My Left Foot 4

sending me a script and I read it. I didn’t think I’d be able
to do it because it clashed with 
Casualty 
(Brenda Fricker
was playing Megan in the TV series 
Casualty) 
but they
arranged very kindly that I could do both. 
fii
What particularly attracted you to this role?
B Well, all the obvious things: it’s a true story, the Christy
Brown story should be told. It was the first film for many
of us so it was exciting, in that sense. Noone was out to
make a great movie or to go to Hollywood. We were just
out to tell a good story and get a good group of people
together and do it. It was a lovely part. 
fii
We have read a lot about Daniel Day Lewis going into character
to prepare for his role. Did you do a lot of research for it?
B No I didn’t. My argument always is that if the part is
really well written, you don’t really need to do a lot of
research. After all I was playing an Irish mother, there
isn’t that much research for us to do, whereas Daniel’s
was much different. It had to come from a much deeper
place.
fii
What do you think of this film being prescribed for students of
the Leaving Cert?
B I was delighted to hear about it on several levels. I didn’t
realise the Christy Brown story would be put on the
curriculum for students. It was the beginning of the film
industry in Ireland again. When we were out in Ardmore,
there was nobody there and now there are several films
being made. It’s nice that that got it off the ground. It’s
nice for students to know that, a small little film started 
a good business in the country. 
fii
Students studying 
My Left Foot 
are asked to consider
representation of characters as heroes. Do you think Christy’s
mother would fall into that category?