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Hi folks, In this episode, I have a great conversation with Lorna Quinn. Lorna is an Actor (I’m going with Actor not Actress – we clarify why on the show) that has a built up a great portfolio of work over the last number of years since graduating from ‘Drama and Theatre Studies’ in UCC. She has been in Theatre (‘Private Lives’ most recently at the Gate), on TV (‘Fair City’ & ‘Love Hate’) and even on the big screen (‘Dare to Be Wild’). She’s also from Longford which is how I know her and how I was able to entice her to come on to the 1% Better Podcast We talk about her career, growing up, being in Longford girl-band AS3 (which is due a re-launch in the near future we hope– make it happen, Lorna). She was also voted Best Actress at the ‘Stellar Shine Awards’ in 2016. Just some of the areas we talk about include:

• Starting drama classes quite late, growing up in Longford & having great fun which helped Lorna grow in confidence
• Joining the Longford Musical Society
• Being in the Longford Girl Band, AS3, at 16 which gave Lorna another taste of performing
• Applying for and getting a place on ‘Drama and Theatre Studies’ in UCC and bit by bit finding her feet in the class and the group
• The monkey on the shoulder and keeping Matilda in control
• First stand out/break through moment getting cast in the role of ‘Olive’ in ‘The Odd Couple’ in first year in UCC and again in second year, being cast in the role of ‘Margarethe’ in ‘Copenhagen’ by Michael Frayn. How this started to make Lorna believe there could be a career in this
• Advice on reaching out to support services in College or in any stage of your life where you might need to chat to someone
• Dealing with reviews and feedback and working on taking this onboard
• Spending two years at the ‘Gaiety School of Acting’ in Dublin and learning lots!
• Landing her first big lead role as ‘Jo’ in ‘Little Women’ at the Gate which Lorna sees as a huge breakthrough moment
• The ‘Fair City’ role journey and the differences in acting for camera v theatre
• Working at the Gate again under Michael Colgan and learning so much on the job there
• Playing the role of ‘Eve’ in ‘Dare to Be Wild’ in Lorna’s first feature film
• The story around winning the ‘Stellar Award’ for Best Actress beating competition that included Saoirse Ronan
• Working with and learning from different directors
• The importance of team work when on stage and with the crew at the Gate to create the team ensemble feeling
• Lorna’s approach to preparing for a new role and how to get comfortable with the character through researching what was happening around the time the play or movie was set
• Playing different roles and pushing herself outside the comfort-zone
• How Lorna sets goals, plans ahead & makes decisions
• Getting satisfaction ticking things off the to-do list and journaling
• We talk about Advice and Core Values and what Lorna’s stand out values are
• What Lorna would pursue if not in acting
• How Lorna views Success

Lorna's book recommendations :

• About acting by Peter Barkworth
• The law of attraction by Abraham Hicks
• Actors Voices by Patrick O’Kane

You can connect with Lorna via the following: www.lornaquinn.com Twitter – @lornamquinn Finally, THANK YOU Lorna for your time, story and help in making the episode such a great one! Enjoy!