In this year’s release of the Hallmark film Royal-ish, Francesca Europa plays Princess Catriona Rose Sabine, with William Moseley as her on-screen father Henry Frederick Augustus Sabine and Nichole Sakura as Lacey Pope. Royal-ish is based on a book by Teri Wilson, and Francesca shot part of the film in Emerald Theme Park in Ireland, and it is currently streaming in the UK on NOW. Another Hallmark project for Francesca saw her previously play Mia in the 2023 film My Norwegian Holiday, and she has been part of two short films – Florence, playing Angel, and A Bedouin Dream, playing Laoise – which were both released last year. For Francesca’s first professional acting role, she was in the cast of the Channel 5 mini-series The House Across the Street, in which she played Imogen alongside Shirley Henderson as Claudia, and her upcoming screen work includes two films – The Note and Why Me, unannounced projects she will be working on in 2026, and she is about to start filming for the lead role of Clare in new film Holly which is set in the 1980s. Also having stage experience, from January to March 2025, Francesca played Honor Carney in the Irish premiere of The Ferryman in Gaiety Theatre. We chatted to Francesca about playing Princess Catriona Rose Sabine in the new Hallmark film Royal-ish, working on the Hallmark film My Norwegian Holiday, her time in the Channel 5 mini-series The House Across the Street and being in the cast of the Irish premiere of The Ferryman as Honor Carney.

Can you tell us about the Hallmark feature film Royal-ish, which was released earlier this year, and how would you describe your character Princess Catriona Rose Sabine?

Royal-ish is a fairytale movie based on a book by Teri Wilson. It’s about a theme park princess who meets a real princess, who I played, and basically we change each other’s lives. My character was a very sweet and considerate kid but was feeling a lot of pressure to become the perfect princess after having a bad fall off a horse. She’d lost her mother from an early age so has been through a lot.

What was it like meeting and filming with William Moseley (who played your on-screen father Henry Frederick Augustus Sabine), Nichole Sakura (who played Lacey Pope) and the rest of the cast?

William is the kindest, loveliest man and we bonded over our love of cats. He was really encouraging, gave me great advice and I loved every minute working with him. Nichole was cool and funny. Everyone was just so lovely to me. Stephen Mullan, who played Ian – my dad’s security guard, was so, so lovely too and Emily Swain, who played the Queen, was so great, she’s very regal in real life. The whole behind-the-scenes crew were just so cool and in between takes I had the best laugh with everyone, especially with Ciara, my costumer.

What was Princess Catriona Rose Sabine like to play and how did you prepare for filming?

Getting to play the role of Princess Rose was just a dream come true. I truly felt like a princess and was really treated like one, it was insane. They had a special ball gown designed and made especially for me and I got to wear the most beautiful princess clothes and a very sparkly tiara. I had to ride horses in the film so I prepared by having lessons at a stables and with my Auntie Jeniece, who’s a professional horse rider, so that was brilliant.

How was it watching the completed Royal-ish film for the first time, which is currently streaming in the UK on NOW?

It made me really proud and so happy that I got to be part of a literal fairytale. It’s great to see how everything comes together on screen.

Did you have any favourite scenes to film and what are some of your stand-out memories from your time on set of Royal-ish?

My favourite scene to film was definitely the parade scene, which was a very special scene for my character, I was so proud to do it. My favourite memories on set were chatting with the cast and crew and getting to meet all the horses. We also shot in Emerald Theme Park, which was closed for filming, so that was very cool to have it to ourselves.

Also for Hallmark, you played Mia in the 2023 film My Norwegian Holiday, what did you enjoy most about working on this film?

My favourite part of filming My Norwegian holiday was getting to work with the amazing cast, everyone was so good to me, and with David Mackay, the director. He told me wonderful stories about all the cool animals he had growing up.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role and how was it getting into character as Mia?

It was my first feature film and when I found out I actually screamed. I was on set shooting A Bedouin Dream and my agent Maureen was there and came to my room to tell me the news. I couldn’t believe it.

