Actor JD Kelleher who grew up on Minor Row is in the news for his character on the hit Irish language soap Ros na Rún. The long-running TG4 series ended the season on a disturbing note this week, as a little girl went missing just as radio station boss, Breandan Mac Gearailt (JD Kelleher), was exposed as a paedophile.
“It was a very challenging part and I welcomed that,” JD told the Herald. “He’s a very morally questionable character and that’s very interesting for an actor. “I never lost track of the fact that it’s drama so I wasn’t disturbed, I was just excited to play such a morally ambiguous character. I don’t know how viewers will react, it’s a very difficult subject.
“But I know that the producers are happy with the way the storyline is played out, and having spent a lot of time with the writers, I know they have done an awful lot of research and they were very much at pains to get it right.”
JD Kelleher made his debut as Ros na Rún’s sinister new baddie Breandán, on March 15.
He featured in ‘Batman Begins’ and a number of celebrated independent films including ‘In The Border County’. JD has also starred in a number of well known television series, including ‘Little Britain’, ‘Holby City’, ‘The Bill’ and ‘Ballykissangel’.
His guest role in Ros na Rún represented a particular challenge for JD, who admitted when he spoke to The Corkman: “I have honours Leaving Cert Irish but I’m by no means a natural Gaelgoir. I’ve a good understanding of written Irish but speaking it was a challenge.”
Now back in London having completed his recordings with the TG4 soap, JD admits that he is “as passionate today as I was in the beginning” about his chosen profession. Among his many other passions are horseriding, fishing, fitness and, interestingly, trapeze skills.
Ros na Rún episodes (video):
The dramatic season ending episodes will be available on the TG4 website for the next few weeks:
Ros na Rún – 26.05 (Part 2)
Ros na Rún – 26.05 (Part 1)
Ros na Rún – 24.05 (Part 2)
Ros na Rún – 24.05 (Part 1)
All available Ros na Rún Episodes (scroll down)
Links:
The Herald discuss the fears over his role
Corkman article (March 10 2011)
JD’s filmography
