In this year’s premiere of Channel 4 historical drama series A Woman of Substance, Niall Wright plays regular character Mac O’Neill, a role played on screen previously by Liam Neeson (then called Blackie) in the 1985 series. For the adaptation of the 1979 Barbara Taylor Bradford’s novel, Niall is in the cast with Jessica Reynolds, who plays Emma Harte, and it has been announced that A Woman of Substance has been renewed for Series 2. Across the first four series of Hope Street, Niall plays PC Callum McCarthy, and a feature-length 90-minute film has been co-commissioned for a future release. Niall will appear in the upcoming series of Slow Horses on Apple TV, releasing this month, and previous screen work for Niall include playing Gabe in all three series of CBBC’s Dani’s Castle, Danny Burns in 6Degrees, and early in his career, he worked with Ciarán Hinds, Julie Walters and Gina McKee in the 2004 film Mickeybo and Me, playing Jonjo. As a stage actor, Niall most recently played Diarmiud in Grania at Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and he originated the role of JJ Carney in the world premiere of Jez Butterworth’s play The Ferryman at Royal Court Theatre in 2017, and transferred with the show to Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End and Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway, and he was directed by Sam Mendes and booked the role whilst training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Answering our questions, we found out from Niall about his regular role of Mac O’Neill in A Woman of Substance, playing PC Callum McCarthy in Hope Street, his time as Gabe in CBBC’s Dani’s Castle and originating JJ Carney in The Ferryman.
With the new Channel 4 historical drama series A Woman of Substance having premiered in March, you can be seen as regular character Mac O’Neill; how much did you know about Barbara Taylor Bradford’s 1979 novel before booking the role and how was it being part of bringing the story to the screen?
I knew of Barbara Taylor Bradford, but I have to admit I hadn’t read the novel before getting the role. Once I got involved, I really enjoyed discovering the world of the story and seeing how they were adapting it for a modern audience. It’s a huge, sweeping story with some brilliant characters, so it was exciting to be part of bringing that to life.
Can you tell us about A Woman of Substance and your character Mac, and who do you think the series will appeal to?
It’s a family saga, with ambition, love, betrayal and revenge running through it. Set in the early 1900s in Yorkshire, it follows the story of Emma Harte as she becomes the richest businesswoman in the world!
Mac is a young Irish labourer who we meet when he arrives at Fairley Hall to help repair their chimneys.
He bumps into Emma on the way there, and it’s the beginning of their sort of lifelong, powerful, but at times quite complicated relationship. I think it will appeal to people who love a good character-driven period drama, but also anyone who enjoys the bigger, epic emotional story to get stuck into.
How was it taking on the role played by Liam Neeson (then called Blackie) in the 1985 series, and did you have any favourite scenes to film?
It’s obviously a bit mad when you realise you’re playing a character that Liam Neeson played in the original! But I tried not to think about that too much. You have to make the character your own and find your own way into him.
Emma and Mac have some lovely scenes that were really enjoyable to discover with Jess (Reynolds), who plays Emma.
I enjoyed the horse-riding stuff over the moors… that was pretty cool!
What was it like working with the rest of the cast, which includes Jessica Reynolds and Brenda Blethyn as Emma Harte, and what did you enjoy most about your time on set?
It was brilliant. There was such a lovely group of people on the job, cast and crew! Jess was phenomenal as Emma. I think she really set the tone and, because there are so many relationships at the heart of the story, it was important that we all felt comfortable with each other. I think that atmosphere really helped the work.
I enjoyed seeing the beautiful Yorkshire moors, and we shot it across the summer, so we got some stunning days!
How would you describe PC Callum McCarthy in the Northern Irish crime drama Hope Street, and how was it developing the character throughout the first four series?
Callum is the loveable but gullible one who always wants to see the best in people and loves being a police officer! Having four series to develop him was amazing, and I was very lucky to have that opportunity. He had a lot of learning to do and lots of different relationships to explore, so I’m sure the writers enjoyed creating those stories, and then I had the privilege of giving it a go on set.
Was there anything that drew you to Hope Street, and what was it like filming as a regular character in a crime drama?
Well, it was obviously a project that resonated with me, being from there and getting a chance to go home and work! It shows off our amazing landscapes and all the talent we have behind and in front of the camera. Being part of a returning drama set in the north of Ireland was amazing and a real honour. And I was incredibly lucky to just have a job post-COVID and to get back working.
