Irish actress Niamh Lynch is fairly new to the small screen, but she’s already making positive, and much talked about waves. She plays Karen in Hulu’s hit series Normal People, based on the novel of the same name by Sally Rooney. Since filming Normal People, Niamh has landed a role in Kenneth Branagh’s film Death on the Nile, a companion to Murder on the Orient Express (both based on books by Agatha Christie), set to come out later this year. She also has a role in the 2021 movie Cruella, directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya (2017)), starring Emma Stone. She also had a guest role in the Tom Hardy-produced television series, A Christmas Carol.
In our interview, Niamh talks about why she loves acting, how she got into the mindset of playing character Karen, and whether or not she sees a singing career in her future.
You’re an actress, most recently featured in Hulu’s Normal People. What does your familial background in acting look like? Did you grow up in it?
Niamh Lynch: Well, both my parents actually work for the NHS. My dad was a paramedic
and my mom is still a midwife in the hospital. My brother works as a recruitment consultant. My dad’s cousin is an actor. Apart from that in my family – especially my close family – no. All my cousins in Ireland are mainly nurses. I think I was one of the only grandchildren, really, to not be a nurse or otherwise in that field. I don’t know why or how I ended up not going down that route.
What are some of your earliest memories of acting that you recall? When did you know that you wanted to become an actress?
Niamh I think that I always knew that I wanted to do it. My parents were so supportive and open to whatever I wanted to do. I was always, on the weekends and the evenings, either doing dancing or singing or acting. As a child – I wouldn’t necessarily say I was very shy – but I used to think when I was on stage that I could be a different person, so I wouldn’t really worry about if I was being embarrassing or anything. The stage was such a safe place for me. I just loved feeling the audience and being able to just play. Especially when I graduated from drama school and it is now my job. I think it is that thing where if you do love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. A lot of my friends did it with me but then, obviously, they went on to different paths. My best friend became a lawyer, my other friend became an accountant. They branched off, but it was something that wasn’t just a hobby for me. It was something that I wanted to do with my life and really see through. I’ve just always, always, always wanted to do it.
Now, I’ll get into your character as Karen. I loved your character Karen on Normal People because she’s very sweet and kind and supportive. What was it like filming for you? What was the camaraderie of it like between you, the actors and the crew?
Niamh: I had the absolute time of my life. Normal People was actually my first professional television job. So I’d never been on a set before where I was working as an actor. I’d never been behind the camera professionally. It was all very new to me and I think I went in … obviously a little bit nervous, but I was excited. I didn’t know much about the crew, I didn’t know much about hair and makeup, what they did. I didn’t know a lot of things. I went in completely open minded and I wanted to experience it as much as I could to the fullest. I think the greatest thing about Normal People, especially in my kind of scenes and what I worked on, is everyone wasn’t too similar in age.
The first time we all met at the read-through, everyone was just so lovely and so chatty and so supportive of each other that the environment was just made instantly and you just felt at ease. And the crew were just the loveliest. I can’t even express how nice they were and how you just felt like you could be so comfortable and ask them anything. I think at the end it just felt like you were accepted into their little family. Especially the four girls; so myself, Daisy [Edgar Jones], who plays Marianne, Leah [McNamara]who plays Rachel, and Meadhbh [Maxwell] who plays Lisa. Us four, we kind of just clicked straight away, which was so nice. And I feel like I’ve known the girls for years; it’s madness. We still have a group chat and we’ve been chatting over lockdown, we talk a lot and we’ve just been updating each other. We had the time of our lives in the hotels and we watched Love Island together and just had the nicest time. Everyone was so lovely and it was just the job of a lifetime.
How has the response been for you since Normal People was critically well-received and has a massive fan base? And did you expect it to be so well-received?
Niamh: I’ve had such positive feedback – I don’t actually think I’ve heard or seen anything negative about any of the characters or the story really. The book was so popular and the fans of the book were so excited to see the series. I do think the series really served the book so well. This kind of reaction was so huge and I think all of us were so overjoyed to see that because all the hard work had paid off.
