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Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Styled By Niamh: Naoimh Whelton on starring alongside Hollywood royalty in new blockbuster
Before she'd reached the age of ten, actress Naoimh Whelton was already something of a celebrity in her hometown. Growing up in the picturesque village of Kenmare in Co Kerry, Naoimh – now a rising Hollywood star – was gigging around the village alongside her music dad and uncle. 'From the age of about five or six I used to go with my dad and sing in the pubs around the town,' Naoimh told Styled. Now she is poised to grace the silver screen starring alongside Hollywood heavyweight Paul Rudd in Oscar-winning director John Carney's latest flick Power Ballad. 'My dad is a violinist and an accordion player, and I used to do an Irish dance, and I learned all the songs and I would sing along with my dad,' recalled Naoimh. This first taste of local fame was what led a young Naomi to pursue a career on stage and screen. 'So even as far back as then I got a taste and I had the 'gra'; I was like 'I love this'. 'We were doing three gigs a night.' Oui scuba jacket – €180 Macbees Boutique So no sooner had Naoimh finished her Leaving Cert than she was packing her bags and heading for the bright lights of Dublin and beyond. 'I was busting through those doors after my Leaving Cert,' she laughed. 'All of my classmates were off to Cork, to UCC, that was the cool college to go to at that time, but I was like 'no, I'm going to Dublin to be an actress'. 'I just needed to get out of there and I just moved straight away. I did some research and I found a course in the arts in Dublin so I was like 'right, that's where I'm going.' 'So I got a place in the Gaiety School of Acting.' But moving from a small town to the Big Smoke was by no means smooth sailing, as Naoimh recalls trekking to endless auditions in between college and her part-time job. 'You would get bit parts or tiny roles but they kept me going. So after a while I went to Bowe Street full time. P Joseph Ribkoff Polka Dot Pants- €249 sale: €125. Macbees Boutique 'I was there for two years and I absolutely adored that whole experience. It was during that time that I really fell in love with the craft of acting.' From Dublin Naoimh then decamped to London, where she finally began to slowly but surely break into the acting scene. 'After Dublin I moved to London and it was around that time that I got a role in Harry Wilde and then I got a part as a journalist in the series Borderline. 'That was my biggest part when I played Mary Farrell, a journalist in Borderline.' But her really big break was just around the corner when she was cast in the upcoming John Carney flick Power Ballad alongside Hollywood stars Paul Rudd, and Nick Jonas (of Jonas Brothers fame). Speaking of her part alongside Rudd, Naoimh said it was surreal. Carney, who directed the 2007 film Once – which won an Oscar for Best Original Song with Falling Slowly – and Sing Street, Whelton said the role came just at the right time. 'I had just returned from three months of travelling through Southeast Asia, so I was more than ready to get back working the creative muscle again and this project came at the perfect time' Naoimh has one pivotal scene in the film, in which she hopes her acting prowess will come to life on the big screen. 'My scene partner Marty Breen was an absolute blast to work with. We laughed a lot, and the whole shoot was honestly up there with one of the most fun ones I've been on. 'Our scene comes at a key turning point in the story. It was wonderful to be a part of.' 'Paul was really nice. And so that was really fun, just doing that. It was just one day on set, but it was that one day that kept me going, it gave me the buzz I needed.' Written by Carney and Peter McDonald, the film charts the story of a wedding singer (Rudd), a rock star (Nick Jonas), and the song that comes between them. Yellow Dress: Malina Calista Yellow Strappy Dress €100 – Macbees Boutique 'Paul was such a grounded, generous presence on set. He brings this quiet ease to his work that's honestly inspiring to witness up close. 'You don't feel like you're standing next to a 'movie star' – and I mean that in the best possible way.' The pair even had time between shoots for some chats about Ireland, with Paul revealing he's a fan of all things Irish – especially pints of stout. 'He loves Cobh [in Co Cork], but I had to tell him he still hadn't seen Kerry yet. We had a good laugh about that.' While she may have been enthralled with Paul Rudd's enigmatic presence she is hopelessly devoted to her real-life love. Hermes Mors a Jouets Chemise Twilly – Naoimh is smitten with her childhood sweetheart Josh, who she has been dating since they met in secondary school. 