In the run up to Christmas, we have invited some of Ireland’s leading Film & TV talents to take part in IFTN’s festive Q&A.
Agnes O’Casey graduated from The Lir Academy in 2020, with a Bachelor of Arts in acting. Since then she has starred in a number of roles across film, television, and theatre. In 2021 she had a leading role in four-part BBC TV drama Ridley Road, and performed as Lily in Druid Theatre Company’s production of Anton Chekov’s The Seagull.
This year she starred in two Irish films, The Miracle Club, acting alongside Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney, as well as Lies We Tell, for which her performance received The Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the Galway Film Fleadh. Next year she will be in a number of projects, including TV Drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.
IFTN: What was your highlight of 2023?
AGNES: “Honestly I think it was taking my mum to Dinard Film Festival with Lies We Tell. It’s such a fun festival. We were running around to different Q&As and eating lots of amazing food in between. They didn’t know her name and so she got a lanyard that said ‘Madame O’Casey’ which made us laugh so much and she wore it all the time. I feel like we’ll never forget that.”
IFTN: What are you most looking forward to working on in the New Year?
AGNES: “I can’t wait to work on The Mirror and The Light, the final season of Wolf Hall. It is very surreal getting to work with Mark Rylance. He’s so kind and funny and it is such a learning experience to watch him work.”
IFTN: What was your favourite film of 2023?
AGNES: “Scrapper for sure. I thought the way Charlotte Reagan handled the tone was perfect. It was so moving without ever being sentimental. And the performances are perfect in my eyes. I keep saying the word perfect which I was going to change so I don’t sound so illiterate but it’s true - I thought it was perfect!”
IFTN: What Irish talent have you been impressed with over the past 12 months?
AGNES: “I mean my classmates from the Lir constantly have me in awe. Ella Lily Hyland starred in an Amazon prime show Fifteen Love and she has always been masterful but it’s so nice to see her get to shine! Alison Oliver and Sadhbh Malin just did Portia Coughlan at the Almeida and that blew me away! It’s so lovely watching everyone blossom!”
IFTN: What International talent would you most like to work with?
AGNES: “Yorgos Lanthimos and Athina Rachel Tsangari would be the dream.”
IFTN: What two film/television personalities would you most like to have dinner with and why?
AGNES: “Robin Williams and Pamela Anderson was what first came to mind. I feel like we would have fun and I wouldn’t mind a bit of advice from both of them.”
IFTN: What’s your favourite movie to watch on Christmas day?
AGNES: “The Grinch who stole Christmas! But my mum’s favourite is Muppet Christmas Carol so that is my favourite in a way because it is tradition. I just hate seeing Scrooge all sad at the end when he realised what he’s done and feels really guilty.”