The story that was created was so beautiful and, as you say, so relatable for anybody. I think a lot of people can relate, whether they’re a teenager or an adult. The experience of love, the experience of heartbreak, the experience of friendship, loneliness, anxiety. There are so many themes in there and I think, whoever you are, you relate to at least one of them. That’s the great thing about a TV program or a book when you can find yourself in some part of that. I think that’s why people received it so well. A lot of people I’ve seen have watched it once, twice, three times and always find different things when they go back to watch it or things they’ve missed before. And I think it’s so lovely when you can do that. I’ve been so pleased with the response to it.
It’s amazing. Do you know if there’s going to be a sequel?
Niamh: I actually have no clue. I don’t know if there would be a sequel. We’ve not been told anything and I don’t know if the main characters or the producers know that. I honestly have no clue, I’m in the dark as much as you are about that.
Now, speaking of your character and acting itself, and specifically with Karen, were there any rituals that you had to get into character for acting? Such as studying other, similar characters? Or listening to a playlist? Since you were the only nice person, honestly, in the characters and you were dealing with all these other characters who were just mean spirited and had the popularity complex and things like that. So where did you have to go to, to get into that mentality of like, “Okay, I have to play a very nice person amongst these characters who are trying to bring down the main characters,” basically?
Niamh: At drama school, we learned a lot of things how to build our characters and make them three dimensional and give them that life, but even more so, in it and out of it. One thing I learned at drama school was to do a background, kind of portfolio, of your own character. So even it might not say in the book, “Oh, this person is this.” You kind of create it for yourself and it’s kind of a personal thing. So as Karen, I made her portfolio and I said, “Well, what’s her home life like? Has she got any siblings? What’s her part-time job? Has she got a boyfriend?” It was many questions like that.
I think when you know that person as a character, it’s almost like it’s a little secret for yourself. And when you can go on set, you can have all the answers in your mind that you’ve created about your character. So for me, I personally was like, “Oh, Karen’s had a really good upbringing. It was in her parents’ home. She’s even got siblings, an older brother.” I remember, so I had an older brother that was very protective. So I had that protective side. So I think when I created this world that she lived in and that she lived in outside of Normal People when I brought her into Normal People it made sense why Karen did those things, rather than what her friends were doing.
You also did A Christmas Carol, which was produced by Tom Hardy. I’m a huge fan of his – did you get to meet him?
Niamh: I didn’t meet him. So I just had a little role on that and worked for a couple of days on that fairly specific scene. That was another lovely, lovely job and that was literally in between filming Normal People so it was really nice. It was nice to finish the first bit of Normal People, then do that and then go back. Yeah, I just had a lovely year last year.
I want to touch on your singing. I love your voice, absolutely love your voice. It’s beautiful. What draws you to music specifically?
Niamh: I think I’ve always had music through anything. If I’m happy, it’s music. If I’m sad, it’s music. If I’m getting a train, getting a bus, music. I can’t go anywhere without my headphones. It’s such a comfort for me, I think it’s such a mood enhancer especially. And I think for me, music is like… you know when people say if they smell a certain smell, it brings them back to somewhere? For me, it’s like if I hear a song, or hear a band, or music it just throws me right back to a time in my life. And I just think that is so powerful, that something can do that.
What creative satisfaction do you get from singing along with acting?
Niamh: I think it’s my go-to thing if I’m bored, or wanting something new. It’s my thing that makes me happy. I know that it’s always something that I enjoy doing, it’s never a chore. It’s never like, “Oh, I’ve got to practice singing.” I just find myself doing it because it feels like a natural thing in my body, in my brain, to just do it. When I sing, it feels like I can feel it all over. And when I sing I can feel it in my body, it’s like it’s everywhere. I just love to sing.
Do you think you might release an EP of your music one day?
Niamh: I would absolutely love to. I think I definitely would. When I was younger, when I was in college I did music as a subject. And I did music mixing, so I had the technology side of it, and the production side of it, and the classical of it. So I ended up writing two of my own songs. I still have them and I work on them and make them better and stuff like that. I’d love to one day, hopefully, record them both and write more music. And I think, in such a time like this, when I’m at home and I’ve got free time, I think it’s been something that I have been thinking about as well, alongside my acting.
