Public interview with Cillian

[razzthekid]

Well i'm sorry but i have no videos or pictures to share with you guys. There was no photography allowed during the interview. I did see one girl recoding a video on a camera at one stage though. Who knows? Maybe it was one of the forum members!

So anyway, the interview lasted about an hour- first half was conducted by the female interviewer(A woman who went to the same school as Cillian and has known him for years) and then the second half was open to the floor.
Seen as i didn't have any specific question i wanted to ask i just listened intently and enjoyed everyone elses questions.
Cillian was in a very relaxed and friendly mood. He made some jokes- some by accident others on purpose- had a laugh and was polite to everyone.
Afterwards he was pretty much trampled by the crowds of people trying to get autographs and photos and talk to him. He did all these things happily and didn't seem at all put out by it. My friend and I didn't talk to him or ask for a photo as we would've had to beat through the crowd to get to him but we got close enough for a good look. I'm sure you'll appreciate every detail i can give so.....he was wearing slim dark denim jeans, a dark v neck t-shirt and a black cardigan. Oh and dark boots i think. He has his stubbly beard and floppy hair falling in his face.
Then he went out to have a smoke but was still attracting a crowd of female admirers and lingerers, which i think may have been starting to unnerve him by now, so he went off walking with the interviewer. He always seems so quiet and normal and perplexed by all the attention that it puts me off approaching him. I think it's just because he seems like a completely normal guy who can't understand all the fuss, which makes me want to leave him alone and let him retain the normality that he seems to cherish so much.
Overall it was a brilliant night. Really interesting. Instead of me realting all the things he said, which would take forever and i'm sure i'd leave out half of it, if you want to know anything specific just ask. I'll try my best to remember.

[Zombiekitten]

Thank you so much for telling about your experience at that interview, Razz !
How I wish I was there too... It would have been so interesting to hear Cillian talking. *sighs*

About all that fans surrounding him all the time... I maybe would have felt the same like you Razz about approaching him: I probably would leave him alone because of too much respect about his shyness and personal space.
But its somehow sweet to imagine that he can't understand all the fuss about him. So nice to hear he is still a normal guy without any star behaviours.

[razzthekid]

That's exactly how i feel Kitten! I have the highest level of respect for Cillian and i would hate to feel i'm intruding in his personal space. Being a huge fan, like all of us here , we know how reserved he is and when i put myself in his position i can't imagine how it must feel. How strange and surreal to have all these strangers wanting to just be near you. So because i know i'd be very uncomfortable in that situation, i don't want to make him feel that way either so i'd rather just leave him be. He was extremely sweet to everyone though, full of smiles.

[kaelyn]

Just thought I would add my story as well
Before the interview, my friend and I had booked a table at a vegetarian restaurant in cork based on a recommendation from a friend. We got there about quarter to five, sitting down at our table when I notice Yvonne walk through the front door, who by the way looked very pretty. So I start to get this big smile on my face because I think I know who's coming next! Sure enough, a while later Cillian and two other friends of his walk through the door, straight past our table and join Yvonne. It was so surreal y'know, Im just having a meal while in the background I can hear them all talking, Cillian laughing. I didn't go up of course- I would never interrupt a personal situation like that, but it just highlighted what a normal guy he is, just having some food and drink with friends. Someone at the interview a little later said they thought that maybe he was hungover, I did see a few wine bottles being brought to the table, but I don't reckon he was.

