My Ballymaloe relish! Sienna keen on Cork culinary class
SIENNA Miller has no doubt enjoyed her share of glamorous nights on the red carpet.
But it seems the Hollywood star is a woman of down-toearth tastes – as she has revealed that her dream is to do a cookery course at Ballymaloe in Co. Cork.
The 35-year-old said she fell in love with Cork while filming there for the Ben Affleck movie Live By Night, which was released last year.
The story of her latest film, The Lost City Of Z, is also partially based in Cork, although it was filmed in Northern Ireland.
‘Cork is stunning. Ballymaloe – I really want to go,’ said the star, referring to Darina Allen’s famous cookery school. ‘I’ve been to the hotel but I really want to do a cooking course.’
The actress received rave reviews for her Irish-Boston accent in Live By Night, and said she was very grateful for the praise – although she wasn’t sure she had ‘mastered it’.
The American-born star, who was raised in London, expressed her love for Cork while chatting on RTÉ’s Today With Maura And Dáithí along with The Lost City Of Z director James Gray.
Mr Gray, too, is a fan of the city. He revealed: ‘My family and I travelled to Ireland several years back and we thought it was one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. Cork is magnificent.’
In The Lost City Of Z, Ms Miller plays Nina, the wife of real-life explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared while on an expedition to the Amazon in the 1920s. It was a role she lobbied for, and she revealed: ‘I was really interested in working with James and we first met for this about seven years ago.
‘We worked really, really hard to ensure she [her character] wasn’t just a wife. She’s very independent, very modern, and she’s brave. I loved her as a woman and I wanted to do her justice. She is incredible, she is a proper woman, a proper mother, a proper wife.’
Director Mr Gray also revealed it was Brad Pitt who first rang him and suggested he helm the movie, based on a book of the same name by David Grann. Pitt was initially set to play the lead role, but pulled out, though he remained attached to the film as a producer.
Mr Gray said: ‘Love him as I do, I have no idea why he thought of me for a historical epic. I hadn’t done anything remotely like this. It was a very strange call to get.’
The Lost City Of Z is out in cinemas now.
‘One of the most beautiful spots’