How have you also been keeping in high spirits? In addition to your music, with creativity, during quarantine?
Niamh: So, I actually live in London in a flat with my two best friends. But at the moment when we went into lockdown… just before, me and my two best friends decided to go back to our family homes.
I’m actually from the northwest of England. So I’m back at home, I’ve been here for three months. I packed a suitcase for a week and I’ve been here for three months. It’s been great because as much as it’s been a hold on everything like everything’s been paused, there’s been so many things. Now we have online and technology, that’s been great. I’ve been doing Instagram workouts with an amazing fitness blogger that I follow. I think it’s important to do that, just because when I feel like I’m being active, my mind is so much clearer and I can focus on my other creative art and things like that. And I also have a dog at home with my parents, so having a dog in lockdown is very entertaining. I’ve been doing self-tapes, I’ve been singing, I’ve been auditioning sometimes. So I’ve been keeping quite busy. I’ve also been writing a play with my two best friends. So I’ve been having a great time, really. I try to see the positive in having all this free time.
Do you recall the first film and/or television show you ever watched?
Niamh: I think one of my first that I can remember watching and just absolutely loving, was Matilda. Oh, I just absolutely love it. I still listen to the music in it now and when I’m not acting, I do after school nannying. I absolutely love it. I love working with kids. My little boy that I look after, I introduced him to Matilda and now he absolutely loves it.
Do you recall the first concert that you went to? And which one has been your favorite so far?
Niamh: So my first concert I went to was Kylie Minogue. I absolutely loved it. I was 10 when I went to my first concert. And my favorite concert I’ve been to, I’ve been to two in the last year because they’re both my favorite bands. Mumford & Sons and my other favorite band is called The 1975. And I watched them in February, just literally about three weeks before lockdown happened. So I was really lucky to see them. But I think that’s been my favorite concert ever, The 1975.
What was the first film that you recall purchasing on DVD?
Niamh: My first DVD purchase… and I remember getting money for my birthday and I saved up. And it was the film called The Bridge to Terabithia. I just absolutely…it broke my heart. That was my first ever DVD I bought by myself and I just got obsessed with it. I used to watch it on repeat, practically every day.
Do you recall what your first purchase of an album was?
Niamh: My first album was Family Portrait by P!nk.
Which five films and/or television shows would you not want to live without?
Niamh: Oh, I’ve got so many but if I have to pick. There’s a series in England that’s based…I think it’s in Nottingham in England, which is like the middle of England. And they have a film and a TV show called This Is England.
That’s my favorite series and film of all time. They started with a film and then from the film they made three seasons, like a series. That would definitely be at the top. I also absolutely love Desperate Housewives. I also love Pretty Woman, Fleabag, and Mrs. Doubtfire. I think one of the last films I watched before lockdown happened was Parasite. I just thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Which five albums or artists would you not want to live without?
Niamh: So obviously The 1975 and Mumford & Sons. Beyoncé, I love Beyoncé. I really, really love Adele. I love her and I’m waiting on her next album. I also do love ABBA, and I love Ed Sheeran. And then who else would I say? I really like Fleetwood Mac.
Going along with the musicians, which five actors or actresses have you drawn inspiration from the most?
Niamh: My favorite actress in the whole world is Julie Walters. My goal in my career is to work with her on something. I also love Emma Thompson. I love Meryl Streep, she’s a big one for me. Olivia Colman is absolutely wicked. Also Melissa McCarthy, I just think she is unbelievable. And there’s someone called Sheridan Smith that I love.
Do you have a guilty music and/or entertainment pleasure?
Niamh: I’d say my guilty music pleasure would be country music. Yeah, I just love country music because my dad is such a country fan. I grew up listening to country in the car and my favorite country singer is Garth Brooks. I’d say my guilty pleasure TV show – I have got a few, but this one in England…it’s called Gogglebox and it’s where people are watching TV and you’re watching them watch TV. I also really love Say Yes to the Dress.
