This much I know: Phelim Drew

A large part of the acting business is living in hope that the phone is going to ring or someone will come looking for you.

More often than not something will come up — especially if you start making plans to do something else. I don’t know if I’m any better at handling rejections and stress than I was 20 years ago.

I wasn’t a sporty child — I used having asthma as an excuse — but the one thing that did appeal to me was the stage.

I was already quite a seasoned theatre-goer by 11 when I saw JB Keane’s The Field at The Abbey with Joe Lynch as Bull McCabe. I remember being struck by how compelling the atmosphere was at a live performance.

I did my acting apprenticeship with a local group in Greystones when I was growing up. I got to learn all aspects of theatre there and then when I left school I went to The Gaiety School of Acting.

Having a famous dad (Ronnie Drew) was just something that was there for me. From a young age I thought that his type of lifestyle — rehearsing and then touring for weeks — was completely normal.

My biggest challenge so far has been the death of my parents. That’s been the biggest disaster. You just get on with life, but then you can get blind-sided by the grief when you least expect it. My wife and children have been the single greatest thing in helping me to overcome that.

We have four children, from five to eight years old. My wife is the actor and comedienne Sue Collins from The Nualas, so between the two of us we juggle life and work and family.

I think listening is the single most important thing in dealing with life and with people. It’s important to take a step back and give people your full attention. Most people are so busy working out their responses during a conversation that they can’t really take in what is being said to them.

I can be introverted and withdrawn. I have a somewhat melancholic nature — like a lot of people who are involved in the arts and other romantic pursuits — I believe the two go hand in hand.

I get a huge amount of pleasure from my work, from discovering secrets inside whatever play I’m working on and of course then bringing that to an audience.

Loyalty and a good sense of humour are traits that I admire.

I’d love to see a change in the system of government in Ireland. We’re too focussed on constituency and local politics. It doesn’t need to be so parochial.

Acting is a punishing type of career. Luckily I’ve worked consistently throughout my career, but there is no actor who hasn’t had periods of drought and self doubt. I’ve done my fair share of bar and restaurant work.

My idea of hell would be working in an office and doing the same thing year in and year out.

I never don’t feel nervous but as long as I manage my day I can handle the stress. It’s important to concentrate on all the practical things, like leaving enough time and making sure I eat early enough.

Rehearsals for Risen People were hard work — there’s so much movement involved. It was brilliant working with choreographer Colin Dunne — he started each session with an hour of yoga and pilates and that really informed the work.

We’re a company of 11 people, all on stage most of the time, so we need to be focussed and aware and listening. It helps if you are physically loose and calm.

* Phelim Drew is appearing as Mr Hennessy in The Risen People by James Plunkett at the Abbey Theatre until Feb 1, 2014. Tickets from €13. www.abbeytheatre.ie