Alumnus of the Month – Sarah Greene
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 at 10:53 am | Alumni Interviews, News & Events
Sarah graduated from the 2 Year Full Time Actor Training Course at the Gaiety School of Acting in 2006. She went on to appear in Rough Magic’s production of ‘Peer Gynt’ for the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2011 and was the lead role in thisispopbabys and the Abbey Theatre’s hugely successful production of ‘Alice in Funderland’. In 2011 she starred opposite Brendan Gleeson in the box office hit ‘The Guard’ and has just finished shooting on the biopic of Christina Noble where she plays the younger Christina.
You can check out Sarah’s video interview here.
Did you always want to work in the theatre/acting business?
Yes, I did and I was very lucky to have fantastic parents who let me follow my dreams.
How did you start off in the business?
My parents took myself and my sister to see the Christmas panto Red Riding Hood in the Cork Opera House and I was sold, all I wanted to do was get up on the stage! My parents enrolled me in the acting school C.A.D.A. soon after. I attended classes there until I was nineteen, performing in pantos and musicals in the Everyman Palace and the Opera House. I also got a diploma in acting from L.A.M.D.A. through C.A.D.A. then started the Gaiety full time course. I finished in 2006 and thankfully have been working since.
Any tips for aspiring actors?
Try to get as much experience as possible really is all I’d say. If you want to be an actor go to college, I received amazing training in the Gaiety and I highly doubt I would be where I am today if I didn’t go. It can be a very tough job at times as it comes hand in hand with rejection so you have to have a thick skin and get used to the word NO. I learnt so much from watching and working with experienced actors so try to go to the theatre as much as possible.
What did you like most about being at The Gaiety School of Acting?
The teachers! They all work in the industry so their knowledge of the business is invaluable. I learnt so much about myself and what I wanted from life. They taught me so much about the craft. I only wish I could go back and do it all again as I don’t think I took in all in at the time.
Favourite actor?
I don’t really have a ‘favourite’ actor but I have many that I love. I recently saw Cillian Murphy in ‘Misterman’, written by Enda Walsh and he blew my mind. I think he’s incredible. I also love Brendan Gleeson, Leonardo Di Caprio and Natalie Portman.
Favourite writer?
I think Enda Walsh is the most talented writer we have. I find his writing so exciting and his characters never fail to break my heart.
Favourite play?
Walworth Farce by Enda Walsh and Translations by Brian Friel are two of my favourites.
Who has been the most influential person in your life so far?
My parents most definitely, they’re so supportive, my mum is mad for lighting the candles when I have an audition. They are deadly. And Anita Reeves, we toured together on and off for almost two years with Elaine Murphys’ Little Gem and she is amazing and I learnt a lot from her about… life.
Earliest memory?
My sister coming home from hospital. I was a year and ten months, in my Grandparents house and my Mum came in with a pink plastic tea set for me, my Dad came in with my baby sister Edel in his arms. I was raging. Love her now.
What would be your idea of the perfect day?
On the beach somewhere beautiful with nothing but books to read and scrabble to play and the sun, lots of sun.