Dublin born actress Gina Costigan sat down with fairypowered to answer 20 Questions. Gina is currently starring as Grace in Faith Healer by Brian Friel at The New Vic. Tickets can be found here
Let’s start with a few favourites
Favourite show (whether you have been in it or not)?
Oh many of these are too hard to definitively call but my mother Maria McDermottroe is an actress and was in an incredible production and Australian tour of Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa and I hold that dear to my heart. She brought my sister and myself out on tour with her, so not only is it a brilliant play but I have such great memories of it
Favourite book?
Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor
Favourite theatre?
The Irish Repertory Theatre, NYC
Favourite song?
Very hard to say but Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners has to be up there
Favourite music? I will listen to anything and don’t consider myself the most educated on the music front. Do love Doo-wop and in turn then many of those 60s girl bands.
Favourite food? There’s pretty much nothing that I don’t like on the food front. I’ve been going through a big Tuna and Sweetcorn buzz of recent and I’m know as one of life’s great crisp eaters. I often will just have one of those big bag of crisps on me in most situations, just in case like.
Favourite drink?
Ohhh again too hard but Aperol Spritz, Wine, Margaritas, Manhattans, the list is endless
What is your favourite role?
Grace who I am currently playing and also Dolly in Crackskull Row by Honor Molloy and Hannah in The Seedbed by Brian Delaney. Sorry, I know the question was ‘role’.
What was your first role?
My first stage role was that of a street child in the production of The Risen People, directed by Jim and Peter Sheridan, it was a hoot and in on film Molly in Veronica Guerin
And what role would you really like to play?
There’s so many but staying on the Friel theme, I’d love to play Agnes in Dancing at Lughnasa
If you weren’t a performer what would you be?
Not entirely sure but unlike others who go into casting etc. I think if I wasn’t acting I would be doing something totally unrelated to the industry but not sure what.
What made you decide to be a performer? My mum’s a performer and although she by no means pushed me into it (quite the opposite really!) I do wonder if I followed her in. I’m mad about the vocation though, hook line and sinker
Do you enjoy touring? I really really really enjoy touring, love getting to see new places, love being in transit and I love being on the road
What advice would you give 16 year old Gina?
Hold on tight, there’ll be ups and downs, feelings aren’t necessarily facts (that’s a great one from my sister), try not to be afraid to reach out at times, help others, help others, help others. – I’m still always in need of good advice.
Do you fancy branching out in Producing or Directing?
I don’t have enough confidence in my own opinion in the arts to direct, I don’t think, but I have done a bit of producing and enjoyed it big time
What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?
The Frank McGuinness adaptation of Tartuffe that was on at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin
Favourite line from any show? I’m not sure on this one, however my sister and I always quote ‘It’s nice to have a little checkeen’ in everyday life Which is a line from The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh
If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be? Right now, maybe Brian Friel, so that I would know the answers to all the questions I have on Faith Healer!
What are the nicest/weirdest things you have ever received from fans?
My mother is probably the only person mad enough to be my fan and fair play to her, she’s forever giving me nice things, particularly in the meals she cooks when I go home, salivating here at the thought.
Can you tell us what you will be up to next?
I am hoping to travel to Vietnam when I have saved up enough!