My Weekend: ‘I like my work so I’ve no problem doing weekends’

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

I was brought up on a farm in Whitechurch, Cork. My Dad Joe is a horse trainer – there is never a dull moment. My mother Nora was a mighty fashionable force, but she ed away a few years ago. Auntie Fionnuala next door was another force and died too young.

I’ve four sisters – Sinead, Blathnaid, Paula, Jan-Marie - all five of us very different, we tear strips off each other, but somehow still get on great. I divorced last year from Scott, all amicable, thank God. And the three daughters are flying – Isabelle 17, Jessica 17 and Jodi 14.

My education – Whitechurch NS, St Angela’s, UCD Commerce, RADA London acting, SCFE Yoga. A shout- out to the late Eileen Nolan (Monforts) who got me hooked on acting. And Mairin Prendergast (Cork School of Music) who fuelled the fire to get me to RADA. I’m a stage and screen actor, comedian, voiceover artist, podcaster, writer, mother, producer, I’ll basically chance anything to pay my bills in South County Dublin.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Entertaining on a stage, and making people laugh, please God.

Lie-ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

I don’t do larks, I’ve worn ear plugs since the ’90s. I’ve three teenagers, so my alarm time is based on their sport and school, or on my filming or sleep-ins.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

When you are your own company, you work every day. A bit like a farmer, they’ve no clocking off. I like my work so I’ve no problem doing weekends.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I’d bring some fine man who doesn’t speak any English, and I don’t speak his language, so there’d be no need for chit-chat. I’d go somewhere warm where you wouldn’t need an electric blanket.

Closer to home, is there a place you like to go to recharge the batteries?

Spas frustrate me, I’d prefer a good deep tissue seeing to. I love my own bed, so I always drive home after gigs even if they’re three or four hours away. To recharge, I just go to Whitechurch and stay with Joe, my dad. He just lets you do your own thing, pours you a whiskey, and there’s always a slab of meat to slice into. Then maybe a night cap in the one pub in the village, Buckley’s.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Erra, I’m not normal, my rest day could be a quiet Tuesday, and then I rope in whoever will put up with me for a jog, walk, cuppa, whiskey, swim, yoga, vent...

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I watch a rake of kids’ sports. Isabelle, Jessica and Jodi play school hockey for Rathdown Glenageary. Their coach Sarah Scott is great with them all. Then Jodi does GAA with Cuala Dalkey, and with the Dubs, so lots of games to watch there too. Other than that I’m more of a participator than a spectator. Love swimming, running, yoga. I dedicate so much time to eating chocolate that I could nearly call it a hobby now. I think Heroes and Celebrations should be banned.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter, do you have a signature dish?

I don’t cook, but I still prefer to entertain. I just lay out some booze and nibbles. People are happy with a bag of corn chips and Maltesers I find. When I go to someone’s house and the host is stressed, I’m allergic. ‘Twud nearly give you indigestion just looking at her arguing with her fella, and watching her blow-dry going frizzy by the cooker.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/lunch/special meal?

In Cork, I suppose Buckley’s Whitechurch, Ballymaloe House, Garryvoe Hotel, the Arches in Mallow, The Barn in Glanmire, and Man Friday in Kinsale. In Dublin - Happy Out in Dun Laoghaire, Fitzpatricks Killiney Castle, 64wine and Riggers in Glasthule, Dunne & Crescenzi, Camille.

Sunday night comes around too fast, how do you normally spend it?

Same as every other night. Sure, I don’t know what day of the week it is most times.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

Whatever time I set it for usually.

Anything else you are up to right now?

“NOT THE NORM YOGA” - I teach free yoga a few times a week on Zoom and at my house. I might shift to doing it LIVE on Instagram @normasheahanactor, if I could find out how to work the technology. I’m slightly “dys-tech-sic”. I’m filming bits and pieces. Proud lately to have little parts in Kneecap, The Dry, Four Letters of Love, etc… I’m loving my stand-up nationwide tour of It’s Wine O’Clock. It’s selling fast because people want to laugh. I’m 48 and looking forward to turning 50. It’ll be some party.

It’s Wine O’Clock with Norma Sheahan comes to Cork Opera House on Sunday, February 23.
See www.corkoperahouse.ie