Weekend Q&A

Actor Bosco Hogan on his recurring nightmare, bad grammar and his brush with the law at Busáras

Stage, film and television actor Bosco Hogan was born in Co Louth. He played Dr Ryan in Ballykissangel, Stephen Dedalus in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man ,dida one-man show on Yeats and was recently seen in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. He lives in Dublin with his wife, Leslie Lalor.

What’s your earliest memory?

Probably at four years of age, sitting on a three-legged stool by the fire, holding a clay pipe and pretending to be one of the old men of the town.

When and where were you happiest?

Riding a fine horse at breakneck speed along the beach at Rossbeigh, Co Kerry, is to be exhilaratingly happy. Reading stories to my young grandson is to be pricelessly so.

What is your biggest fear?

For many years, I had a recurring nightmare about drowning, despite the fact I swim regularly. One year, when on holiday, the idea came to me to confront that fear by learning to scuba dive. I did so, and that dream has come to me very rarely since then.

What’s your least, and your most, attractive trait?

I am a bit of a grammar policeman, much to the annoyance of my children, except when they are writing something very important. I think my good trait is dependability.

What trait do you deplore most in others?

Miserliness.

What’s the first thing you’d do if you were Taoiseach?

Fix the health service and deal with homelessness.

Who would you most like to go for a pint with?

Bernie Sanders. I’d just like to sit and listen to his views on the world and pick his brains about all sorts of different things in terms of world and American politics.

Which fictional character do you most identify with?

Whichever one I happen to be portraying at the time.

What is your most treasured possession?

A Swiss Army knife, which I have had for over 50 years.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

“There are two kinds of problem: my problem and not my problem. This is not my problem!” Given to me by an old actor friend about 10 years ago. I wish I had learned it earlier in life.

When did you last cry?

I cry often and at all sorts of things: films, music, theatre, stories, the news. Quite a blubberer, actually.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Andrew Scott, in what would be more of a half-hour TV programme.

Is there life after death?

We are made from stardust and unto stardust we shall return.

What’s your favourite word?

‘Curmudgeon’, at present. This changes on a regular basis.

What’s the last TV show you binge-watched?

Blue Eye Samurai, an animated action TV series. Wonderful.

What’s been your closest brush with the law?

Busáras. Middle of the night. A friend and I were awaiting the arrival of a third companion. Very cold. I suggested a race around the perimeter of the building, competitive and warming. My friend went first. My turn. I was flat out, two-thirds of the way around, when a garda car screeched to a halt in front of me and two gardaí tumbled from its interior and pinned me to the wall. Where was the scene of the crime from which I was obviously fleeing, they asked. I caught my breath and explained; cold, race etc. They left, shaking their heads and chuckling.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Be more outgoing and — quietly — assertive.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

I was horrendously bad at being a waiter during one school holiday.

What person from the world of history would you like to have met?

Tom Crean. I would love to hear first-hand about his extraordinary polar expeditions.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Caoineadh Cú Chulainn by Bill Whelan. It features in Riverdance on the uilleann pipes. It is a magnificent piece of music.

‘A garda car screeched to a halt in front of me and two gardaí tumbled from its interior and pinned me to the wall’