You filmed for the 2024 feature film Magpie, which starred Daisy Ridley, can you tell us about filming this project?
Yes, a very fleeting moment, but an experience I really enjoyed. Sam Yates was directing, who I had worked with before, so it was cool to get to see him again.
I spent more time in the chair getting a hairpiece put on for the role than I did on set, but it looked great!
What was Gabe like to play across all three series of Dani’s Castle, and how was it getting into costume?
Gabe The Babe? Blast from the past. Some of the most informative years of my career. I was at university and filming this during the summers, all before I went to drama school. It was the best training for screen, working with three cameras and shooting over 10 pages a day. I had the best time, met some amazing people and it really gave me the bug for acting and this industry.
What was it like being in the cast of a popular CBBC show, and how different did you find Gabe to your other roles?
Yeah, it was amazing. I am very grateful for all it taught me and how it developed me.
Well, I’ve never played an 18th-century ghost since, so he has been a one-off to date! Certainly not one I’ll forget!
Do you have any favourite memories that you can share from starring as co-lead character Danny Burns in 6Degrees?
Sharing a flat with Ryan McParland and Cillian O’Sullivan while filming was certainly challenging, but a massive highlight. We all had a great time on that show! I miss those lads!
What do you remember most from your early film role in Mickybo and Me as Jonjo in 2004?
Not having to go to school for three months!!
And running around Belfast in a pair of short shorts in winter, freezing my ***** off!
I also remember working with Ciarán Hinds, Julie Walters and Gina McKee. Being so young and naive, I didn’t quite grasp the gravity of it all, but looking back, I realise just how lucky I was, and it’s definitely the moment that kickstarted all this.
Most recently on stage, you have played Diarmiud in Grania at Abbey Theatre in Dublin, what was the production like to perform in?
It’s always such an honour to stand on your national stage, so I was incredibly nervous but very excited. Working with CaitrĂona McLaughlin was an experience I’ll never forget. She taught me a lot.
It was a small cast, and the play itself was quite intense, so it was a challenge every night, but one I really enjoyed!
How was it originating the role of JJ Carney in the world premiere of Jez Butterworth’s play The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre in 2017, and how did you find the experience transferring with the show to the Gielgud Theatre in the West End and the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway?
It was pretty surreal, to be honest. To originate a role in a new Jez Butterworth play and then have it go from the Royal Court to the West End and eventually Broadway was an incredible journey, and something creatively I may never have the opportunity to do again.
And I had never been to NYC, so to go over there and work on Broadway was just a dream!
What are some of your stand-out highlights from performing in The Ferryman (which was directed by Sam Mendes), and do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role whilst training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School?
I was in drama school on the Friday and then in a room with Sam Mendes, Jez Butterworth and all these incredible actors on the Monday! Definitely a pinch-me moment.
So many stand-out moments… I don’t get starstruck too easily, but having Alex Ferguson in the audience while I was on stage wearing a Man Utd top… Jez purposely didn’t tell me until after. I think I would have fainted!
How did you get into acting, and what do you enjoy about working on both stage and screen?
Gwyneth Murdock is to blame and thank! She was my speech and drama teacher from the age of four, and my mum sent all of her children to her. We have such fond memories of performing at drama festivals and Gwyneth introducing us to poems and plays.
I think getting the opportunity to do stage and screen is key for any actor’s development. Both come with certain challenges, and I enjoy having to navigate different things in both mediums to find the same outcome!
Have you been given any advice over your career so far that has stuck with you?
Instinct over intellect. Just because you can rationalise it doesn’t mean it’s right. If you feel it, then it’s right.
What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?
Favourite TV show: a German show called Dark. You won’t regret it!
A piece of theatre that stayed with me was David Ireland’s The Fifth Step.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m a new daddy, so that’s taking up most of my time! And it’s the best thing in the world!
I also like running, playing/watching football, and the odd round of golf!
Do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about, and what are you hoping this year brings you?
I’m in the next series of Slow Horses, which is a show on Apple TV, and it’s due out on 16th September. And I’m about to start filming Season 2 of A Woman of Substance.
A happy and healthy family would be plenty!
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