'So I am with Josh now over eleven years. We met when I was about 15,' she smiles. Josh, who's not involved in the entertainment industry, has moved to London with Naoimh as she follows her dreams. 'We live in London now and it can be tougher on him at times. But we are finding our feet. We've been together for years now and we are in lockstep with each other.' As for her acting career, the actress – who has also appeared with Jayne Seymour in detective series Harry Wild – said she hopes her years of hard work are finally coming to fruition. Boohoo Black Blazer – €33.50 'I believe hard work always pays off, but for me, the real goal is to be doing this full-time – to be a consistently working actor,' Whelton said. 'Until that becomes your everyday reality, it's important to embrace the journey: all the in-between moments, the quiet periods, the lessons you pick up from each job, your own life experiences. Sit with it all. Reflect on it. Try not to be so urgent. 'That time is valuable – it shapes who you are as an artist and adds depth to your work. An acting instructor once told me: 'We are human beings not human doings, so just be.' I think of that often, and any time I feel I'm getting ahead of myself in any part of my life. Presence is key and something that takes consistent work, for me anyway,' she said. She admits the idea of a 'big break' is tempting, but added: 'I try not to focus on that. 'For me, success looks like being in a creative space every day, collaborating, learning, and feeling a strong sense of purpose in what I do. That's the goal.' Naoimh's role alongside Rudd has given her confidence a reboot. 'Like everyone I have huge insecurities, I have doubts, but I know who I am, I don't wait for a situation to happen, I kind of try to make it happen. I have drive , I'm tenacious and I know where I am going, so I try to make the best out of every situation.' But she credits her parents with instilling her with self-belief and the ability to dust herself off and begin anew. Casual 3/4 Sleeve Knit Cardigan – Green – €19.98 – Shaws Department Store 'My mum instilled so much confidence in us ever since we were kids. She helped me , every time I would come she would help me build my confidence and develop other life skills. 'She taught me to dust myself off and get back out there if you've had a knock.' ELEVATE YOUR STYLE The classic court-style kitten heel is an undeniable fashion icon that will always be relevant for its ease-of-wear, versatility and feminine charm. As this distinctive shoe style steps once again into the spotlight, it has been refreshed with new silhouettes and details. Well-suited for the lifestyles of 21st century women, they make for fabulous everyday shoes. Whatever the occasion, kitten heels have become a fashion favourite as they promise all-day comfort and effortless style. The multi-layered appeal of kitten heels is unmatched. First and foremost, they offer undeniable style. Kitten heels often feature pointed toes that exude sleek elegance, adding a chic, feminine touch to any outfit. Moreover, unlike skyscraping , this style boost doesn't come at the expense of comfort. Typically no higher than 5 cm, kitten heels provide just the right amount of lift to accentuate your legs and due to their lower height. Steve Madden Low Bling Heel -Sale price €65.00 – Shaws Department Store there's minimal pressure on the balls of your feet, making them perfect for all-day every-day fabulous footwear. METALLICA While metallics may have one been aligned with gaudy shiny fabrics or ostentatious evening wear, metallics in fashion has made a seamless transitioned to uptown girl were and daytime style. Think 'metallic' and your mind may instantly start to gleaming golds, sparkly silvers, and glittering greens but metallics have been dimmed down to muted shades with can be incorporated into a multitude of looks. In fact metallic fashion has never been more wearable – and they can elevate an outfit in an instant. They can also be playful or sophisticated – or both – depending on how they're styled, making them a funky and versatile addition to your wardrobe. Style icon Anna Wintour has even leading the metallic fashion charge in her inimitable sophisticated manner choosing fabrics with a soft sheen, rather than a high shine. Photography by Evan Doherty Hair by Jessica Dowdall Makeup by Ciara O'Neill Shot on location at The Dunloe Hotel, Killarney.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Popular Fair City star opens up about tragic death of his father
