INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH – IAN TONER (CLASS OF 2013)
Tuesday, March 31st, 2015 at 12:31 pm | News & Events
Ian Toner graduated from The Gaiety School of Acting Full Time Actor Training in 2013. Ian appeared as Tom in ‘The Vortex’ directed Annabelle Comyn at the Gate Theatre. He also made an appearance in ‘Charlie’ opposite Aidan Gillen in a three part mini-series produced by Touchpaper Films/RTE. Ian recently appeared as Bennett in the Lyric Theatre’s highly acclaimed production of ‘Punk Rock’ at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast directed by Selina Cartmel for which he was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’. He is currently appearing as Tybalt in the Gate Theatre’s latest production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. You may recognise Ian from the Chill Insurance Barber Ad directed by Declan Lowney!
1. Did you always want to work in the film/acting business?
Yep, pretty much. But I decided around 18 or 19 that it was definitely what I wanted to do and started pursuing it in earnest.
2. How did you start off in the business?
I was studying English and Film Studies in UCD and started getting very heavily involved in Dramsoc there. I was putting a lot more work into that than my degree so I knew something must be up. When I finished the Gaiety, I was doing a lot of auditions without getting anything for about 6 months, which felt like a long time then but really isn’t. The first big thing I did was ‘The Vortex’ in the Gate last year.
3. Any tips for aspiring actors/film makers?
Try to live close to your local dole office.
4. What did you like most about being at The Gaiety School of Acting?
We had some great teachers, Maureen for first year acting and our voice teachers Cathal and Helena to mention but a few, but I think the most beneficial class for me was Manifesto. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of creating your own work when you’re starting out. I’ve seen a lot of people I know from the Gaiety put on innovative, small budget stuff which has got them a lot of attention from agents etc. and led to more work. I also think it’s good for your sense of integrity to be able to create for yourself and not wait for others. It’s really something you have to be able to do. I appreciate that we were given that room to explore writing/devising and that that was drilled into us.
We also did a long form improv class once- we together, on the spot, created the story of Gerry, a crab fisher-man (I’m not convinced that’s the correct term) who had recently lost his daughter and went on a self-destructive spiral drinking crab juice and started seeing a giant talking crab. It was a masterpiece, and it was performed once and then it was gone. I have a lot of good memories like that.
5. Favourite actor?
A lot of them are Irish theatre actors, so I’m not going to mention any of them because that would be embarrassing if I ever got to work with them. Actually, I’ve already worked with some of them, which is pretty cool. I don’t really have favourite actors, favourite performances maybe- Mickey Rourke in ‘The Wrestler,’ Joaquin Phoenix in ‘The Master’ and ‘Her’ and ‘Walk the Line’, Sean Penn in ‘Mystic River’, everyone in ‘Good Fellas’. Philip Seymour Hoffmann in everything. Kevin Spacey. Bryan Cranston. Also Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Helen Mirren…that’s probably enough. It’s hard to stop once you’ve started.
6. Favourite writer?
Philip Roth, Enda Walsh, Tom Murphy, Marina Carr, Simon Stephens, Charlie Kauffman, Wes Anderson, Woody Allen.
7. Favourite film?
Depends on who I’m talking too. Probably something like ‘Tokyo Story’ if I’m trying to sound impressive. Actually ‘Goodfellas’ or ‘Edward Scissorhands’. I’ve never even seen ‘Tokyo Story’.
8. Who has been the most influential person in your life so far?
My parents. They encouraged me to get a job that I actually liked.
9. Earliest memory?
I’m in my garden. It’s sunny.
10. What would be your idea of the perfect day?
I’m in my garden. Again, it’s sunny.
