feedback and advice. And last but not least learn your lines!!

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