A True and Noble Cause - Deirdre O'Kane Interview

Warm, witty, self-deprecating, Deirdre O’Kane is a bright and comforting conversationalist – even recovering from a hangover.

“We had the premiere the other night which was amazing – but yes, a few drinks were had!” she says, groaning slightly. She had much reason to celebrate. As well as picking up the Panavision Grand Prize at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Dallas International Film Festival, Noble received two standing ovations at its Dublin premiere – a first for the Savoy Cinema.
The film, directed by O’Kane’s husband Stephen Bradley (“it did occur to me that I’d have to be bossed around by Stephen, but thankfully it worked out!”), charts campaigner Christina Noble’s origin story, her work to improve the living conditions of street children in Ho Chi Minh City.
The film delves into Noble’s past, including the poverty she experienced growing up in Dublin’s Liberties, a brutal gang-rape, and how her son was taken from her and adopted against her will.
But throughout these tragedies, Noble somehow maintained her strength, compassion and gregarious humour, all of which allowed her travel to Vietnam and fight for the rights of children. O’Kane was drawn to Noble’s irrepressible spirit.
“I read her biographies more than 20 years ago,” says O’Kane, “and was so blown away by her. And I had a sense that we were going to connect in some way; that Christina and I would cross paths. And whenever I heard her on the radio I’d always think that I wanted to do something with her. So when my stand-up started going well, I was asked to host a fundraiser for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. I did these events for about five years and got to know her, little by little.”
O’Kane reveals that Nobel was “slow to trust people; she can be wary”. Still, upon garnering her trust, the actress was inspired by her irrepressible drive and spirit.
“Once I saw how funny she was, how energetic and vivacious she was, I began thinking about telling her story. You can tell a harrowing story if the person at the centre is a survivor, and has humour... it captures the hope.”
For four years, O’Kane and Bradley worked on the story for Noble. Bradley “became very close to Christina, talking through her stories and running things by her”. And O’Kane felt she was destined to play the part. “There was something very definite about the whole thing. First of all, I came up with the idea of telling her story on my 40th birthday. Then I landed in Vietnam to film when I was 44 – the same age Christina was when she went. And I just really believed that this was my role; I had been waiting for this part to come to me. I felt I was absolutely the right person for the job – that doesn’t happen often. Everything seemed right.”
O’Kane says filming wasn’t always easy, practically or emotionally. While red-tape made shooting in Vietnam incredibly difficult, the actress was also tapping into deeply difficult material. In one harrowing scene, Christina is faced with an acquaintance bringing a child up to his hotel room to abuse her.
“You do have to go to dark places, you have to feel the anger – but that’s not difficult,” remarks the actress, who has two children under 10. “When I saw the actor Mark Huberman walking down the street with that child - even though I know it’s pretend - it filled me with anger and horror. It’s very organic. It was all there.”
Kane also opines that Irish audiences can instantly connect with the horrors of child abuse being openly tolerated in a society. “We’ve had our own recent cases with the Church. It’s a subject that’s very raw and in the psyche. Which is positive, in a way, because it means people are talking about it. So I think it’s a good time for this story, because it’s shining a light on not only sex trafficking and abuse of children in Vietnam, but also the issues closer to home, in our own recent history and current cases in England. It’s not letting these stories or conversations go unnoticed and unspoken. Which is vital, because we can change things. Christina has influenced the laws in Vietnam on all of this – she has worked extensively with government officials. It can be done.”
The reaction to the film has so far been overwhelming. O’Kane’s performance is heralded as a rebirth for the actress. And with roles in David Blair’s horror film The Messenger alongside Robert Sheehan, as well as the third series of Moone Boy on the horizon, O’Kane is looking forward to filling her filmography with both comedy and drama.
“I always wanted to do more drama, and through theatre I probably do have as much drama under my belt as comedy – however, the comedy stuff gets to a wider audience. I love shaking things up; I don’t like feeling complacent, I always want a challenge.”
O’Kane is eager to throw herself back into work. She took a break when her children were born. Now, she exclaims, she’s ready to return to both the small and silver screens.
“I’m ready...always ready!” she laughs. “Being an actor doesn’t really work like that; it’s a pain in the ass. Once you feel ready or think you’re on a roll, the work disappears. I probably had one of the worst working years of my career last year. Then Noble and The Messenger are both coming at once. So it’s all good. But put the word out: I am for hire!”