Tara Breathnach - Exclusive Interview
By: Kathryn, February 16
We chat to the lovely Tara Breathnach who plays femme fatale Tina in TG4 soap Ros na Rún, about her style influences, her secret crushes and what its really like to be an actress.
Tara tell us about you role in TG4’s Ros na Run?
‘Tina is a tough cookie, she married (and murdered!) a drug dealer and was blackmailed into a relationship with another baddie, who is also six feet under! It’s not for nothing that she is known as the ‘Black Widow’. Tina is a schemer and extremely clever, she treats life like a game of chess…its all about strategy. Of course she does all this while wearing sky high stilettoes!’
What’s in store for your character Tina this year?
‘Well her marriage to Dara has broken up so she is recovering from that. It’s interesting because it’s the first time that Tina has been truly hurt. Of course it’s made all the worse that it was her own fault because she was having an affair with Cathal, Dara’s first cousin! For the rest of this series, Tina rises above the jibes and rumours and is there to support her best friend Róise when she needs her. All seems calm but that’s only the surface, there will be some interesting developments at the end of the year.’
What’s it like to star in the world’s biggest Gaelic speaking soap?
‘It’s fantastic, I have the opportunity to live and work in the most beautiful part of the country (An Spidéal) and my co-actors are a wonderful bunch. It’s not work when you enjoy getting up every morning!’
Have you always wanted to be an actress?
‘I always played dress-up and made up stories when I wa a kid and was involved with Youth Theatre as a teenager, but it took me a while to admit to myself that I really wanted to go for it!’
Is being an actress really as glamorous as is seems?
‘Not a bit! When we are filming Ros na Rún outside in the depths of winter desperately clutching handwarmers and checking to see if our big Ugg boots will be seen in shot, it would be difficult to imagine being less glamorous! I always remember on the set of ‘Jack Taylor’ on TV3, I was wearing a beautiful designer outfit, but underneath had three thermal vests, two pairs of thermal long johns, three pairs of tights and all this insulation was squashed under Bridget Jones style knickers so the silhouette of the outfit wouldn’t be affected! Talk about passion-killers!’
What would your dream role be?
‘I’m hoping to do some more theatre with the Focus Theatre in Dublin next year. We’re looking at some classic playwrights at the moment.’
Have you ever been star-stuck yourself?
‘I was a little bit shy the first time I met Garry Hynes of Druid Theatre.’
Who would be your dream co-star (alive or dead) be?
‘Liz Taylor! Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been fascinated by her.’ [Us too Tara! In fact beautycouture.ie named one of our gorge necklaces after her in our very own online shop!]
Who are your style influences?
‘I love the looks of the forties and fifties when I’m dressing up to go out. For day to day, I really admire the way women in Northern Europe dress, low key, layered but effortlessly chic.’
Favourite high street haunts?
‘When I get time I prefer to check out vintage shops and then mix with stuff from Penneys. Other than that I prefer smaller local shops in Galway, G2 shoes in Eyre Square and Twice as Nice for example. I’ll also check out the Kilkenny Shop whenever their sales or on, I’m addicted to Nica bags!
I’m not the biggest fan of large high street stores…too much choice! I’m a big fan of the Fever label so luckily Siopa Stándúin in An Spidéal stocks it locally.’
Heels or flats?
‘Flats in the day as I like to walk and cycle a lot.’
Any secret celebrity crushes?
‘Bruce Springsteen! If only I had a chance! Gerard Butler reminds me of the old fashioned Hollywood leading man…sigh!’
Any advice for budding actresses out there?
‘Just do it! Be involved in Youth Theatre, Dramsoc and take advantage of any training opportunities that come your way. If the spark is in you you have to follow it!’
