“Louise swings by for a catch up”

Saturday, 09 July 2011 21:06

Louise is one of the newest stars to join the cast of Essence of Ireland and in a very short space of time, she has made a very big impact with fans with her great voice and look. Essence of Ireland caught up with the star to find out what her first year outside of college has been like and what makes her tick.

1) You graduated from Bird College in 2010 with a Diploma in Musical Theatre & you had previously trained as a dancer at Stonelands School of Ballet and Theatre Arts: Would you recommend going down the academic route to other young artists who would like to become part of the entertainment industry & how do you feel it has benefited you in the long run?

Yes i would definitely recommend professional training to anyone who wanted to join the entertainment industry, it's not essential, but I have found from my own experience that it gives you a very strong foundation to build your career on. Also, as the training is very tough, it makes you develop that thick skin that is imperative in this industry and through my training I was blessed to work with some fascinating and extremely talented people who have passed their knowledge down to me.

2) When did you realise you wanted to follow a career in the entertainment industry & can you remember your first performance?

Even though I have been performing since the age of three when I appeared in my first role as a ladybird in the ugly bug ball, with my first dance school 'stage struck' in Aldershot, (yes i still have the costume), I didn't realise I could perform as a career until I was twelve when I joined Stonelands, before then I wanted to be an archaeologist.

3) Are there any special/funny moments in your career that stand out more than others?

A particularly funny moment in my career was while I was doing 'FAME' with Bird College and had to wear a Margret Thatcher style wig, during a very serious scene the wig had slipped down my neck, unbeknown to me, leaving me with a very unfortunate mullet, after I got offstage and realised I found it very hard to compose myself for the rest of the show.

4) You are obviously a multi-talented person, but what which part of your repertoire do you enjoy performing the most – singing, dancing, or something else?

I enjoy all aspects of performing, but my favourite part is definitely the singing and acting side of performance, I think that songs and music have a way of transporting people to a certain time or place and a way of stirring up emotions that is very special.

5) What would you say are the good and bad sides of touring?

My favourite part of touring is getting to see the country and having the opportunity to see places that I've never been to before, I also love going to all the different theatres as every single one has its own stories to tell, (most of them ghost stories) another thing I love is meeting so many people after the show from so many places. My least favourite part of touring has to be that I miss my family and friends while we're away, but they are always supporting me.

6) What would a typical ‘day off’ entail for you?

A typical day off includes sleeping until at least lunch time and then sitting in a launderette with Richard Price-Hughes and some of the others doing washing and that's usually followed by a chinese or some kind of all you can eat buffet followed by a glass or two of wine.

7) Do you have any pastimes/hobbies other than song & dance?

Other things I enjoy.... I love to socialise so spending time with my friends is one of my main pastimes..... a few glasses of wine and a movie is usually on the agenda, I love going to the gym and yoga so I spend a lot of my down time at my gym. And one of my favourite things is going to the theatre and going to watch live music.

8) If you could change anything in the world, what would it be & why?

OK, it’s a really cheesy one, but if there was one thing I could change in the world it would be that everyone had the confidence, means and opportunity in their lives to follow their dreams.

9) How did you become involved with the Essence of Ireland?

I became part of the Essence family after I auditioned for the role of the principal vocalist back in January. One of my best friends told me about the audition and said it would be perfect for me as she knew that 'Westlife' are my guilty pleasure and that I already knew all the words to the audition song 'You Raise Me Up'. I was delighted when I got the call asking me to join the show, and I was even more delighted when I met everybody and knew what good craic we would have for the next three months.

10) Do you have any messages for your fans?

I would just like to say thank you to everyone who is a fan of the show and who comes along to support us, and please continue to do so, there's nothing better than hearing you sing along to Irelands call with us and then seeing familiar faces at the table after the show. And of course a massive thank you to the super fans Mum and Dad, they've seen the show seven times, and I’m sure will see many more.