Picture the scene: Late ’90s.
High school (where sex education videos feature nuns sitting between the couple).
The most welcoming backdrop for a coming out, coming-of-age story?
Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Of course, this plan encounters many a road bump along the way.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you guys first get involved with this project?
Did you guys have to do a chemistry read, even though your characters aren’t technically romantically involved?
Samuel Goldwyn Films
LOLA PETTICREW:Yeah, Fionn and I met during the chemistry.
O’SHEA:I knew Lola was going to get it.
PETTICREW:That’s really when our friendship started.
Samuel Goldwyn Films
We knew then that even if we didn’t get the role that we’d be friends.
O’SHEA:The moment that I read it, I just saw so many similarities between myself and Eddie.
I just really felt like I understood him and that’s a testament to Dave’s writing.
He’s an incredible writer.
I just felt like I intrinsically understood Eddie and I knew who he was.
Then on set, we got the chance to improvise quite a lot and try lots of different things.
PETTICREW:I just hadn’t come across anything quite like this script in general.
Amber’s a trip.
She’s feisty and headstrong.
She’s also vulnerable and you see at the end that she’s incredibly selfless.
PETTICREW: I honestly swell with pride every time I think about it.
I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.
Did it help with getting into character at all?
PETTICREW: It really was super fun.
We had the most amazing hair and makeup designers and we had an incredible set and costume designers.
We had so much fun going in and trying on things.
I love the characters of Tracy and Janet and their crimped hair and colored eye shadow.
O’SHEA:A lot of the nineties fashion has come back in.
It’s vintage clothes now.
This movie walks a fine line between drama and comedy.
Did either of you find one or the other easier to play?
A lot of comedians say that comedy’s a serious business and I would agree.
During some of those funnier scenes at school or the sex wall, was it hard not to break?
Some of the obscene gestures the boys at school are constantly making were cracking me up.
Dave was the worst for that above anyone else.
O’SHEA:Those kind of words really do go in and out of fashion.
Like, “Will you meet my friend?”
It’s a little bit misleading.
But “shift” is the one that’s stood the test of time.
It seems like Irish film and TV making is having a great moment right now.
Will you continue to seek out productions made in Ireland by Irish filmmakers going forward?
PETTICREW:It’s something that I’m definitely really, really proud of.
Dating Amberis available to stream now.
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