Irish actress Carrie Crowley said she is the busiest she has been in years and believes it is due to older women finally being given more exciting roles than ‘just washing dishes’ on screen.
The Waterford native, 57, is currently juggling the filming of RTE’s hit drama series Smother’ season three in Co Clare, whilst attending red carpet galas and film premieres and basking in the glory of her work in leading Irish language film An Cailín Ciúin.
Lifting the lid on her hectic schedule, she said: “I had the busiest few years in ages. I am just back from Lahinch so I don’t know if I am coming or going.”
But she quickly quipped, “I’m not complaining at all,” before going on to say, ‘It is interesting, it is a strange time,” for women on screen.
“I think people realise that they have to write for women now,” she explained.
Crediting the RTE series, which picked up five nominations for this year’s Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Film and Drama Awards, for this, she added: “Like Smother is all about the women.
“A friend of mine is writing at the moment and it is mostly women and that will be on the screen soon.
“And even as an older woman, it is great that you are not just playing somebody washing dishes.
“There are more interesting parts for women of my age and older.
“And that’s fantastic,” she said, as she stepped out on the red carpet opening of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2022 in Dublin.
Straight from its world premiere at Berlin Film Festival where it won grand prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for best film and received a special mention from the children’s jury at the festival, Carrie and her fellow cast and crew took centre stage as An Cailín Ciúin became the first Irish language film to open the festival.
Ending a big week for the film, which led the way with IFTA nominations with ten nods, the former Fair City star said: “It feels amazing. It is pretty phenomenal
“The first Irish language film to play Berlin and then to get a Grand Prix was extraordinary, and to be the first Irish language film to open DIFF, that is amazing.
“And then to get the response we have been getting it fills my heart with joy.”
An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) is the feature debut from writer/director Bairéad, based on the acclaimed story, Foster by Claire Keegan.
Set in 1981 in rural Ireland, it tells the story of a quiet, neglected girl sent away from her overcrowded, dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth.
And Carrie is hoping that the film’s success can help pave the way for even more recognition and opportunities for Irish language projects.
“It is really important. I got a beautiful text from somebody today who said we will look back at this in ten year’s time as a moment in time that the Irish language found a new level in some ways. It has always been there, but it is just amazing.”
Asked if she ever anticipated the huge acclaim the movie has received so far, she added: “You never know.
“We kind of knew it was special, all of us. But that happens, you kind of think something is special and then you see it and you think.. ‘Oh it is not quite what I thought it would be’.
“But this one is even more than we thought it would or could be. It is just the most gorgeous film to be part of.”
However, she said one thing she does anticipate is a huge future for the film’s young star, 12-year-old Catherine Clinch.
“Listen, put your money on it.
“I said to somebody recently, put your life savings on it.
“She is amazing. And I love the fact that she is able for all of this [red carpet] as well.
“She is very solid in herself, self contained. And a beautiful little girl, and a brilliant little actress.”
