Ep363 - Laura Donnelly: From Belfast to Broadway's Emotional Core

Laura Donnelly shares her powerful journey from her Belfast upbringing to becoming an acclaimed stage actress. In this episode, she delves into how Irish ballet first ignited her love for storytelling and how that passion evolved through drama school and a career full of emotionally rich roles. Laura reveals the deeply personal inspiration behind her performance in The Ferryman, sharing stories of family secrets and how her uncle’s tragic disappearance during the Troubles in Northern Ireland influenced the creation of the play. Laura also discusses her current role in The Hills of California, offering insights into portraying two distinct characters—mother and daughter—and the emotional and technical challenges it presents. She candidly reflects on the mental toll of intense performances and how she learned to balance her personal well-being with the demands of the stage. In a surprising twist, Laura recounts her childhood gymnastics experience, revealing a unique connection to her life on stage. With an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling, she shares heartfelt advice on self-belief and pursuing one’s passion. Laura Donnelly is a Tony-nominated and Olivier Award-winning actress known for her standout performances in theater and television. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she trained in drama in Scotland before embarking on a career that spans critically acclaimed roles such as Caitlin Carney in The Ferryman, Jenny Fraser in Outlander, and Amalia True in The Nevers. Her work also includes credits in Marvel's Werewolf by Night, Britannia, and The Fall. Currently, she stars in The Hills of California on Broadway, continuing her legacy of powerful and complex performances. Connect with Laura: IG: @laurafdonnelly Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Intimate, personal conversations with the biggest talents from professional theatre, tv, film, and more. Hear their secrets, what makes them laugh, stresses them out, and how they manage the anxiety of success. We feature both stars and creatives such as producers, stage managers, directors, press and marketing agents, or even the people who own the theaters or productions themselves.​ This is a podcast for artists, made by artists. With over 2 decades of experience in film and theatre both as cast and creative, host Alan Seales speaks with Broadway, TV, film and beyond’s biggest talents to learn more about not only how the world of theatre and performing operate, but also what makes it so real and human. In-depth, personal, behind-the-scenes conversations will highlight special details of the industry that most people may not know exist, will always find out what makes the guests love their craft, what makes them tick, and what truly inspires them. Part of the Broadway Podcast Network.