King of comedy Tommy Tiernan chats cinema with Movies.ie
Tommy Tiernan has broken all Irish box office records over and over again by selling out in venues across the country including a staggering current record of 150 dates in Dublin’s one thousand seat theatre, Vicar Street, received a jet-roar standing ovation from 4,500 people in The Marquee in Cork, stormed The Letterman Show in New York and recently when Tiernan left the stage of the Gala in Montreal, over two thousand Canadians were on their feet in a sustained ovation to acknowledge one of the most extraordinary performances of stand-up comedy in festival memory moving one critic to lament,
From his beginnings in Galway’s GPO and Dublin’s Comedy Cellar to an early win of the ‘So You Think You’re Funny” UK Best Newcomer Award, Tommy’s stage work quickly led to a ‘Perrier Award’ win in Edinburgh, a ‘British Comedy Award’ for ‘Best Stand Up’ and a ‘Nokia Best Of The Fest Award’ on his return to Edinburgh. His commitment to live stand-up has led him on an extraordinary journey, including twice being accused of blasphemy in the Irish Senate! Here, Movies.ie talks cinema with the Donegal’s finest comedian.
Q: How often to you get to sit down and watch a movie?
Once a week
Q: Tell us about the last movie you saw?
The first 18 minutes of “Down By Law”, just a the moment when Tom Waits gets thrown out of his place by Ellen Barkin. My girlfriend said “This is shite”,
and that was that.
Q: What is your favourite Irish movie and why?
At the moment “Into the West”. Its a brilliant kids film.
Q: What is your favourite movie of all time?
“Round Midnight”
Q: What movie could you never sit through again?
“Down by Law” – wont be allowed!
Q: Describe your ideal movie cast… (actor, actress & director)
Actor: Edward Norton
Actress: Jessica Lange
Director: Ian Fitzgibbon
Q: Have you ever cried during a movie? Which one?
Yes! “About Schmidt”
Q: Favourite movie snack?
My girlfriend!!
Q: Favourite TV programme?
Decent Champions League
Q: Who would play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
It would have to somebody devilishly handsome, rakish, a bit of a rogue and
a bit hairy too – Jessica Lange.