Katriona O’Sullivan - Mad Hatter Q&A: "I’m not taking anything lying down"

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?
Wow, hard question. I try to be kind (mostly). I am going to go personal here, but I would say my ex (I still celebrate when his football team loses 30 years later).

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?
Dave of course, but my girls are a close second here ‘cos they would dance (he wouldn’t).

Favourite saying?
Don’t make long-term decisions on short-term feelings. Oh and ‘I am amazing!’

Favourite record?
Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman.

Favourite book?
The BFG or As You Were by Elaine Feeney.

Favourite film?
As Good As It Gets.  

Favourite author?
Elaine Feeney or Louise Kennedy.

Favourite actor / actress?
Florence Pugh or Jodie Comer.

Favourite musician?
Self Esteem.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
You should read my book Hungry for many of them!

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?
Flat white and homemade chips and egg.

TV programme?
Home And Away or Teen Mom.

Favourite TV personality?
I kinda love Ryan Tubridy right now.

Favourite item of clothing?
My luminous green sports jacket.

Most desirable date?
Anthony Joshua for looks.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Reading and music.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?
A singer.

Biggest thrill?
Performing a monologue I have written based on Hungry at the NCH.

Biggest disappointment?
I recently applied for a grant to look at the level of trauma in Irish people and the grant application was rejected.

Your concept of heaven?
Wow, this is deep. The sea is where I feel peace, so it would be there, with those I love and have lost.

Your concept of hell?
Never learning from my past.

What would be your dying words?
I love you son – we did it, we did it!

Greatest ambition?
To change the way we see poor people.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?
The ‘60s looked so cool, the hair and clothes, the liberation of women (somewhat) and the drugs – being so free and easy!

If you weren’t a human being, which animal would you have chosen to be?
My dog. She is spoiled and gets hugs all the time and is stroked constantly. The dream life.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?
I would try to fix the problem of why it was ending... fuck that, I’m not taking anything lying down!

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?
I love Louise McSharry’s style, and I love Jan Brierton.

Favourite term of abuse?
Cunt. I use this lovingly too!

Biggest fear?
Not having enough time!

Humanity’s most useful invention?
The internet.

Humanity’s most useless invention?
The internet.

• Hungry: A Biography Of My Body by Katriona O’Sullivan is available now via Hachette Books Ireland.