My Career: Actor, writer and producer Claire Bermingham

Did you always want to be an actress?
Always, since I was a little girl. I remember looking at the old Hollywood movies on TV, with the starlets in pin curls and simply assuming I would be one of them when I grew up! That plus two Disney sing-along VHS tapes on constant repeat… my poor brother! But a writer and producer? That came later while pursuing my acting career in Los Angeles. Realising that I wouldn’t wait for someone to eventually throw me a bone, I decided to start creating my own opportunities and take control of my career in all ways possible.

In college, I studied… Drama & Theatre Studies at Trinity College, Dublin. I was fortunate to earn a scholarship in my third year to the University of California – my first venture to America – and get exposure to the entertainment industry there. The experience was life-changing and set in motion my pursuit of my US artist visa, green card and eventually dual citizenship.

My most formative work experience was… through stage school as a teen. I trained with Stuart and Ciara at Spotlight, and they exposed us to professional opportunities, performance venues and, of course, the importance of a good work ethic. I also trained with Twink at her school in Castleknock, who was so encouraging, generous and fun! I learned so much through the stage school years and it instilled in me the joy, confidence and strength so necessary for a career path of this choice.

My first real job was… performing as lead singer with Normandy Nights cabaret on board a cruise ship when I was 17. This opportunity was earned through Spotlight Productions. It was an incredible experience to host a two-hour show every night at that age whilst living on board a moving vessel with fellow cast, crew and audience members. The season taught me a multitude in terms of performance, professionalism and general life experience.

The most invaluable thing I learned early on in my career was… to believe in myself.

A common misconception about what I do is… that it’s not a “real” job. For some reason, the arts, at the height of success, is considered one of the most commendable callings, yet when starting out or simply succeeding through artistic endeavours, many feel the freedom to pass commentary on this path. Anything worthwhile is difficult to pursue and achieve. An artist’s life is sometimes even more so because, though the effort may be constant, there can be no rhyme or reason to reward.

My main responsibility in work is… to show up and motivate myself every day, jump wholeheartedly into all opportunities that present themselves and when it is “quiet”, take responsibility for creating new ones.

Do you have a career mentor or someone you look up to/seek advice from?
I am very fortunate that my talent agent, Claire Hughes at The Agency, is not only a champion and seeker of opportunities but also a dear friend since college. Having such a trusted confidante in my corner is such a blessing in an often challenging industry with many closed doors. Also, my amazing parents, who have been nothing but supportive from day one.

The biggest risk I have taken in my career so far is… moving to Los Angeles, solo, immediately after graduating from university. Even though I had my degree, I had no real clue about how things actually worked in Hollywood. I had my O1 visa and I was going to figure it out. Three years later, I earned my US permanent residency and was a member of SAG-AFTRA with multiple projects under my belt. Five years following, I became a dual Irish/US citizen. Many said it wouldn’t be possible. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. I have since set up a company called Access America where I help actors in Ireland and abroad get their papers to work in the US and follow their dreams too. Now, my biggest risks centre around my film and TV projects. I will stop at nothing to get my work made. It may not happen on my exact timeline or how I initially envisaged but whatever I set my mind to – in some shape or form – I always get it done.

I wake at… 8 or 9am, but on the weekend I’ll see you at noon!

The first thing I do every morning is… make my bed, clear my space and pray. I like to pray away my worries, offer up my gratitude and ask for help and guidance with my intentions for the day.

My morning routine is… important. Creating the right headspace in a world where so much is out of our control is crucial.

I can’t go to work without… fresh orange juice and coffee.

I travel to work by… it depends on the agenda! If I’m writing or coaching, to my laptop we go. If I’m hired on set, I’m hoping they send a nice driver and if we’re shooting one of my projects, most likely we’re headed to the airport as I like to keep it global!

On an average workday I… make sure to fit in a workout. In my opinion, this is part of the job description, not only for aesthetics but also peace of mind and clarity. Whatever happens after that depends on the day’s itinerary. Days on set are delightful and could be considered Christmas after countless auditions or endless writing sessions! It’s the time in-between that requires discipline and constant self-motivation. I make sure to dedicate allotted hours to each creative project; whether it be scriptwriting, pitches or industry meetings. I will also complete any castings assigned that day. On top of that, I am an acting coach and have various clients around the world whho I train daily in the dramatic arts and for industry showcase in Los Angeles.

I start my working day at… anywhere from 5am to 10am, agenda depending!

The first thing I do at work is… commit to being and giving the best of myself to whatever project and people I am working with that day.

I usually spend the first portion of the day… productively! If I can get outside for a run in the morning, even better.

I break for lunch at… hunger o’clock and usually have something high in protein to keep me energised.

The most useful business tool I use every day is… my laptop. I can do pretty much everything from there, apart from shoot days. Since achieving my US citizenship and the movement of most auditions, classes and meetings online, I am now in a position to situate myself remotely while taking care of business. For example, I spent most of last year living in Bali, building on-the-ground connections for my upcoming feature set on the island; New Moons. We start production on the LA segment of the movie next month.

I save time by… using Notes on my phone and voice recording any creative ideas that come to me on the go.

I rarely get through my working day without… a respite in nature.

The best part of my day is… that feeling of accomplishment when all has been tackled, if only, at least, for that moment.

The most challenging part of my day is… holding myself accountable for all aspects of my life and generating opportunities when nobody is calling.

I know it’s been a good day if… as my Dad used to say, “you can lay your head easy on your pillow every night.” He taught me to live with drive and integrity.

I usually end my day at… I will try to switch off from work around 10pm in the first half of the week and usually wind things down a bit earlier from Thursday.

I switch off from work by… watching a good movie, lighting nice candles or incense, listening to soulful music or an inspiring speaker, enjoying a nice glass of wine, pampering myself with a face mask, eating something delicious or calling a good friend – there’s nothing like a natter a with a trusted old pal and I value those sincere connections dearly.

Before I go to bed, I’ll… have a cup of tea and some sneaky chocolate.

I often prepare for tomorrow by… creating my to-do list for the next day.

After a long work week, I destress by… spending time with friends and family, especially in nature. I love being by the ocean, I believe that is where my heart is at its happiest – even bettere if there’s a sunset involved.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is… creating my own work in an industry that can be cut-throat. Red Lake, the latest short film and proof of concept which I co-wrote, produced and starred in, is screening next month at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles as part of the Beverly Hills Film Festival. The piece is directed by the very talented Shaun Dunne and co-stars Hazel Doupe. It recently screened in LA on St Patrick’s Day as part of CIACLA’s Irish Film Festival to audiences including Mickey Rourke and John C. Reilly. We wish to develop Red Lake into a returnable series and are excited about the conversations these official selections are presenting.

If you want to get into my line of work, my advice is to… never give up. Create your own material. Believe in yourself.

I’ve just finished working on… a beautiful Irish language animated series for Paper Owl Films, an impressive company with previous projects airing on Netflix and nominated for BAFTAs. At the moment, I’m gearing up to shoot my feature film, New Moons, in LA next month, which I wrote, produced and star in.

Imagery courtesy of Claire Bermingham