Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story

Did You Know..

Jessie Buckley (Actor)

Born: December 28, 1989 in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

Best Known For: Playing Lorna Bow in Taboo.

Early-life: Born on December 28, 1989 in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. She attended Ursuline Secondary School, where she appeared in school productions. Her mother, Marina Cassidy, is a vocal coach and encouraged her to sing. While attending The Association of Irish Musical Societies workshops, Jessie was encouraged to apply for drama schools in London. She was turned down by two drama schools just before she auditioned for the talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything.

Career: Buckley came second in I'd Do Anything, losing out on the chance to play Nancy in Oliver. She was offered the understudy role for Nancy but turned it down in favour of playing Anne Egerman in the Off-West End production of A Little Night Music. The production later appeared at the Garrick Theatre in the West End. Buckley graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in January 2013 and, in the summer of the same year, performed in The Tempest and Gabriel in Shakespeare's Globe. In 2015, Buckley performed in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's production of The Winter's Tale, which was broadcast to cinemas worldwide. Buckley has since had TV roles in such shows as War and Peace and Taboo.

Quote: "If you work hard then you don't have to worry about anyone's preconception of what you were before."

Trivia: She achieved Grade eight in piano, clarinet and harp with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Declan Conlon (Actor)

Gabriel Byrne (Actor)

Born: May 12, 1950 in Dublin

Best Known For: The Usual Suspects.

Early-life: Born Gabriel James Byrne in Dublin on May 12, 1950. His mother was a nurse and his father made barrels for the Guinness factory. At 12 he began studying to join the priesthood, but was expelled from the seminary four years later after being caught smoking in a graveyard. He studied languages and archaeology at Dublin University, but had no real idea what he wanted to do. Byrne then drifted through a number of jobs, including plumber's apprentice, barman, morgue attendant, archaeologist and Spanish teacher, before becoming an actor at age 29.

Career: Byrne started acting at The Focus Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, then joined the Royal Court and the National Theatre in London. He landed a part in popular Irish series The Riordans, before making his big-screen debut in 1981 Arthurian epic Excalibur. That brought him to Hollywood's attention, and although some of the films he made in the 1980s had a mixed reception, he went on to star in such well-received movies such as Miller's Crossing, Little Women, The Usual Suspects and Spider. More recently, he gained acclaim for playing a troubled psychiatrist in TV series In Treatment and the period crime drama Quirke.

Quote: "It's strange that I've been saddled for so long now with this image of being the remote Irishman. Once you do one movie and people get to know you, that's it, you're handed your tag."

Trivia: In 2011, he revealed that he had been sexually abused by priests during his childhood.

Sinead O'Shea (Producer)

01:00 am - 03:00 am, Monday, January 12 on Sky Arts HD (365)

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