Interview: New Eponine Hollie O'Donoghue Talks LES MISERABLES

Irish actress Hollie O'Donoghue swapped Limerick for London, where she's risen from swing in The Commitments and the Les Miserables ensemble to her current starring role as Eponine in the unstoppable West End production.

What was the first musical you saw?

Annie in Ireland when when I was seven, and when I went home my mam got me the video - I watched it on repeat three times that night.

Did you do a lot of acting at school?

Yes, I went to a Saturday drama school at the age of eight.

Did anyone in your family have a performance background?

My mam was a singer and my dad a drummer, so I always sang in my house growing up. There was always music happening.

What was it like moving to London to train?

It was very scary - I was nervous but excited at the same time. It was a culture shock, not only going to drama school but to a new country. I was learning to be an adult, dealing with that change of lifestyle and working hard, without the luxury of my friends and family around.

What was your first paid acting job?

It was panto, playing Tiger Lily in Peter Pan in Wellingborough.

When did you first see Les Mis?

I saw it at the Palace when I was 10 years old. I got the part of Young Cosette at my Saturday school in Ireland, so my mam brought me on a trip to London to see my first West End show: Les Mis.

What's it been like making the transition from the ensemble to Eponine?

It was scary at first, as I was used to being a cover in this job and my last, but after the first week I felt right at home. It's nice to just think about one character and make it my own.

Have you learned a lot from watching other actresses in the role?

I have seen a lot of others play the role and a lot of interpretations, but where's the fun of taking on a character if you don't give it your stamp? I don't think any Eponine could be the same, as she's so raw that you have to feel that somewhere within you, individually, every night.

What's your favourite song to perform?

"On My Own".

How do you approach familiar numbers like "On My Own" and make them fresh?

I think because the song is so well known, I just try and keep it as truthful as possible. I don't set anything and I let the emotion take me over in almost a different way every night.

What are some of the biggest challenges in the production?

When I first started getting used to the revolve, it was a bit of a challenge, and getting used to jumping over the barricade when I get shot, trying not to fall over - which I have done on occasion...

Any future ambitions - people you'd like to work with, roles to play?

There are so many things I'd like to do that I think I could write a book on it. I just want to do good work, interesting new work that will be challenging to me.

Finally, why do you think Les Mis is so enduring?

Les Mis is so enduring because it displays hope over struggle. There is something in this show that everyone who sees it can relate to. The music is sensational, along with the writing. It hits home for everyone; it's a timeless piece. The characters' journeys are all interlocked and it's about the survival of these humans. For generation after generation, it will continue to touch people's lives.

Book for Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre

Photo credit: Johan Persson