This much I know: Cathy Belton

I believe that anyone who is born by the Atlantic is constantly drawn back there.

I moved from Galway to Dublin to study Drama and English in Trinity, but I still have to return home regularly for a top up.

I was quite a shy and introverted child. My parents sent me to drama classes for that very reason. I suppose acting helped me to feel more free and confident. You now what they say about it being the shy man’s profession.

The relationship between actor and director can be very fragile. A director can block you, or they can help you to bloom.

I’m usually a glass half-full type of person. Unless I’m tired, then it can go the other way. And I’m a terrible worrier. I worry about everything — from ‘will I get that part’ to ‘should I wear a rain-coat today?’

I’ve become better at dealing with the uncertainty that goes with being an actor and being freelance. When I was younger, I could never get used to the idea of not working. Now, when I have big chunks of time off, I use that time well. I use it to travel — I’ve been to Japan, and all around South Africa. My next trip will be driving Route 66. Or, I simply enjoy the novelty of being able to keep sociable hours and do simple things like meet family or friends for dinner.

The best advice I’ve got was from my father. He told me to always treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s so important, particularly in acting. It’s a tough profession so it helps when people can be kind to each other.

At one stage, the insecurity got to me so much that I left acting altogether to become a national school teacher. Not long afterwards, I got cast in Glenroe and luckily I took the part as it lasted a couple of years.

At the moment I’m working two jobs, rehearsing Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance by day and appearing in Tom Murphy’s The House at night. It certainly keeps you match fit.

You have to be fit to do this job, your body is your tool. I cycle everywhere and do yoga and swim as much as I can.

The biggest challenge I’ve had to face so far was my father’s passing. He died of cancer six years ago, after a lot of suffering. I don’t think you ever get over a loss like that, I think you just get used to living with the pain.

I do believe in some kind of afterlife. I don’t believe in the institutionalised religion but have got a certain type of faith.

If I could ask three people to a dinner party, I’d have to invite Shakespeare so that I could ask him if he really did write all those plays. And Grace O’Malley, to put the cat amongst the pigeons. The two of them could swap opinions on Queen Elizabeth 1. And then of course I’d have to invite a gorgeous man to flirt with so that would have to be Michael Fassbender.

So far, life has taught me to appreciate the little things and to try and stay in the moment. We spend so much time reaching for the next thing when we would probably be more content remaining completely present.

If I could change one thing in our society, I’d stop the Social Welfare cutbacks that are hurting disadvantaged people, especially single parents and those with special needs.

Kindness is one of the most underrated qualities in this world.

To me, success means peace of mind and happiness. Awards are fun and an excuse for a great night out, but I’m not sure if its possible to actually chose one performance or production as being the ‘best’.

Cathy Belton appears in Tom Murphys The House until Jul 14 at the Abbey Theatre.