Actor Johnny Ward has admitted he is working all the hours he can to save for his wedding next summer.
The 32-year-old is set to tie the knot with fiancée Brenda Murphy in her home town of Kilcullen, Co Kildare, in July 2023 – and he’s planning a star-studded bash.
Johnny, who is back on our screens for RTE’s Ultimate Hell Week, revealed he has already roped in former Fair City co-star Stephen O’Leary as his groomsman.
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The star said despite his hectic Hollywood schedule he is hoping his close pal and Love/Hate co-star Barry Keoghan will be able to make it home from LA for the nuptials.
And smitten Johnny told the Irish Sunday Mirror he fell in love with his fiancee the old fashioned way.
He said: “I met Brenda during lockdown and that’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.
“It was by chance, there was no Tinder, nothing online – I just went out for a walk one day and saw her in the distance.
“The two of us were just walking the same way and I just said, ‘Would you mind if I walked with you?’ and she said, ‘No worries, not at all’.
“Then I thought, ‘Oh no, she’s going to think I’m some weirdo, a pervert, a creep’.
“But we got chatting and then we started messaging on Instagram and that’s how it happened.
“It was great. We used to do these workouts together.
“The highlight of our day was walking around the Curragh and going to the Circle K garage and getting an ice cream.”
Johnny shared plans for his big day on July 8 next year with a reception booked at the Westgrove Hotel in Clane.
And with his background running a stage school with his mother, the actor admitted: “There are a lot of singers and actors and people who are in the industry who will be there.
“Now it’s kind of just sit back and wait until July and obviously save.
“That’s why I have taken on loads and loads and loads of teaching.
“I’m teaching literally every day except for Sunday in different performing arts schools.
“Acting is brilliant and I love it but it’s just not consistent. I went for an audition for a massive film yesterday, but the last audition I had before that was maybe three weeks ago.
“So I have just said, ‘Yeah, yeah’ to every job just to save.”
Johnny signed up for RTE’s Ultimate Hell Week along with a host of stars including Fiona O’Carroll, Setanta O’hAilpin and Pamela Uba.
The latest episode saw three more celebrities drop out as they struggled to move 20kg sandbags while hooded and carry logs while wearing goggles filled with sea water. Johnny confided he was glad he cut out the booze and got fit during lockdown but he still had reservations about the gruelling reality show.
He said: “I had friends of mine from the previous season like Ryan Andrews and Jake Carter who did very well in the show and they inspired me.
“It was something completely different. I’m not mad about reality TV but the one thing I always said about it [Hell Week] was that it’s a reality show where you have to show off a talent. It’s the same with Dancing With The Stars.
“The second I got there I thought, ‘What have I let myself in for?’.
“It wasn’t great fun, it was absolute torture, absolute hell.
“Hands down the toughest thing I have ever had to do in my life. But now when I look back I’m absolutely delighted I did it.” And Johnny confessed his fiancee loves to watch him being pushed to the limit every week.
He added: “Brenda has seen me in panto and in Love/Hate and Fair City and all that but I have to say I have never seen her as excited as with this show.”
The actor, best known for his role as Paulie in Love/Hate, said he would much rather stay in Ireland than head off to Hollywood.
Johnny said: “I love it here, I really do. I have been very blessed.
“I went to America and shot a movie with Sean Penn about 11 years ago and got to do a one on one scene with him which was
brilliant.
“But would I go over to London and take the risk? No. I just get very homesick when I’m not in Ireland.”
And when it comes to his pal Keoghan, who has starred in The Batman and Dunkirk, Johnny said he’s “one of the best people” he’s worked with.
He added: “I’m so happy and delighted for him. What I love about Barry is that he never forgets who he is.”
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