Learn to Act for TV and Film with Mick Nolan

(AKA Ray in Fair City)

Hi Mick, Tell us a Secret about Yourself I am a Cat person! I have a very clever ginger and a cute fluffy All-black. When there’s Rugby on the TV, my little All-black does the Haka… Really! What’s the best toy that Santa ever brought? My favourite Santa toy was a wind up yellow train that went round and round in circles. Not very high tech, but I loved it. I used to put one of my Mam’s scarves around my face and chase the train as if I was a Bandit. Well… I was only five Did you always know that you were going to be an actor? Did dressing up as a bandit give me away? Yes, when I was ten I saw a production of The Plough and The Stars on our telly at home and I said to my Mam, “I’m going to be an actor some day.” My Mam just laughed, but she was a very proud Mammy when I eventually got to play Fluther in the Riverbank Theatre. It’s sad that she never got to see me as Ray in Fair City. She would have loved Ray. What’s your nicest memory of playing Ray in Fair City? I loved when Ray was married to Angela, those scenes were hilariously funny. But, meeting the love of my life Carol Anne when she was cast as Francesca the Brazilian house-keeper is my happiest memory. Ray (and I) fell madly in love with her. Who is the Nicest Actor that you’ve ever worked with? Obviously Carol Anne but after that… Pearse Brosnan, It would be great if every Hollywood Star could be that nice. Other really nice actors I’ve worked with are, Daniel Day Lewis, Imelda Staunton, Pete Postlewaithe, Aiden Quinn and actually Kate Blanchette and I had a great time talking about babies. She’s really lovely. We heard you have a new venture – Teaching people to Act for TV and Film? Yeah, I’ve always coached professional actors. But I really want to discover the next big TV and film stars here in Ireland. Everyone knows someone who would be great on TV. Think about your brother or sister? Your husband? Or… it could be you! Ireland’s got incredible talent and I want to find it. So who can apply to be on your course? Anyone. I have a one day course for people who really want to be on TV. Even if they’ve never acted before. The course has been created by the world-class designers at Blue Moon Communications and has been bench-marked against acting courses in New York and London. Wow, what will you be teaching? The focus will be on micro-acting. You’ll learn all of the tricks of the trade, like how to get a great shot, how to deliver lines, how to find your camera, master cues and scripts and so many things that every star of the future needs to know. Even if you just want to be in commercials, you need to know what works and what hurts. And… we have an agent whose looking to sign-up the talent we discover. It’s very, very exciting. OMG. I want in! How do we get on Your Course? Just go to www.bluemoon.ie/MickNolan

There’s One day courses for beginners, along with courses for amateurs and professionals. And, because it’s Christmas... And because I like to make people happy, I’m giving away €100 vouchers to readers. That’ll cover nearly half the price of the course. I’m really looking forward to seeing your there.