To mark the 20th anniversary of the IFTA awards, we are showcasing Irish talent who are blazing a trail across our industry, working in front of and behind the camera.
Hosted in association with IFTA, this Q&A Series connects with Irish talent who represent a range of disciplines across our industry.
We find out what they look out for in the projects they take on, what their approach is to filmmaking and collaboration; what inspires them; and what recent work in the industry they most admire.
Ollie West is nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Film for The Sparrow. This is his first screen role. He started his acting career at age 12 in Dead Centre’s Hamnet, a play about the death of Shakespeare’s son, written and directed by Bush Moukarezel. He was nominated for Best Actor for the role at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2018.
IFTN: What do you look out for in a script?
OLLIE: “Just a connection with the characters or the story.”
IFTN: How do you prepare for auditions, and what advice would you give to younger actors?
OLLIE: “I’m only 18 so a bit of advice would be nice.”
IFTN: How did you approach playing your character in this film, and how much rehearsal was involved?
OLLIE: “The film was delayed about a year so I had a lot of time to think about my character. I kept a notebook where I sketched little doodles and wrote down things I thought my character would, listened to songs and watched movies that I thought my character would like.”
IFTN: What Irish Actor/s have you been most impressed by recently?
OLLIE: “Éanna Hardwicke who played my brother in The Sparrow. Friendliest dude you’ll ever meet. The times I’ve loved acting the most were the scenes I did with him.”
IFTN: What Director or Actor would you most like to work with and why (Irish or international)?
OLLIE: “Taika Waititi! He’s directed some of my favorite movies and has made me laugh in almost every interview I’ve seen him in.”
IFTN: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your career?
OLLIE: “Know your lines and relax.”
The 20th anniversary of the IFTA Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 7th.
