Sorcha Furlong Orla’s Fair City life is full of drama but Sorcha’s off-screen life couldn’t be happier, as she tells Julie Lordan
Her Fair City character Orla is at the heart of a dramatic story right now, and Sorcha Furlong is in the midst of planning her wedding. She grabbed a few minutes to talk to Julie Lordan about a busy time on and off camera
Sorcha Furlong is playing a blinder right now in Fair City. Her character Orla Molloy’s young son, Junior, is seriously ill and the treatment for his condition, Fanconi anaemia, has created complications. A bone marrow transplant could help Junior, but it needs to be from a matched donor, such as his genetic father, and as Junior is not the son of Orla’s husband, Wayne, but of Tommy Dillon, life has become more stressful for all involved. Whether Orla and Wayne like it or not, it looks like Tommy will be in all their lives for some time yet. Of course, Junior is Orla and Wayne’s focus and they remain united in fear and anxiety over his health. It doesn’t leave them time to think about the frictions in their troubled marriage.
“Orla and Wayne are good parents,” says Sorcha, “but they are a little preoccupied of late, trying to make a better life for their family, as most parents do. As for missing the signs that their child was unwell? Of course, they’re going to blame themselves.”
Fanconi anaemia is a rare inherited condition and Sorcha says she is glad of the opportunity to raise awareness about it. “It’s been challenging to work on. As an actor, you wait your whole life for stories like these to come along. Everyone on Fair City feels a huge responsibility to portray this as best we can. There are people out there with a child or family member going through this right now. It’s heartbreaking. All we can do is try to be as truthful as possible.”
The way Wayne and Orla are dealing with this is typical of stressed and worried parents. “I think that Wayne is hiding his upset for Orla’s sake. He’s trying to keep her positive. Orla is terrified they might not find a solution quick enough and her son could die. I think Orla is so preoccupied with getting Junior better that she loses sight of her husband and his feelings.”
Even though he is Junior’s biological father, until now, Tommy hasn’t interfered in Orla’s marriage. “Orla and Wayne love each other,” says Sorcha. “Don’t forget, originally they thought the baby was Wayne’s and Tommy agreed to let Wayne rear him as his own. But when Junior gets sick, it’s another reminder for Wayne that he is not the biological father. And Tommy is the only one who can possibly save Junior.”
Orla’s other solution, to have a baby to be a bone marrow donor for Junior in the future, is controversial. “For me as an actor, you’re looking at the situation from the emotional angle. As a mother myself, being in Orla’s situation is your worst nightmare, so I totally understand her utter desperation,” says Sorcha.
Even more difficult for Orla and Wayne, Tommy would have to be the father of the donor baby. Could their marriage survive such an incredible situation? “If Wayne could fix this by giving Orla a baby he would, but he can’t. I feel so sorry for him. It’s not an easy thing for Wayne to agree to, but I think they will always muddle through. They were extremely emotional scenes to film, and Victor Burke [who plays Wayne] was amazing.”
Orla’s best option is IVF but as Sorcha explains, “It turns out in Ireland, a sperm donor must either be your partner or unknown to you. Tommy fits neither criterion. When they realise this, Orla comes up with the idea that she and Tommy should pretend to be a couple (told you, it gets worse for poor Wayne!)”
So now Wayne is sidelined altogether. “I just feel so sorry for him,” says Sorcha. “Firstly, he thought he’d at least be involved in the process, as in going to consultations with Orla and Tommy, but then having to watch your wife pretend to be with someone else…But Orla just wants it done, to save their son and she can’t see past that right now.”
In one recent scene, Junior came close to realising that Tommy was his genetic father, and it’s unlikely that it will stay secret forever. “I think Tommy knows Wayne is a wonderful father,” says Sorcha. “He wants to do whatever he can to help the situation. He didn’t think twice when Orla asked him about doing the IVF, but how long can they keep the secret from Junior? I have no idea.”
Of course, Wayne’s mother, Dolores, is also involved in the family’s trauma. Is Orla comfortable with her mother-in-law being so close? According to Sorcha, “Right now, yes. Dolores and Orla can butt heads from time to time, they’re both strong women, but they’re also very familyorientated, and appreciate each other. Martina Stanley [who plays Dolores] is an incredible actor and a beautiful person.”
As to how the story will evolve, Sorcha cannot reveal too much. “I can’t really say too much unfortunately, and also I only know up to a certain point myself. But what I have been told is that it’s going to be full of twists and turns, so I guess 2019 will be a rollercoaster ride.”
The same can be said for Sorcha’s own schedule, as she is planning her own wedding next year to playwright Ken Harmon. The preparations are in full swing but she says she still has loads to do before the big day next August. “We’re getting there. We have the venue and the band and the rings, and we’ve roped our friends into helping. My mate Michelle is an event organiser, so she’s been a lifesaver. Another friend of ours is marrying us. Our families, our kids, (Sorcha and Ken both have children) all our friends, have been amazing; there’s way too many people to mention but a massive thank you to everyone.”
Buying the dress was a really enjoyable experience for Sorcha, as it involved nearly all the female members of her family. “It’s from the White Room in Mullingar. I’m delighted. It was such a special day: my daughter Stella, Ken’s daughter Joy, my Mam, sister, auntie, cousin and nieces all came alone, it was like the Waltons! Obviously, Ken won’t be seeing it until the day, so I can’t say much. But the second I tried it on I knew. Normally