Arthur Guinness Projects: Chris O'Dowd

One thing that is abundantly clear at the launch of the Arthur Guinness Projects is how genuinely enthused the stars are to be involved. Arts ambassador Chris O’Dowd is no exception.

Famous initially on this side of the Atlantic for his roles in RTE’s The Clinic and Graham Linehan’s IT Crowd, the 2011 hit Bridesmaids has seen him go supernova Stateside. These days, you’ll find him charming David Letterman, chewing flies on The Graham Norton Show and starring in Christopher Guest’s HBO production Family Tree. He is a very big star.
The 33-year-old Roscommon man is still firmly connected with his roots however. Filming for the third series of his own Moone Boy sit-com for Sky 1, set and filmed in Boyle, gets underway in a month. But before that, he’s eager to ensure that the Arthur Guinness Projects initiave delivers. The soil is certainly fertile enough.
“It’s a very, very exciting time for the arts in Ireland,” he says.
While he is anxious not to impose restrictions on potential projects, he does have his preferences. “It’d be great if it has cultural impact,” he says, “because the arts is the one thing that can feel pretentious or inward-looking. It’d be great if it was something that relates to the country as a whole.”
His own activities show the importance of a good work ethic.
“We’ve wrapped up Moone Boy series two,” he explains, “but we start shooting series three in a month. I’m directing this series so there’s a bit more planning. We started preparation last week so I’m out in Ardmore trying to work that out.”
It’s a commitment that’s meant foregoing big film offers in the US.
“A little bit,” O’Dowd admits. “But that’s ok, they’ll wait. I’m quickly losing my looks but luckily I didn’t look that great to start with!”
Hollywood’s temporary loss is the Arthur Guinness Projects’ gain. “I’m in the country and I don’t really drink when I’m working, so I have to have something to do in the evening,” he laughs.
O’Dowd has talked about the importance of diversity, but his comedy pedigree must have him secretly hankering for someone to drop the script for a new hit sitcom or film on his lap.
“I think there’s some really funny stuff kicking around,” he observes. “And I see that RTÉ have just introduced a Head Of Comedy which is a really good step. Ireland is the funniest country pound for pound in the world.”
While it’s true that we’ve successfully exported that funny gene we haven’t always seen similar success at home. Is the lack of strong indigenous TV comedy down to lack of finance?
“That’s a big part of it,” he nods. “The fact that the national broadcaster didn’t have a comedy department isn’t going to help comedy. The fact that it is so close to Britain makes it difficult as well. I think it is important that we try to shoot more stuff here. Even stuff like Father Ted and Mrs. Brown’s Boys, none of it shoots here. And Ireland is a great place to shoot.”
Chris is about to star in the feature movie De Van Nuys alongside Bill Murray.
“Somehow, I’m gonna fly over on a Friday night and come home on the Sunday night for three or four weekends.”
Before that, he can be seen in Family Tree, a new comedy series from Christopher Guest, the man behind This Is Spinal Tap.
“I was a huge fan! I was one of those guys who had the video of Spinal Tap on in UCD just playing and playing. I never took it off. Christopher is the sweetest man. He’s really funny. After a take, we would go off and do our big improv take and I would do some kind of joke and... ‘CUT! Ok, Chris that was great... I love that joke that you did about the skeleton and that was really funny. Not for this show but save it for something else!’ So even when he’s putting you down he makes you laugh.”
O’Dowd is full of praise for the DIY approach of 27-year-old Lena Dunham, star and creator of the HBO show, Girls, in which he’s appeared.
“She is one of the brightest people I have ever met and she has energy. I think we need more auteurs,” he adds. “Hopefully things like this will be helpful: the Arthur Guinness Projects want people with a fresh voice. And we have loads of money to give them!”
Of course, the mentorship of overachievers like O’Dowd is nothing to be sniffed at either...