My Left Foot 4

didn’t know who Christy Brown was. People I’d known
in business and RTÉ put up some money. Then Granada
put up a lot of the money. 50% of the money came from
here.
fii
In terms of actually making the film, other cast members have
spoken of their excitement. What do you recall?
N
Sure noone knew anything about making films. I’d never
produced, Jim Sheridan had never directed a film, Frank
Conway had never lit a film on his own. Joan Bergin
had never designed costumes for a film. But that’s what
made it exciting, we were whistling in the dark. It was
the energy and optimism that got everybody through.
fii
What was it like working with people like Daniel Day Lewis,
Ray McAnally and Brenda Fricker?
N Well I never knew Daniel Day Lewis before the
film but I knew Ray McAnally and Brenda Fricker. 
We shot that film in 6 weeks and there wasn’t 
a moment’s hiccup. Strangely enough it only cost 
a million and a half and we came in a hundred grand
under budget. Extraordinary, because we were
innocent. There were no cars, trailers. Everybody shared
a trailer. That art gallery scene, that was in my house,
there were the cottages in Bray, a lot was shot in
Ardmore studios….
fii
The film was obviously hugely successful for both you and Jim
Sheridan (director). Did it have much influence on the projects
you worked on subsequently.
N
Not really, it was ten years ago now. I did 
The Field
after that. I’m doing a film on a fictional pope who
wants Johann Sebastian Bach canonised. I’m doing a
film about Phil Lynnot and his mother – as much about
his mother as him, The film business is very much from