Michael Legge, Allen Leech and Amy Shiels star in ‘Cowboys & Angels,’ David Gleeson’s debut feature currently showing in cinemas across Ireland. As fully fledged members of Ireland’s “young and talented” pack, the three stars speak to IFTN and offer some advice to aspiring actors hoping to follow in their footsteps.

His advice to actors wanting to get into the Irish film industry is a pessimistic ‘Don’t’, he stresses that in the current climate it’s harder than ever to get a break. However, he says that if you are one of the lucky ones who do, the rewards can be great.

“I would say if there is anything else in the world that you would want to do, do that instead. I know it's horrible, but if there is any uncertainty in your head, it's not easy, it really isn't. I mean only the top one percent of actors work constantly and I don’t count myself in that bracket at all. It is difficult and it’s a struggle, but it is a fantastic-fantastic job at the end of the day. There is nothing like it, I know I could not do anything else. I've been really lucky that the work has been consistent, I've been one of the lucky ones.”

Allen Leech and Amy Shiels play the two other lead roles in ‘Cowboys & Angels.’ The former plays Vincent, a gay fashion student and the latter is Emma, Shane’s love interest.

The two are relative newcomers to the Irish scene and they have the advantage of

looking at the industry with fresh eyes. They are very dedicated to their work , are enjoying their post Cowboys & Angels opportunities and are keen to use this film to make their mark in a difficult industry.

“I personally feel that if you are going to be an actor it has to be something you want to do and want to do more than anything. The older you get, maybe you don’t have that same drive and you really do need it because it is the type of career where you could be sitting at home for 8/9 months with no work. And you need to have that drive, to say ‘no, this is what I do, I am not doing anything else’,” says Leech. “It’s not a part time job or a full time job, it’s a full time obsession and you do have to be slightly obsessed. It does come into relationships as well so they say any actor has two lovers, the person he loves and his occupation,” he adds.

Allen is a 23 year old Dubliner and recent graduate of Trinity College where he received a BA Hons. in Drama and Theatre Studies. He also began acting at 11 and benefited greatly from the personal tuition of RADA trained teacher, Moira Cranny. His next big screen outing is the lead role in Paddy Breathnach’s ‘Man About Dog’ and is has become a media darling, often compared to Colin Farrell and James Dean.

Leech is quite coy when it comes to these comparisons and is keen to play down the analogies,

“I’m embarrassed and baffled as to why that has been said, I really am, I saw it on a promo sheet and if I ever find who wrote it I will be having words, very unexpected and bizarre. Just slightly a lot of pressure and to be honest I don’t think my style is anything like his! He was a mumbler wasn’t he? I will take it with a pinch of salt to be honest."

His advice to other Dean/Farrell protégés is to never give up;

“They say that when you are starting out it is 90% luck and 10% talent and I would definitely believe that. You just have to keep plugging away, go to the auditions, try to find out stuff. You have to be obsessive about it. Find out who is casting what, keep you ear to the ground, always go to IFTN cause they know what is going on first (laughs) and like that you really have to keep pushing it.” He adds that a fundamental belief in yourself and your own abilities is of vital importance “At the end of the day you have to say to yourself, I deserve this, I deserve to be seen, not to the point where you get pushy but really do believe in yourself and go for it. When you get knocked back just remember there is always going to be another opportunity and whatever is for you, won’t pass you by.”

Amy has taken a more round about route to get to her current position, taking time out to travel as well as securing ‘fall back’ training as a fitness instructor. She believes she has benefited from her life experiences to date and draws from these experiences in her acting work.

“It’s a personal thing, I think you should live a little before you go to drama school. If you do it straight from school it’s too easy to see it as just another class, it’s important to have some life experience to bring to it and have that maturity as well."

She continues; “I don’t think drama school can teach you how to act. It’s either a thing you have or you don’t. …It is a very false environment and you don’t learn that much about the practical side of the industry, especially people who have just left school and gone straight there. Some are told in drama school, ‘you are going to do well’, ‘that’s wrong and that’s right’ but acting is very much an art, there are no rights or wrongs. A lot of the people who were favourites in the past did not necessarily get the breaks they thought they were going to get. This can be so soul destroying because you are told that it is going to be one way and it’s not, the industry isn’t like that.”

For now, with the triumph of ‘Cowboys & Angels’ they have a hit on their CV’s and in an industry that sees many young hopefuls fall by the wayside, these actors possess a drive and hunger to achieve lifetime success in their chosen profession. So now, are you asking yourself, if they can make it, why not me?

Legge says, “I think if your heart is in it, give it a go. I'd definitely say younger people who want to get into it to definitely stay on in school. Complete your education first, I know it’s such a cliché but really, it's important."

Leech agrees and is happily enjoying his time in the limelight, “I’m loving it, it’s great, it’s mad seeing your face and your name around town.”

And finally Shiels emphasises that all this does not come without hard work and sheer strength of will. “You can’t leave your life in someone else’s hands, you would be raging if you just left it all to them, you have to keep pushing and pushing it.”

‘Cowboys & Angels’ available to Rent from Xtravision. Distributed by Buena Vista Ireland.

BY TANYA WARREN