Clare Cathcart
THE HIT BBC drama, ‘Call the Midwife’ is the latest in a list of impressive acting roles for Enniskillen-born Clare Cathcart.
The former Collegiate pupil who moved on to study in London – has found herself employed in the acting business since her second year at the Royal Holloway College in the city.
That gives her a 28-year working career in the business.
And, eagle-eyed fans of the BBC drama may have spotted Clare in the first episode of the latest series.
“I did the first episode of this latest series of Call the Midwife, playing an Irish woman, Mrs Torpy, who gives birth on Chummy’s (Miranda Hart) living room floor.
“My real life 12-year-old daughter, Elsie, played my daughter in that episode. It was great craic as you can imagine – poor Miranda had only just met me and then had to spend four hours facing my backside!”
Clare lives in Brighton, and has done for the past 10 years after 17 in London. She is a single mum of two, Elsie, and Jeanie (7).
The actress has just finished performing in a play in the Tricycle Theatre, called ‘Once a Catholic’, directed by Kathy Burke – where she played an ‘angry nun’.
“I loved it. The show sold out before we’d even opened and it was a great part. I love doing comedy – making an audience laugh is the best feeling.”
Since the birth of her two daughters, work for Clare fits around them – not them around work.
“Things have changed since having my daughters. I thought I’d just carry on going off to film in Capetown or Berlin or wherever but now that I’m on my own with them, they are my priority and I fit work in around them.”
And, speaking of upcoming projects, she said: “I’m working on a script of my own at the moment which will be full of fabulous female characters over 40. And I’m also working on my first novel, which I’ve been working on for about three years and never get time to finish. 85% of actors are out of work at any one time, so I feel fortunate to be in work so much. It’s a very tough and challenging life, but rewarding too.”