Mia was Norwegian, so to get into the role I learned how to do a Norwegian accent, which was so much fun to do.

Having been in the cast of the short films Florence as Angel and A Bedouin Dream as Laoise last year, can you tell us about both films and what were they like to be part of?

Florence and A Bedouin Dream couldn’t be any more different in terms of the roles I played. Florence was a very serious dark film. Angel was a child that was put into a situation that she should never have been in. She is not a happy character at all, whereas Laoise in A Bedouin Dream is a happy, curious, nature-loving kid, very much how I am in real life.

What was it like playing Imogen in the Channel 5 mini-series The House Across the Street for your first professional acting role?

Playing Imogen was great. I remember walking on to set for the first time and there were soooo many people and cameras and it was so busy. I wasn’t nervous at all, I don’t get nervous, I was just so excited. Meeting and getting to work with Shirley Henderson was just wow. I instantly recognised her from Harry Potter. She was so nice.

From January to March this year, you played Honor Carney in the Irish premiere of The Ferryman at the Gaiety Theatre, how did you find the experience performing in the show?

I had THE best time working on The Ferryman. Honor Carney was the best role ever to play, I was lucky enough to have some great lines, one of which included some swear words and always got a big reaction from the crowd, so that felt amazing to get that reaction. Getting to work with such prestigious Irish actors as well, I’m such a lucky girl.

Was there anything that drew you to The Ferryman and how different do you find performing on stage opposed to filming for screen?

I loved having to have a Northern Irish accent for The Ferryman and I’m a big fan of the 80s. I love everything about the 80s, especially the fashion, so I loved the clothes I got to wear for it as it was set in the 80s.

Performing on stage is so different to screen. On screen, you have to do many takes from different angles, there’s a lot of stopping and starting, but on stage, it’s in real time so it’s all go go go and you’re in front of a big audience that are reacting to everything in real time that you have to completely ignore. I love everything about doing both.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

My mam put me into Maureen Ward’s Talented Kids because I saw The Toy Show and wanted to be on it and I was always singing and dancing. I wasn’t with Maureen very long before I booked my first job and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Maureen is an amazing agent. I can’t remember ever not wanting to be an actress, it’s not what I do, it’s just who I am, and I’m grateful for every opportunity that comes my way.

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?

My favourite films at the moment are Can’t Buy Me Love, Crocodile Dundee and Back to the Future. TV shows, I love The Saddle Club and The Cosby Show. As far as theatre goes, I love Wicked and Starlight Express.

What do you enjoy doing away from acting?

I enjoy reading. I’m reading Moby Dick at the moment. I love art and I love horse riding, gymnastics, dancing, I’m learning piano, and I love watching films with my family.

Have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?

I’ve been given so much advice by so many amazing people. Too much to mention it all so I’ll just tell you the last piece of advice I was given. It was my by director, Viko (Nikci), of my upcoming film The Note, and he told me to always protect my spark and trust my instincts, he’s such a cool guy.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about, and what are you hoping 2026 brings?

I have two films yet to be released called The Note directed by Viko Nikci and Why Me directed by Tanya Doyle. I had a blast shooting them. In The Note, I play a character that’s a bit misguided and can be a bit of a meanie, and in Why Me, I got to sing with Linda Martin, so that was wonderful.

I’m about to shoot my next film, it’s called Holly and I’m delighted to have the lead playing a girl called Clare. It’s written by Margaret Kane-Rowe and set in the 80s, my favourite era, and it’s got some challenging scenes which will definitely bring a few tears to the audience and I’m so excited to get started.

I have some things already booked in for 2026 which I’m looking forward to and just some more acting opportunities I suppose.

I did my very own podcast for RTÉjr this Halloween called Chance of a Ghost: Dead Air and I’m hoping to complete another one next year. I loved it.

I’d do film after film after film, I don’t want to stop, it’s too much fun. I’d love to get another part working with horses and I’d love a part in a horror film. I absolutely love scary films.

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