Anyway, so we left before them to get the tickets and everything, We got there around half seven and once the doors were open I managed to get a very good seat I did take one picture before they came on but Razz is right about the pictures thing and we weren't allowed to take any once they were there. It just of the seats they sat on, aha, nothing interesting.
Razz covered most of the interview part as well. I didn't ask anything, mainly because Fiona? I think it was interviewing him, covered quite a lot with her questions, it was all quite relaxed and he seemed quite at ease. I did notice that they filmed the whole interview so im thinking it will go up on you tube at some point seeing as some clips from Enda Walsh's interview are up

After it was over, he came down from the stage and started talking to some people. I think everyone was sort of thinking- can we go up to him? Then one lady did so everyone else seemed to mob him! He didn't seem that comfortable with it all, but then again, who would be? He was so nice about it though, and the guy he was with kept trying to take him outside but it seemed like he didn't want to ignore anyones requests. I have to admit, that because I was near the front, I did end up standing right next to him for all this so I took my chance and asked for an autograph, he smiled and signed it right before he went outside. I didn't ask for a picture or anything as I didn't want to be too pushy, but later I spoke to someone who sent me pictures they took on their camera of him signing my photo, so I do have a couple of pictures with him after all

I think I covered everything, the whole evening was over very quickly though, and I have to admit that I had had quite a bit to drink in the restaurant before hand- maybe not a good move on my part! Ohh, and he was wearing pretty awesome stripy blue socks- just one of the many pointless details that I seem to notice. I'll happily answer any more questions, but yeah, pretty fecking great evening!

[disarm79]

Damn Kaelyn, you got really lucky!! Can't believe he ended up at the same restaurant you went to. I'm starting to think he has a thing for silly socks. Which is really cool because most guys aren't into that type of stuff. ... well guys that I know.

Do you guys remember any of the jokes or the funny things he said at the interview?

[Mrs-N-Uzumaki]

It's so refreshing to hear how nice of a guy he is! I really wish I was there, and Kaelyn you were so damn lucky to be next to him!! If anyone DOES have any pictures I'd love it if you post them here. Does anyone happen to remember any of the questions asked, out of curiousity?

[punctuator]

That was probably me who started the landslide; what the heck: I think he expects it of me by now. Anyway, briefly, 'cause I just spent the whole day on assorted aircraft and going through security checkpoints (honest to God, I'm tempted just to UNDRESS COMPLETELY and be done with it the next time I fly: that'll learn 'em! And, oh, how tempting it was to say "Beam me up, Scotty!" when I went through the full-body scanner at MSP!): I had a great spot right up front on the far left (so Cillian paused right next to me during the intros), and I got a chance to chat with him a bit afterward and pass off the usual Random Gift o' Media. It was a wonderful evening, and Cork is a charming town. Got out on Friday morning right before they had to lock down everything for the Queen.

I'll second Razz's offer: any questions, just ask!

[anitnelav]

OMG, I am loving to read all your experiences girls!! Lucky people!!
For me it's difficult to belive that Cillian exists outside the movies, XD, If I would have the chanse to see him I'm sure I will think: It can't be truth, it must be a dream!

[razzthekid]

Ok well a couple funny things i remember are: when someone asked him had he ever used the method acting technique for his roles. First thing he said was that he thought that term was used much too loosely these days-which i agree with- and then he said he just studied hard for roles.
He said(paraphrasing! ) "When i played a transvestite in Breakfast on Pluto, i spent a lot of time with tranvestites and tried to learn as much about them as i could. When you spend that much time around these people you do tend to absorb a lot from them....My wife would probably say i absorbed a bit too much when it came to that movie! but that wasn't on purpose, it just happened by accident". At which point everyone started laughing and Cillian also saw the funny side by saying- "That doesn't sound vey good, does it?!" and laughed too.

Then someone asked which role he found most challenging(i think that was the question to which he gave this answer anyway). He said (again paraphrasing) "I know this is probably a boring answer but all my roles have been challenging. I think you need to keep doing different things so it doesn't get boring. All the characters i've played have to very boring" Again everyone started laughing. "I mean challenging!", he corrected. Then in a joking voice said "Yeah they were all so boring!"

When he said that he reminded me completely and utterly of Neil. After Lucy's left him and he's in the video shop ranting about how everything sucks now. He pretty much says exactly the same thing "I mean it's all so boring now!". It made me laugh even more when Neil popped into my head!

