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Newry Actor Leah O'Rourke's dance moves at local nightclubs over the years might yet be her secret ingredient to success in RTE's 'Dancing With The Stars'. Between the teen disco at The Exchange and nights out in The Relic, The Bank, NV and Laceys, opportunities to hone her dance skills were never far away, although with never making the Hilltown disco there might just be some moves as yet undiscovered!
This Sunday O'Rourke takes to the dance floor for the third time at the show, with dance partner John Nolan. She is enjoying the experience now but it was stressful to begin with, knowing she 'wasn't a dancer' and the thought of dancing on live television. "It was very, very stressful and my first two dress runs before the live went horrendously wrong and I thought I can't do it. I had a proper wobble but I got out there and got through it and since that I've relaxed and enjoyed it a lot more." she explains.
On Nolan, O'Rourke says "There's not enough good words in the dictionary about him, he's so lovely, even when I got some harsh comments last week, he was defending me to the judges. I couldn't ask for anything more in a pro partner."
Last Sunday's judges comments seemed a bit harsh for week 2 with Judge Brian Redmond saying 'it's not called stepping with the stars' but it didn't phase her " I was actually okay, I think people around me were more upset than I was because I went in knowing I'm not a dancer, so I respect them as the experts giving their opinion. It would be different if they were criticising a talent that I had, they're being honest. Sometimes they're doing it for your own good, giving you that kick you need to do better. I wasn't too upset. I can only hope for better comments this week, but at least now i've faced harsh comments and I'll have the strength to face it again."
O'Rourke is embracing the opportunity and just knows she will have fun this Sunday. "This week we have a really really fun song and a really fun dance. There's props, and hilarious costumes and you couldn't not have fun. I know that this experience won't last forever, I just have to embrace everything and enjoy every minute of it. I'm always laughing at myself in the rehearsal room. Yesterday I was on the floor crying, I was laughing that hard. It was sort of like a lift but I'm supposed to end up facing away from John and somehow I ended up directly facing him. He was busting out laughing and I was on the floor crying."
Early Years
Growing up in Newry O'Rourke went to St Peter's Primary School in Cloughreagh and then Our Lady's Grammar School. Being part of the Lynch family it was probably harder not to get involved in acting! Her aunt is Susan Lynch, uncle is John Lynch and another aunt Pauline Lynch is Head of Drama at St Paul's High School, and then of course there is cousin Gino of Taxi Jo fame.
Auntie Pauline suggested she joined Newpoint Players, where many accomplished actors treaded the boards, over the years. O'Rourke joined Newpoint and also represented Carrickcruppen in the Scor as well as St Peter's in the Newry Feis. When she was 16 her aunt Pauline featured in a film and they needed someone to play the younger version of her so O'Rourke took on the role, and thus started the love for film and the career path she wanted to pursue. She explains "When I was growing up I was quite shy but having a character to go on stage with gave you a sort of a shield and it brought me out of my shell. I love entertaining people, that's a big part of it for me."
O'Rourke loves her home town. "I love Newry. I know a lot of people slag it. It's only okay when us people from Newry do that, but I am actually proud to be from Newry." adding "There's great talent in Newry. There's so many successful actors that have come through Newpoint. You couldn't begin to name all of them, it's class that Newry has that".
On Derry Girls
The big time came along for O'Rourke with her role in the hit Channel 4 comedy series, Derry Girls as Prefect and wannabe teachers pet Jenny Joyce. She still pinches herself that she was actually involved in it. "Derry Girls was the most high profile acting job that I've ever done, it definitely was a game changer. I had done short films and commercials before that, but I've never had a prominent role in a television series before.It was an absolutely amazing opportunity and still when I think about it I still feel it's very much a pinch me moment.
"It hasn't fully sank in that I was in a Channel 4 Comedy. I grew up loving Father Ted and the same production company made Derry Girls. It was very, very surreal but absolutely amazing." she explains.
There's no escape from Derry Girls even on the other side of the world. "I visited my friends in Australia and people were stopping me because it's gone to Netflix worldwide. I get messages from people all over the world, a lot of Jenny quotes when they can be thrown in, which I love. I have worked as a classroom assistant. All the kids love the show too and they shout quotes down the corridors at me. It's all been really really nice, which is good because Jenny, she's not THE most likeable character, I was a bit worried at how she would go down, but luckily everybody seemed to have taken it all in good humour."
What's Next?
Her recent Newry appearance in Cousin Gino Lynch's series Taxi Jo, where she books a fare from St Mary Street in the city to the Airport brought her back to where it all began. Because she has to keep her diary closed for the duration of Dancing With the Stars O'Rourke doesn't know what's next, but if the opportunity arose she would love to do a serious drama, something like a murder mystery.
Watch out for her on Dancing With The Stars tomorrow night on RTE1 at 6.30pm and be sure to ring through a wee vote. Let the next chapter of this 'Newry Girl's' story begin!
