Cormac McDonagh

Cormac is from Rush, Co. Dublin and it is there at the Millbank Theatre where he began acting on stage from early childhood. He graduated from the National Film School at IADT where he wrote and directed short drama 'It Has To Be Done' and produced award-winning Sci-fi short 'Area 51' as well as working as 1st AD on numerous other short films. Cormac was successful in his very first professional audition when he featured in an insurance commercial, directed by future Acadamy Award-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson (Room). Even more impressive was his professional stage debut in 2007, when he led a cast of over 30 in the title role of Riddley Walker, a stage adaptation of the cult sci-fi novel by Russell Hoban. It is a part so demanding and a production so vast it has only ever been produced a handful of times worldwide since the 1980s. But Cormac assured his status as a leading man, dazzling audiences in the Red Kettle production under a Big Top in Co. Waterford. Onlookers included John Hurt, whose son Sasha was among the supporting cast. Another audience member was legendary Irish puppeteer Eugene Lambert. Impressed by Cormac's versatility in performing the finale involving a one-man Punch & Judy show, Cormac was offered a role as a puppeteer in his Lambert Puppet Theatre where he honed his puppetry skills for over four years, performing to children every weekend. In 2012 Cormac also wrote and produced the Lambert Theatre's Christmas pantomime 'Sinbad'. Cormac received critical acclaim for his stage role in Brendan Behan's 'The Quare Fellow' in 2010. The Evening Herald review described him as "captivating" and "an actor with terrific talent". In 2013 Cormac re-united with 'Area 51' director Carl Collins and wrote, produced and starred in short film "Spot". Shot in Rush on a shoestring with a crew of three, it won Best Comedy at its premiere at the 2013 Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival and the Audience Award at the 2013 Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival. It was also praised by Hollywood screenwriters Pat Proft (The Naked Gun) and Paul Guay (Liar Liar) and was screened at the Chicago Irish Film Festival and the Capitol Irish Film Festival in Washington DC. In 2014 Cormac won Best Monologue Performance at the Ireland Actor's Guide Performance Showcase when he performed a piece from Michael Mann's 'Thief' onstage at the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College. The judging panel included top Irish casting directors Maureen Hughes (Love/Hate) and Emmy-nominated Louise Kiely (Normal People). Before making his Abbey Theatre debut in 'Othello' in 2016, he returned to his beloved Millbank Theatre in Rush to perform the title role in Ronan Noone's 'Brendan'. It was the first ever production of any of the Irish playwright's work in Ireland. Cormac has always been keen to express his passion for writing, producing and of course acting for both film and theatre in equal measure. He is a keen sports fan and loves playing golf and GAA football for his local club St. Maurs. He also produces podcasts and has done promotional work for Irish rock band LIERS which features his wife Liz as lead singer.