Liam Alex Heffron is an award-winning innovator, writer and actor. He plays Garda Sean Doran in Ireland’s most popular TV drama, Fair City and is also known for his roles in Hardy Bucks, Ros na Rún and contributions to current affairs programs including RTE’s, The Battle for Rural Ireland. He co-starred in the award-winning short film Top of the Rock, and the upcoming Breaking Hollywood of which he also co-wrote and directed. Breaking Hollywood Web-Series – a three part ’The Office’ style satire of the Shady Hollywood ’networking’ business preying on foreign wanna-be actors. He also wrote and directed the short film Ticket to Ride. As a presenter and historian, he has hosted a series of online Irish history documentaries for Timeteam Ireland. He is a Phd candidate in modern Irish history and his most recent book No Revolution – Igniting war in North Mayo, 1917-1923, was published in 2019.
Tell us how you became an actor?
My first memory of wanting to be an actor, growing up in the rural west of Ireland, was watching a stage musical at school and wishing I was part of it. But I listened to ‘grown-ups’ thinking I should focus on more ‘serious’ career stuff. Years later, when I was going through a personal crisis, with a relationship breakdown and facing business bankruptcy – it was acting that saved my life!
One misty night in Galway city, after a failed attempt to throw myself off a railway bridge and as I dragged myself back to my apartment, I realized I had no food (one doesn’t think of milk and sausages when contemplating oblivion). I bought some groceries in a small shop and noticed a poster on the door seeking actors for a stage version of ‘When Harry met Sally’ and I thought what have I to loose? I called their number and an enthusiastic American girl persuaded me to attend an audition that weekend – I did – and got the lead part of Harry. That set me on my journey with the Galway Theatre Company where I learned the craft of acting and direction. It hasn’t been easy but discovering my acting ‘tribe’ and getting paid for moving an audience through acting – which I love doing – has helped me discover happiness in life.
You are known for your role as Garda Sean Doran in Ireland’s most popular TV drama, Fair City. What is it about this role that intrigues you?
Playing policemen is really interesting, especially Garda Doran! (‘Garda’ is the Irish word for police). He is a sarcastic police officer who enjoys breaking the balls of those who break the law – even if only marginally! In such a popular soap as Fair City, it is a joy to work with talented actors in storylines that resonate with the public – aside from the banter I get about it when I’m out and about shopping!
What genres interest you? Do you have a favorite role?
I find playing complex roles very satisfying, where characters with murky pasts are placed in compromising situations. So I find Shakespeare in The Walking Dead, where – against a constant deadly threat – ordinary people are forced to make morally-compromised survival decisions. Just Shakespeare used more medieval threats as a backdrop to his plays, than the living dead eating people.
As a presenter and historian, you have hosted a series of online history documentaries. How can the small screen become the most practical method of teaching the lessons of history to future generations?
I believe that more than ever, we are relying on the screen to teach us lessons from our shared past. Thus, when everyone is open to fake news and biased history, filmmakers have a duty to keep to the truth of the past even if when making fiction. Also, the lure of creating documentaries with juicy storylines or creative editing needs to be kept in check by honest directors and that is a difficult task, with pressure on clicks and views. I am presently finishing my PhD in history at the National University of Ireland in Galway city, so am conscious of grounding my assumptions and ‘facts’ in reality. That said, there are some wonderful history channels online – many are simply labor-of-loves from ordinary but informed creators. AND! nothing should replace books, as their format allows for proper sourcing of facts and building of arguments. They should complement documentaries or historical fiction in films and TV series.
Tell us about the “Breaking Hollywood” TV Series.
Breaking Hollywood is a laugh-out-loud send-up of the seedier side of chasing the Hollywood dream, in the style of ‘The Office’. This three episode web-series follows the increasingly desperate attempts of a low-rent con-artist played by yours-truly, over the course of a single week, promising wide-eyed foreign actors their break in Hollywood. We are launching it in festivals shortly and then online.
What did you enjoy most about this TV Series?
I was very fortunate to have such talented actors and crew on this series that we filmed on location in Hollywood. With little to no budget we were pulling in favors and doing everything ‘guerrilla style’ which generates its own energy and teamwork! The superbly funny Andi Osho and I came up with the script from our own experience of coming to Hollywood from the UK and Ireland, and the chancers and snake-oil salesmen we met there! Plus it was a thrill to play such an inept yet likeable conman, who promises foreign actors he will introduce them to success in his Breaking Hollywood networking week.
Why will “Breaking Hollywood” resonate with the audience?
I hope it will!. You can never dictate to an audience what they should think or feel. We just wanted to create a story with sympathetic but desperate characters placed in an extraordinary situation of either massive success or total failure and hope some insights sneak in with the laughter.
What is next for you?
My wife and I are working to move to USA. I have been taking classes with the wonderful Anthony Robert Grasso in NYC over Zoom during lockdown and our visit to my friends in Hollywood is way overdue! Breaking Hollywood again!!!
Breaking Hollywood is due to be released online in early 2022, see the trailer at www.liamalex.com, and follow Liam on @liamalexheffron (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram)
www.liamalex.com, @liamalexheffron (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram)