I loved growing up in Dublin. I had a pretty normal childhood. I took the train to a local school every day. But I was a little rebellious. Sitting in a classroom wasn’t enough for me. Once I did my first film, at 15, I didn’t want to do anything else.
I’m massively close to my three siblings. We’re very involved with each other and in each other’s lives. Sharon Horgan [Hewson’s Bad Sisters co-star] understands those complicated relationships, the absolute love and the absolute anger, how you flip-flop between those emotions in a minute.
I once said my parents [musician Bono and activist Ali Hewson] weren’t initially supportive of me becoming an actress, but I’ve been asked about it so many times since I don’t know how to come up with a better lie. I’m 31 now. They’re really supportive and excited for me and they just let me do my own thing.
Only the media describes me as “Bono’s daughter”. Only the media gives me that shit. In the rest of my life it doesn’t happen. I can’t do anything about it. I have no say in it.
James Gandolfini loved the way I ate on camera. I worked with him on his last film, Enough Said, when I was 20. I ate food in a scene and he said, “I’m so proud of you. Never change.” So many actors pretend to eat. He taught me so much. I loved him.
I’m obsessed with sleep. Is that a boring answer? I wish I could tell you that I was into skydiving, but really I’m dreaming of being in bed by 9pm.
I don’t enjoy red carpets. They’re scary – people shouting at you and all of that. I haven’t done one in so long, because of the pandemic. I’ve just been sitting on Zoom with a nice top on and my sweatpants, and its been quite joyful. I like fashion, but really I’m quite a lazy person. I’d rather be wearing sweatpants.
I love the idea of disappearing into a character and imagining that you aren’t yourself. I mean, who doesn’t want to take a break from their own head every now and then?
I gave up alcohol five months ago so I haven’t really been drinking. I’m like an old lady. I have a cat, I like to sleep 12 hours a night. You should have interviewed me when I was 18. That would have been a different conversation. I’m currently taking a hiatus from myself.
My mum is a really funny person, although she’d never let you know. She’ll just sometimes stealthily release one of those under her breath one-liners that’ll kill you. My dad does more characters and gags and things like that, so I’ve got a good combination of both.
I’m in a really good place in my life; hopefully it continues. But I need to work out where I’ll call home in the future. I lived in New York for years before the pandemic, then I went home to Dublin during it. I’m at home again, living out of a suitcase until I figure out my next steps.
People think I’ve been dealing with being famous all of my life, but nobody really cares about me.
Bad Sisters is on Apple TV now
