Star of BBC Two's the Fall, Aisling Franciosi, Tells Clodagh Dooley About Her Time Filming in Northern Ireland, and How She Re

4 | NORTHERN IRELAND – Say Hello to More Falling into place Star of BBC Two’s The Fall, Aisling Franciosi, tells Clodagh Dooley about her time filming in Northern Ireland, and how she really feels when she’s asked about working with Jamie Dornan isling Franciosi is on the Dublin but I’m half-Italian. I feel so proud “Unless you’re someone with a larger brink of great things. of both parts of my heritage and I spend a part like Jamie [Dornan] or Gillian [An- With roles in popular TV lot of time in Italy on my holidays visiting derson] you’re rarely in all of the shooting, programmes The Fall on my dad and family there, but Dublin is the so I do get some time to explore a little bit. BBC Two and Legends on place I would call home.” I really like the Cathedral Quarter in Bel- Fox/TNT, as well as an However, with an acting career comes fast, where there’s a lot of cool bars, live appearance in one of the a lot of moving around, something Aisling music sessions and restaurants. I like The most anticipated scenes in knows all too well. During her time Spaniard, a really tiny but quirky rum the history of Game of Thrones, it’s safe filming The Fall, she relocated to Belfast bar, and The Dirty Onion there. It’s one of Ato say her star is on the rise. A bright and and says her first impressions of the city the oldest buildings in Belfast, but it’s re- bubbly Irish-Italian actress, she always surprised her. ally modern and they have great food, live envisioned acting as her future career. “When you hear about Belfast, you do music and is generally a nice place to go “It was always my plan to be an ac- tend to think about the Troubles and the with some of the cast for a drink together. tress,” she says. “I think I first decided negative side of things. It is such a huge “I’m a bit of a foodie so I really like when I was about six years old! But I part of the history and you can’t ever for- spending time at St George’s Market and have always enjoyed studying and loved get that, but when I went up there for the visiting the stands with produce and languages so I decided to do a degree in first time, I found it had such a nice vibe. crafts. They also have performers there so Aisling Franciosi. Credit: Barry McCall Spanish and French in Trinity College, I suppose, part of the reason behind that it’s a great way to spend your day, particu- Dublin. During my first year there, I too was the fact I was going up there for a larly at the weekends. To unwind on my waiting for me to talk about his looks began acting on stage at the Gate Theatre new job which was exciting, but although days off, I love walking around Queen’s all the time. I personally think he does and balanced this with college work. I had only visited once before when I was University. It’s such a beautiful campus.” an amazing job in the show so I tend to Then, when I was 18, I landed my first TV very little and couldn’t properly form I ask Aisling if she gets swamped by swerve the focus back to his acting skills. role as Trish in Trivia before getting my a first impression, it feels like a very fans on her days out. “I’m quite sad we’ve finished filming role as Katie in The Fall in my third year vibrant, energetic city – there’s this new- “I actually rarely get noticed. Some- season three of the show now because it of college. found energy there.” times when the show is on, someone feels like we are a little family and you “In my final year, I got another role and So, would she consider Belfast to be a might notice me but to be honest I’m never know when you’re going to work so had to make a choice – I left college in home away from home? delighted I don’t get recognised as often, with certain people again. I’ll always have my fourth and final year, which I’m not “There are quite a number of similar- I can’t imagine what it must be like for a special place in my heart for The Fall’s sure my parents were too thrilled about ities between Belfast and Dublin, so it’s Jamie!” cast and crew.” at the time! But they fully supported me, not a huge culture shock or anything but Aisling, who won an IFTA (Irish Film as I had said that if certain opportunities there’s a lot of amazing, quirky cafés, res- ROLEPLAY and Television Award) for Best Actress come up, I was going to follow them, be- taurants and bars in Belfast and so much Speaking of Jamie, Aisling so often gets in a Supporting Role in 2015, says there’s cause you don’t often get a second chance to do. I really love it there. Obviously, asked about her time working with her a lot of research and prep involved when at these type of things.” when I move around to different places, co-star, particularly about shooting some playing the part of babysitter, Katie there are certain times I’d really like to of the sexier scenes with him! However, Benedetto – as there would be for any role HOMELAND see my friends and family but I do love be- she says this doesn’t tire her and being she plays. Aisling, whose father is Italian, has lived ing in new cities and I’m quite chatty, so associated with him can only be a good “Prep time does vary – if I’m doing a in Dublin all her life. I tend to latch onto people who live in the thing. scene where I’m walking down the cor- “My family had lived in Italy but I area, and hang with the cast and crew.” “I’d be naïve to think that people ridor, I don’t need to spend half an hour was born in Dublin. When my parents Despite working long hours which vary wouldn’t ask me about that and obviously getting myself into the mood of the scene separated, my mum and my brothers day to day, Aisling still likes to squeeze it’s nice to be associated with talented or anything! I have a lot of fun on set with moved back to Dublin so when people ask some time into her busy schedule to ex- actors like Jamie, he’s so lovely. I suppose the cast and crew but if we’re filming me where I’m from, I always say I’m from plore her surroundings. what I do get sick of is when people are more heavy-going or serious scenes, I like NORTHERN IRELAND – Say Hello to More | 5 Aisling on set for The Fall. Credit: BBC/The Fall 3 Ltd/Helen Sloan to take myself away from everyone and Aisling enjoys playing the role of Katie, There are some new projects in the ous being a part of something so loved try to find a certain space where I can tap but she admits that sometimes the char- pipeline for Aisling and she’s currently by many, but you just have to remember into more negative or trying emotions – acter’s naïve, headstrong personality can busy filming for a new BBC Three produc- you’re never going to please everybody. whatever it is that you need to portray in be susceptible to some audience backlash. tion called Clique, written by Jess Brittain It was a great opportunity to be a part of that scene. “A lot of people love to hate her and and created by the creators of Skins. How- something so huge – even if it is just for “I do a lot of research and notetak- find her really annoying, but I hope that ever, whether she will be returning for her two minutes!” ing too, trying to get a bit more insight it is only her that they find annoying and role as Lyanna Stark in Game of Thrones, Two minutes, two hours – it doesn’t into how your character thinks and why not me!” she laughs. “People have told me remains to be seen. matter how long this woman is on our they’re thinking certain things. If there is they think I ‘deserve a good slap’ or I’m “I’m not going to lie, but I’d never screens before she leaves us wanting space to do it, you take things from your ‘a right bitch’ on Twitter but I tend not to watched Game of Thrones before I got the more. And with that, I leave Aisling to en- own experiences too and then manipulate read too much into comments. She’s quite part. It had always been on my ‘to watch’ joy the rest of her day off – it might be one it to fit with the character’s personality. an aggravating character and I think list but I had never got around to actu- of very few in the foreseeable future! You never live the exact same life as your there are two camps when it comes to her ally watching it.

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