Mad Hatter: Denise McCormack

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?
Donald Trump.

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?
My mum and dad, they come as a unit.

Favourite saying?
You get out what you put in.

Favourite record?
Imagine by John Lennon.

Favourite book?
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Favourite film?
The Godfather.

Favourite author?
Paulo Coelho.

Favourite actor / actress?
Julie Walters.

Favourite musician?
Bob Dylan.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
I was on holidays in Spain with my family – I was around 10-years-old – and my dad’s friend’s family were there too. I had an almighty crush on the son. Anyway, I fell asleep in their apartment, their dad lifted me to carry me to our place – and I wee’d on his hand. I didn’t lived it down for the rest of the holiday.

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?
Avocado/water/wine.

TV programme?
True Detective / Catastrophe.

Favourite TV personality?
Dermot Bannon!

Favourite item of clothing?
A LBD my mum made for me years ago.

Most desirable date?
My other half.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Yoga.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?
Dressmaker / designer.

Biggest thrill?
Seeing my kids happy.

Biggest disappointment?
People not being genuine.

Your concept of heaven?
I’d like to believe in an afterlife, so heaven is the place you hang out with your loved ones waiting to be reborn.

Your concept of hell?
I don’t believe this experience of ‘life’ could be conceived in order to punish people. I like to think everyone has a redeeming quality, so hell as a concept doesn’t exist for me.

What would be your dying words?
Make the most of it all.... it comes to an end sooner than you think.

Greatest ambition?
Getting a full night’s sleep.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?
I’m fascinated with our heroes of 1916. I listen to Irish ballads written about that time, like Jim McCann singing the O’Mearas’ ‘Grace’, and think how heroic these women and men were – they risked all in the name of freedom. I wonder who I would be in that Dublin.

If you weren’t a human being which animal would you have chosen to be?
A wolf – I stick to my pack. My family are my world and friends are for life.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?
I’d want to be with my nearest and dearest, Barry; my boys; my sisters and their families; and my mum and dad. With those people in one place, I’d be very thankful.

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?
Helena Bonham Carter.

Favourite term of abuse?
Asshole.

Biggest fear?
Losing someone close.

Humanity’s most useful invention?
The hot water bottle – I carry one around daily.

Humanity’s most useless invention?
High heels – to pretend we’re thinner/taller?! I rue the day!

Denise McCormack stars in Red Rock, which returns on Monday, February 4 at 9pm on Virgin Media One.