And when he was asked about the type of characters he chooses- like how most of them have problems and end up mentally or physically ill and so on- he said, as we've heard him say before, that he likes roles about normal people under pressure and how thinks they're very interesting to play. Then he said "I mean, i'm not really a romantic comedy kind of guy,(laughs) i just don't get sent those type of scripts!"

Those are 3 things i remember most and found entertaining.


EDIT: This is a weird coincidence i just noticed! I was looking at my profile and the date i registered is MAY 19TH. Just thought that was a freaky little thing- that i saw Cillian for the second time on the same day that, 3 years ago, i joined this forum.

[Zombiekitten]

Ohhh... I'm enjoying SO much what you all write down here about your personal experiences. I really wish the video from that interview will appear on youtube or somewhere else.

Thinking about Kealyns experience to eat in the same restaurant as Cillian, sitting so close to his table you can even hear his voice ... If I had that experience it would probably would feel very surreal to me to get to see the actor who played all those amazing characters so damn close ! But after all he is a normal guy, not to compare to characters like Rippner or Crane (maybe to Neil... a little bit hahaha ) Even more surreal... XD
No, honestly. I really appreciate what a sympathic normal guy he is. Would love to chat with him once too.

Have to give some CBs for your storys !!

[razzthekid]

Aw thanks for the the CB Zombie. I'm glad to make you feel so happy. I had a similar experience to Kaelyn last time i saw Cillian after the play last year. He was hanging out in the bar and he brushed past me a couple of times. I had to move out of his way at one stage. And he gave me a really tentative cute smile at one point- probably because he noticed me staring at him as he walked past and felt slightly uncomfortable!

[kaelyn]

Ahh how you've remembered so much from the interview razz, I don't know! It seems to be a blur to me but I do remember something else he said which got some laughs about doing a lot of underage drinking when he was growing up Im really relying on this video emerging now so I can re-watch it all. Also Razz, you've seen him in a play and in the bar afterwards? Thats pretty cool, im tempted to go watch him in that play he talked about this summer.
Punctuator- I remember you I think, being the first to go up and all-you got really lucky sitting there! What did you give him if you don't mind me asking?
Zombiekitten- Thank you , yes, it was ridiculously surreal at first! And even though you know that he's just a normal guy I guess its just the shock at first, only ever seeing him on the big screen and then suddenly he's there, and you also can't help associating him with all the characters he's played, which just makes it seem even stranger.

[Mrs-N-Uzumaki]

Wow, I'm seriously envying you guys! that's it, I'm so NOT missing the next event!

[disarm79]

Thanks for sharing the funny stories Razz.......in my life , I also pay close attention to those little coincidences. It's so strange how everything works out, but yes sometimes they can get kinda scary and sort of freaky. Happy 3rd anniversary! Have a CB!!

[JenV]

Hiya folks.

Just wanted to mention that I was at the interview too and have about 50 mins of it filmed at the spot. Am currently fighting with the computer to edit it into something even slightly watchable and if I succeed, I'm sure you'll all get a glimpse of it too!

And yeah.. no cameras were allowed, but hey - I sat quietly on my arse staring at the stage while my beloved camera filmed all on it's own right there on my lap

Anyway, it was a brilliant night. Am so happy I made it over!!! Talked to Cillian a bit too, mainly just some over-nervous babbling... Didn't take pics or ask for him to sign anything, since getting a photo is so not worth of troubling him. Am just glad I got the chance to say hi, thank you and such. And he was kind enough to give me a sort-of-kind-of-half-a-hug-or-something That was the moment when I thought my feet are gonna give in. Am a very shy person and am not comfortable when people touch me, so the moment when he did what he did was very odd and spooky in more than one way. Am glad he did it tho, even if I looked like a complete idiot for freaking out a bit... But that's me

Anyways, good to hear that the rest of you guys had a great time too. Can't wait for a next one, when ever or where ever it may be...