Young Irish actor Peter Coonan’s been a busy man these days. Currently preparing himself for a flying visit to New York, where he’ll join the festivities for this year’s CraicFest, Pete will be among the cast and crew showcasing hot new Irish movie, ‘Between the Canals’.
Having made his debut back in 2000, in the highly-acclaimed Brendan Gleeson/Brian Cox vehicle, ‘Saltwater’, Pete’s since gone on to earn great reviews for his role in the Nick Kelly-directed ‘Shoe’, which was one of the ten films initially shortlisted for Oscar contention in the ‘Short Film (Live Action)’ category this year.
In ‘Between the Canals’, an Irish crime drama written and directed by Mark O’Connor, Pete plays Dublin tough guy Dots Fennell, a young gangster eager to enhance his reputation as an up-and-coming gangster. Also starring Dan Hyland, Stephen Jones and singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey in his first acting role, ‘Between the Canals’ is featured as part of this year’s Craicfest, in lower Manhattan, and will be screened at The Tribeca Cinema (54 Varick Street), on Friday, March 11th, at 7pm. For more details, check out thecraicfest.com.
Pete, welcome to ‘At The Mike Stand’.
When’s the last time you laughed out loud?
Just Saturday gone, when they were counting votes (in the Irish general election) and I saw so many politicians fall on their arses!
What act would you like to have seen perform live?
I’d probably say, The Stones in the early ’70s.
What team(s) do you support?
I support Liverpool, Dublin and Ireland. My brother and I got into it way back when we were kids, and sure, you have to stick with your team!
What period in history would you most like to have visited?
Probably the 1920s, in New York, when the place was flooded with Irish.
What song would you most like to have written?
‘A Day In The Life’.
Who or what, would make you leave a room?
Manchester United scoring against Liverpool!
What decade rules (and why)?
I’d like to visit the 1950s, to have seen what it was like when my dad was young.
What movie role would you like to have played?
Marlon Brando’s part in ‘On The Waterfront’.
Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
Yeah, yer man Sean Astin, from ‘Lord of the Rings’!
What’s the first album you remember buying?
Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’, the tape of the album!
Who’s your favorite Beatle?
George.
What’s your favorite Christmas song?
‘Fairytale of New York’.
Who’s the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Oliver Reed or Richard Harris.
What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
Probably a band called The High Kings, it’s Finbar Furey’s son’s group. They sing a few songs, they’re pretty dodgy on one or two, but they’re good on a few others!
Who would you most like to meet/have met?
The guy who played Fredo in ‘The Godfather’, John Cazale.
What book can you read again and again?
Probably ‘Waiting for Godot’, I know it’s not really a book, is that a cop-out?!
What’s the greatest album ever recorded?
Probably ‘Revolver’. One of my favorite Beatles albums. Always go back to it when I don’t know what to listen to.
What artists would be in your supergroup?
Let’s see, I’d have either John Bonham, Keith Moon or Ginger Baker on drums, hmm, probably have to go with Bonham, then Rory Gallagher on lead guitar and Paul McCartney on bass.
What sitcom character can you most identify with?
I was going to say Smithy from ‘Gavin & Stacey’, but is that on over there?
What movie can you watch over and over again?
‘The Big Liebowski’.
Who’s your favorite cartoon character?
Daffy, no, Donald Duck!
What’s the greatest place you’ve visited?
Vietnam.
What’s mankind’s most wonderful invention?
The teabag.
What’s mankind’s most irritating invention?
The iPhone.
Who’s the funniest person who ever lived?
John Belushi.
Who’s your favorite namesake?
Peter the Great! No, make that Peter O’Toole.
Who’s your favorite character from literature?
Probably Leopold Bloom.