Hollywood star Colm Meaney has revealed how his latest acting job means trips to Dublin (and England) are not without their perils ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Golden Globe nominated star, famed for his role in the Snapper, revealed that his part in Paddy Power’s TV ad, stoking the friendly sporting rivalry between Irish and British trainers during the four-day horse racing meeting, has caused quite the stir.
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He said: “I was in (Dublin) town this afternoon and I got stopped by a lot of people. You try and keep your head down and just move fast.
“But people are seeing it and mentioning it. The response to the ad is great. People think it’s really funny and really enjoy it. Not many ads get that type of response.
“People get it. It’s great. The tone is really right. It’s not aggressive. It’s done in jest and that’s how people take it. But yeah, quite a few people mention it.”
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The ad, which is currently airing across Irish and UK television, sees Meaney calling out the English for mocking the way his compatriots say “thirty-three”, and for ruining words such as “banter”.
The Star Trek legend pleads with viewers to stop claiming the likes of Irish singer Niall Horan as their own, and to do a better job at pouring a decent pint.
HIS THOUGHTS ON TURNING 70 NEXT YEAR?
“I don’t really care. I haven’t really thought about. Fifty and sixty didn’t really hit me. Maybe turning 70 will, like a tonne of bricks, I don’t know. But so far so good!”
IS HE CONSIDERING RETIREMENT?
“Not at all, I’ve far too many things going on. My older daughter is getting married in the summer. She lives in New York and her boyfriend is an American actor. But they’re doing the wedding here in Ireland as well. It’s a busy, busy year ahead of me.”
WILL HE FIND IT DAUNTING TO GIVE HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER AWAY?
“I’ve never done it before. We didn’t do those kind of weddings. I was married twice, (to his first wife Bairbre Dowling and later to Ines Glorian) and they were both relatively small affairs.
“There was no walking down the aisle or anything like that. It was a Beverly Hills registry office at the Beverly hills courthouse. There will be no aisle this time either (for daughter, Brenda).
“There’s none of that. They’ve been living together for many years.
“I’m surprised she’s gone this route of wanting a sort of a big wedding, but whatever makes her happy!
“I’m just looking forward to it. It’s a three-day event. I’m so looking forward to a really good party and I know she is too.”
Cheltenham Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Day 1 Cheltenham tips
- Gina Bryce’s Cheltenham tips for Tuesday
- Mick Fitzgerald’s horse racing tips for Cheltenham’s opening day
- Paul Jacobs’ each-way Lucky 15 for the whole festival