Galway’s Cathy Belton On Being An Actress

Cathy starred in the 2014 film Philomena directed by Stephen Frears, opposite Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, and most recently appeared in A Litttle Chaos opposite Kate Winslet, directed by Alan Rickman. She also stars in the new TV3 drama Red Rock. Last year, she starred in the Galway International Arts Festival production of Frank McGuinness' play The Match Box.

When did you first realise that you wanted to become an actress?
I can't say for sure when I decided, but I remember seeing Tom Murphy’s ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ in Druid theatre 1982 directed by Garry Hynes with Marie Mullen, Sean McGinley, Ray McBride and Jane Brennan and being transported to that pub in Tuam in that theatre. I was captivated and enthralled by the whole experience. I was quite young, but I knew after that I wanted to try and do (at least attempt) what those amazing actors did that night. I think that's when the bug bit.

How did you come to be involved in The Match Box?
I have worked on two other Frank McGuinness plays and read The Matchbox two years ago and fell in love. Paul Fahy decided to produce it and Frank and Joan Sheehy and myself all saw this as an inevitable adventure for us all.

Which of your stage roles did you find most challenging to prepare for?
I think Sal in The Match Box has been my most challenging role to date. I have been working on this for the last year and half and every day has been necessary. The epicness of the story, the character and length of the play alone is challenging. It is also my first one-person show so that in itself is a challenge, but a gift of a challenge.

You’ve performed for both theatre and TV - what are the greatest differences between the two?
Technically, TV and theatre are different but I think the same intent of trying to put some semblance of a person that is believable and true together is the same. The technique is different obviously in the playing - one is live and obviously you have to be heard and put across your offerings out each night in the theatre. With TV and film, all is refined and smaller and with each take, you are unravelling the character and joyfully, it is signed and sealed when the shoot finishes.

Cathy is nominated for the title of Best Actress for her role in the Galway International Arts Festival’s production of Frank McGuinness’ The Match Box. The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards take place in Dublin on March 6th.

Read more on Irish Times Theatre Awards here.