Fair City star Tony Tormey has said losing his dad when he was a teenager "set" him back a lot as a youngster. Tony's father was tragically killed in a car crash in 1980 when the actor was just 16-years-old. The Dubliner – who plays Paul Brennan in the RTE One soap – said the accident completely changed the trajectory of his life and his outlook on life. The family, including his sister Barbara and mum Betty had spent their early years living on Dublin's Baggot Street and had moved to Finglas just before the accident happened. Having had ambitions to go to art college, Tony and his sister Barbara had to take up work after finishing school, with Tony getting a job in the pathology lab at St James's Hospital. "That was a big blow to us", he says looking back on that time. "That set me back a lot, in terms of talking to people; I really went into myself and not in a bad way but I guess back then it wasn't encouraged to talk about those things. Something like that happening takes you to a different place; you're carefree and then all of a sudden that's gone and it's always in the back of your head. 'It was a tough time, but it either makes you or breaks you. And also I found myself as the man of the house, I had to go out and start working,' he told the RTE Guide. After a few years of working at the hospital, he took what he describes as a "mad notion to give up the job and pursue acting." After seeing an advert, he enrolled in the Gaiety School of Acting, where he was encouraged by director Joe Dowling, who subsequently offered him a part in Borstal Boy. In 1989, Tony landed the role as Paul Brennan on Fair City and he said his mother Betty would pretend she didn't watch the soap. "She did but she'd pretend she didn't! But you'd hear from other people that she was proud, she just wouldn't say it to your face." His mother Betty sadly died last winter at the age of 92. He commends the team at St Francis's Hospice in Blanchardstown, where she spent the last six months of her life. "It was a tough time," he said. "We were up with her every day, but I have to say, the team there, they were absolutely brilliant, they made her feel like a queen. And they were great to us too. You find yourself as an orphan and that's hard, but what can you do, you have to get on with it,' he added.
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Faye Shortt: ‘Some people say to me, 'would you not just buy with your fella?' But being financially independent is my goal in life'
Today at 21:30 Faye Shortt is a comedian, actor and content creator. The 26-year-old studied screen acting at the Bow Street Academy and trained at the Gaiety School of Acting. While living at home in Limerick during the pandemic, she started writing and performing online sketches with her father Pat Shortt, the actor and comedian best known for D'Unbelievables, Killinaskully and the film Garage.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Peaky Blinders star Charlie Murphy announces pregnancy following long IVF journey
The Co Wexford native announced the news in an interview with The Irish Times, where she explained that it took five rounds of IVF over a period of two years before she and her long-time partner and fiancee, British director Sam Yates, received the happy news. Confessing that she would have been initially very private and selective in disclosing details of her fertility journey, she is now happy that by telling her story, other hopeful mothers may find solace and allow conversations about IVF to become more mainstream. "I was happy obviously, but I did have to remind myself not to celebrate too much," she said. "Maybe it was PTSD of doing a few rounds of IVF. "That was gruelling. It was so intense that I was welcoming all the symptoms that come with a pregnancy, I was just so happy to be out of the rounds." Before her rise to fame, Charlie grew up in Enniscorthy until the age of 12 with her five siblings and parents Brenda and Pat Murphy who owned the Scissors Empire hairdressing salon in Wexford. Her mother has also seen great success in the arts, having published a novel called The Kilton Girls in 2018. The now 37-year-old trained in the Gaiety School of Acting before making a name for herself in the Irish phenomenon Love/Hate, which had everyone hooked to their screens from 2010 to 2014. She then went on to star in Happy Valley, Obsession and Halo, and as British trade union leader Jessie Eden in the crime drama Peaky Blinders. She currently lives in Stoke Newington in London with her fiancee and has hinted at plans to marry following the birth of their child.
