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Carndonagh actor's Raw talent
14.01.10
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
INISHOWEN actor Keith McErlean is back on our
screens in the new series of the critically
acclaimed RTE kitchen drama, Raw.
Raw, expertly shot in high definition, has been
moved to RTE1 this year following the success of the
last series in 2008.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent this week,
Keith said he was excited about the new episodes.
“It’s a definite boost for the show, going to RTE1.
I think the second series is more dramatic than the
first. Everyone has grown up a bit and the programme
has moved on,” he said.
McErlean, best known for his portrayal of Barry in
Bachelor’s Walk, plays hot-headed chef, Shane, in
Dublin drama, Raw. The Carn man even had to learn
some skills in the kitchen for his new role. |
“I can cook a little
bit anyway but we were trained by an authentic chef
prior to filming,” he said.
“We completed a series of boot-camp sessions in
cooking. The important thing was to make it look
real during the scenes.”
Keith, who has lived in London for the past two
years, says that he got into acting by accident
after completing a business and finance course in
the Derry Tech in the 1990s.
“I hated the business course so I decided to try
something completely different. I signed up for a
six-month performance course in the Foyle Arts
Centre in Derry,” he said.
“I was the singer in local band, Dreaming in Red, at
the time and I had intended to join the course as a
guitarist and vocalist. |
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Because they already
had five guitarists who were much better than me I
decided to try my hand at acting.”
Keith graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in
June 1998 and hasn’t looked back since; becoming one
of RTE’s most high-profile actors following stints
in Bachelor’s Walk, The Clinic and Raw.
“You actually get more exposure doing television
work than film because you are regularly in
someone’s living room for a period of weeks or
months,” he said.
Carn remains home for Keith, who hails from the
Carrowreagh Road area of the town.
“I spent the last three weeks up home and I love to
get back to see my family and friends. It will
always be home to me,” he said.
A fan of guitar-based music, Keith grew up listening
to Pearl Jam and currently admires Brighton outfit,
The Maccabees. On the big screen he is a fan of
quirky US actors, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro.
Keith is currently working on a project called
Butchers as part of RTE.ie ‘s Storyland series.
Raw, which continues on RTE1 next Sunday night, is
written by emerging Derry writer Lisa McGee and
produced by Ecosse Films and Octagon Films. |
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