This much I know: George McMahon, actor

I’m blessed with my family, they’ve always been very supportive of my career.

I come from a normal working class family. My parents started a business from nothing and watched it grow. My sister became involved in the family business but there was never any pressure on me to do so.

My family has had a connection with racehorses. As a young teen, I helped my dad out as a stable lad in his racing yard. If I hadn’t ended up in the acting business, I could still be involved in horses.

From when I was a tot hanging out on our road I was always play acting and performing. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I decided to make a hobby of it, and by 14 I was hooked. From there on I knew that this was what I wanted to do.

I was always quite outgoing. I never had a problem meeting new people. My mam always said “You’d talk the hind legs off a donkey!”

My earliest memory of a live theatre performance was when I was brought to see Jack and the Beanstalk. Twink was the star and I still remember the enormous giant’s hand which came down through a big hole in the ceiling of the theatre. I was only four at the time but I remember it so well.

I’m lucky to have a great work/life balance. As a freelance performer there is plenty of ‘down time’. I try to use my weeks off to go to see a new city, or discover new things about my own city.

Loyalty is the trait I most admire in other people.

Discipline is something I’ve always struggled with. Getting into a routine, becoming more organised and sticking to a routine are three things I’m working on improving in my life.

99.9% of all advice is ignored. You’re going to do what you want to do, regardless of the advice you receive, so just go with your gut and trust it.

My idea of happiness is a healthy life with a flourishing career and someone you love to share that life with. My idea of misery is a life where you do the same thing every day until you draw a pension.

If I could change one thing in Irish society I’d say: stop talking about the weather. We get it, it’s crap.

I’m definitely an owl not a lark — I’m a real night bird — there’s way more fun to be had at night.

If I could be reborn as someone else for a day I might try being Hugh Hefner, but is he really happy? Of course he is!

Up to now I haven’t really been health conscious. But I’m hitting 30 next year and I’ve recently become more aware of what I’m eating, getting fitter and generally looking after myself that little bit better.

The biggest physical challenge I’ve ever faced was my trip to the Everest region for the Hope Foundation. We trekked to Everest base camp and then climbed a neighbouring mountain called Island Peak. It was a tough 21 days of trekking, climbing, abseiling and ice-picking our way up vertical ice walls. The day we summited was the toughest challenge I’ve ever put my body through.

I’d like to think there is life after death.

So far I’ve learnt it’s not all about the destination, because none of us get out of this alive. Enjoy the journey. If we didn’t have lows, we wouldnt enjoy the highs. Be kind to others — and yourself.

Hilary Fennell