Actor Faye Shortt: ‘I’ll take the nepo baby comments any day if it means getting to work with my dad’

What's your earliest memory?

Watching Ireland AM one morning as a child. There had been a report on a road collision, and I remember dad turned around and said never get into a car with a young lad if he drives too fast. It stuck with me.

When and where were you happiest?

This is such a cliche actor response but, honestly, when I'm performing on stage and it's a good night, and the audience are brilliant and things just seem to be working out for me. The feeling is indescribable being live on stage.

What keeps you awake at night?

It's so morbid, but something bad happening to my parents. I think it stems from being the eldest child.

What's your least, and your most, attractive trait?

My least attractive trait is definitely my impatience. My most is that I think I do a good job at making people feel comfortable and heard.

What trait do you deplore most in others?

When people are rude. It costs you nothing to be kind.

What's the first thing you'd do if you were Taoiseach?

Make tampons and sanitary towels free.

What's your biggest insecurity?

That my personality is too much. When I was younger, I used to get stick about being too loud, and its stays in the back of my head sometimes.

Who would you most like to go for a pint with?

Reality TV star Gemma Collins.

Which fictional character do you most identify with?

Catherine Tate's character Lauren Cooper. She's iconic. She started my love for sketch comedy. I found her so relatable as a kid.

What is your most treasured possession?

My diaries. I love writing in my journal and documenting my life. I hope to keep them for when I'm older to read back on.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?

Love Island — love the drama!

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Don't mind what anyone else thinks about you — it's my dad's mantra. I always stayed away from comedy in drama college; I feared the comparison between dad and I. That advice helped me build a thick skin, which you need in the comedy industry.

When did you last cry?

This month, thinking about my friend Joe. On October 13, 2023, dad and I had our opening night of our live comedy show in Waterville. My gorgeous friend Joe sent me a text message saying "Best of luck super star" before the show. That night, while I was on stage, he was knocked down in a hit and run outside my house in Limerick. He never got to come see the show but I know he would have loved it. He was amazing.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Beanie Feldstein. She's so authentic and goofy in her characters. I love watching her and I see similarities in our facial expressions.

What is it like working with your dad?

Incredible. I've learnt so much from him, especially work ethic. I'm lucky to have a mentor who is so wildly experienced but also has my best intentions at heart. We also have such craic on the road together. I'll take the nepo baby comments any day if it means getting to work with him.

What's been your closest brush with the law?

I was stopped at a check point and I didn't have my tax disc on display, even though I had it at home. The guard gave me 10 days to display it to the local garda station. Obviously I left it to 11 days. I went to court but the judge let me off. A month later, I met the guard on the train home to Limerick. The first thing he said to me was, "You're finally off the road, I see," and we both laughed. I gave him tickets to our show then in Templemore.

What's your most embarrassing moment?

I have too many. When I was in a dance class in primary school and I peed myself, I told my dance teacher there was a leak in the ceiling and that she'd want to get it checked out.

What's the worst job you've ever done?

I worked in a hotel when I was 15 and spilt red wine over a woman at a wedding. The job wasn't bad — I was just awful at it.

Have you always wanted to work in the entertainment industry?

Since I was a kid, all I ever wanted to do was perform. I went to see Annie in a live production and I cried after it at the thought of all the fun I missed out on by not being involved. My mum has always encouraged me to do what I love. ​

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Flashdance... What a Feeling by Irene Cara.

Tell us a secret...

I've started working with Spin South West radio doing cover work. I hope to tour on the weekends with my live comedy show and weekdays be on the radio presenting.

What are you putting off doing right now?

Starting a podcast with dad. We have been talking about it for months but we need to just sit down and record an episode now. I don't know much other father and daughter duos. It's a niche, I suppose, so I think it would be great to get it out there.

​Faye Shortt will perform in 'Knuckle Down' with her father Pat on March 21 in the 3Olympia, Dublin