A question of taste: Orla Fitzgerald

By Des O’Driscoll

Orla Fitzgerald is from Cork, and can be seen in The Young Offenders on RTÉ2 tonight, where she plays the wife of school principal Barry Walsh (PJ Gallagher).

Best recent book you’ve read:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.

Best recent film:

I caught Step Brothers recently on the TV and thought it was hilarious.

Best recent show or gig you’ve seen:

I saw Alt-J and thought they were just as good live, if not better than their excellent album.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old):

Sigrid is on repeat. She does fantastic catchy pop tunes.

First ever piece of music or film that really moved you:

The film Breaking the Waves had me in bits. Superb movie.

The best gig or show you’ve ever seen (if you had to pick one!):

My first ever concert was Micheal Jackson in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork when I was ten. I was a massive fan.

Tell us about your TV viewing:

I’m currently watching Better Call Saul. It’s fantastic, and Bob Odenkirk’s performance is brilliant.

Radio listening and/or podcasts:

Big fan of The Guilty Feminists podcast and Dubland The Podcast with the lovely PJ Gallagher.

You’re curating your dream festival — which three artists are on the bill, living or dead?

Randy Newman, Prince, and Radiohead.

Your best celebrity encounter:

Working with all the cast of The Young Offenders last summer. We had a ball.

You can portal back to any period of human cultural history or music event — where, when, and why?

I missed LCD Soundsystem in the Olympia over the summer. It was epic, apparently.

Do you have any interesting ancestors or family?

My aunt Eva Fitzgerald who has passed away, unfortunately, was the first woman in Ireland to hold a jockey’s licence inside the rails.

Unsung hero — individual or organisation you think don’t get the profile/praise they deserve:

My sister. She is a social worker and is an amazing person. It’s a very tough job but you never hear her complain.

You are queen/king for a day — what’s your first decree?

Repeal the Eighth.