Theatre Interview Ciarn Hinds ThekindsofHinds Film buff: Hinds has starred in Miami Vice, Munich and There Will Be Blood iarn Hinds sits in a chair while make-up artists work on him for four hours straight. The Belfast-born actor is undergoing a transformation for his role as Aberforth Dumbledore in the Harry Potter finale, The Deathly Hallows parts I and II. In the back of his mind, however, he suspects that the role, which is relatively minor, could end up on the cutting room floor. Hinds is far from worried being asked to take part was reward enough. In the pantheon of successful Irish actors, Hinds is the most ego-free of them all. Over the last decade, he has worked with Spielberg in 2005s Munich, and Daniel Day Lewis in 2007s There Will Be Blood. He even shared screen space with Dwayne The Rock Johnson in this years Race To Witch Mountain. Yet he takes a modest pride in the anonymity of supporting roles. For Hinds, acclaim can not compare to doing a good job. My attitude to the work is to commit to it completely he says. Whats far more important than the size of the role is the story and who youre doing it with. Such is the case with The Birds, Conor McPhersons superb theatrical adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier story. In this fable about an extraordinary Armageddon, Hinds plays Nat, a man struggling to retain his humanity as civilisation slips away. As in all great disaster stories, the tension comes as much from the dynamic between the survivors as it does the outside threat. But the story largely belongs to Diane (Sinad Cusack), a troubled novelist, barricaded in a house with Nat and new arrival Julia (Denise Gough). Hinds felt compelled to rejoin McPherson, who he first worked with on a Broadway production in 2007. I hadnt been on stage for about six years before The Seafarer. Conor had to remind me that you have to realign your body in a way that shares more with the audience, rather than shy away from them, whereas a camera can catch you anywhere. Realignment is a large portion of the actors work. Not only from large Hollywood productions, like 2006s Miami Vice, but also from roles such as a C Russian general in Burnt By The Sun, which played at Londons National Theatre this year. That was a different world, a different place, a different size of theatre. Everywhere you go youre stepping into uncharted territories. The work between film, television and theatre is quite marked. Hinds could, however, have entered a very different realm of acting. Born in 1953, he first studied to be a lawyer before realising his talents lay elsewhere. He enrolled in Londons Rada, beginning an apprenticeship at Glasgows Citizens Theatre in 1976. They entrusted me with a variety of roles, he says. All very different. You often fail its part of the process but at least you got to wear the best frocks in town. They taught me to take responsibility rather than rely on being told what to do in direction. For the next decade, he struggled to make ends meet, flitting from stage productions across Ireland and the UK, until he landed a position with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the early 1990s. Then came a flurry of TV work, including 1993s Prime Suspect 3 and 1997s Jane Eyre. In the last decade, the stars aligned: films such as Road To Perdition and a stand-out performance in the HBO drama Rome. H inds modestly attributes his late bloom to outside forces. Its probably something to do with having a very good agent. Beyond what I do and my work, they make the contacts with the people doing the projects. Throughout, he has gravitated back to Ireland, appearing in local productions, as well as homegrown movies like Veronica Guerin and Mickybo And Me. His filmic excursion with McPherson, in ghost story The Eclipse, is due to be screened on RT later this year. Ever the pragmatist, Hinds hopes to continue working with the writer-director, however large or small the roles. I think Conor has suffered me admirably, he says. Its been a quiet thrill given the quality of his writing and the depth of his storytelling. The Birds, until Nov 14, Gate Theatre, 1 Cavendish Row D1, 8pm, 27 to 35. Tel: (01) 874 4045. www. dublintheatrefestival.com Conor had to remind me that you have to realign your body... with the audience rather than shy away from them, whereas a camera can catch you anywhere The one-time law student turned actor tells Pavel Barter about his late bloom and why working with Conor McPherson is a thrill On My iPod... Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skins six-track mix No Worst There Is None In Town Tonight A site-specific piece which centres on the not-so-cheery world of Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins as he approaches death. Composed by Sean g with a live boys choir Until Wed, Newman House, St Stephens Green South D2, 7pm, 22 to 25. Tel: 677 8899. www.dublintheatrefestival.com Maeve Higgins MC Damo Clark is joined by everyones favourite cake- baking Cork comedian, Maeve Higgins. Support from Fred Cooke and sketch group Foil, Arms & Hog Tonight, Wool Shed Sports Bar & Grill, Parnell Street D1, 9.30pm, 5. www.woolshedbaa.com metro Arts & Entertainment life Ticket Out Of Town Virginia Pumpkin Festival This October bank holiday weekend in Virginia, Co Cavan, youd be forgiven for thinking youd arrived in Calabasas, California. You might even be looking for Heidi Klum and her ever-extending family who are, bizarrely, papped every year at its annual pumpkin festival. But no. Since 2007, Cavans picturesque town has hosted its own homage to the humble squash and Halloween staple the Virginia Pumpkin Festival, which this year not only boasts the worlds largest pumpkin weigh-in competition, a Brazilian street carnival, teddy bears picnic, lakeside fireworks, acrobatics and one of Irelands biggest fancy dress parties, but also a major music headliner: Bell X1 (Oct 24, tickets 35). Up to 20,000 revellers are expected to descend on 2009s three-day event, so start practising your gourd carving now. Oct 23 to 26, Virginia, Co Cavan. Tel: 049 854 9940. www.virginia.ie The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have a VIP package to see BELL X1 Oct 24 at the Virginia Pumpkin Festival, Co Cavan The prize includes VIP gig tickets and an overnight stay at The Park Hotel Virginia based on two persons sharing. For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. Which band accompanied Bell X1 as support act for U2s 360 Croke Park gig? A. The Script B. The Editors 12 metrolife Monday, October 5, 2009 Death By Diamonds And Pearls by Band Of Skulls This is a huge, big, fat, sexy number with a fat, slobbering guitar solo and dirty riffs. Its very cool and really contemporary a good hot tub tune. Heard It All Before by Sunshine Anderson Sunshine Anderson is a really good storyteller. If I had a hairbrush, Id be singing this into it and feeling like one of those old women in the projects: swinging my head, shoulders and bum with 15 different colours in my hair and great long nails. Push Back! by The Gentlemen I usually put this on to jump around the room. Its a spiky, plucky little song with a stunning chorus that sort of reminds me of The Wombats. Its quickly become one of my favourites. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html