Sunday Mirror (London, England); 5/15/2005
Byline: By LINDSAY FERGUS
BALLYKISSANGEL star Dervla Kirwan has the perfect solution to every new mum's dilemma - finding the right balance between work and bringing up her first-born.
The sultry actress simply brings little Florence onto her latest film set with her and plays exactly what she is now... a young mum.
Award winner Dervla, who returns to TV soon as feisty prosecution lawyer Claire Maxwell in a new series of BBC drama 55 Degrees North, said: "It's great that the writer has tapped into what has been happening in my life and transferred it onto the screen.
"It's very nice to actually be utterly knackered and to be able to play utterly knackered on screen as well.
"I didn't need any make-up or anything to look like a worn out new mum, because that's exactly what I am."
Little Florence was born 13 months ago, and Dervla says balancing motherhood and the demands of work has left her totally exhausted.
The Dublin-born actress, who shot to fame as Assumpta in the BBC's hit show Ballykissangel, said her new role as a first-time mum comes with a steep learning curve.
She said: "I'm very hard on myself and I'm always doing things wrong, but I also understand that you aren't given a parenting manual when you come onto this earth and you've got to try and learn from your mistakes."
Dervla, whose partner of almost four years is fellow actor Rupert Penry-Jones, took six months of after Florence was born last April, but she is adamant that her career is still a majority priority in her hectic life.
"My character Claire has always been very driven when it comes to her career and I can relate to that.
"I mean, I wouldn't push another actress down the stairs to get a job, but I do want to be the best that I can in my own profession.
"Who wants to be c**p at their job?'
Although the 33-year-old star claims motherhood has taken its toll on her, the slim actress, with her enviable figure and flawless, porcelain-coloured skin, looks as radiant as ever.
Her co-star, Don Giley, agrees.
Don, who plays DS Nicky Cole, Dervla's love interest, admits that the chemistry between the characters is evident for viewers.
Don said: "They both fancy the pants off each other but then - who wouldn't? This is Dervla Kirwan we are talking about after all.
"She's great - a very intelligent, attractive Irish lady and we get on very well in real life. I think that comes across on screen.
"And, obviously - if her other half is reading this - there was no joy in the kissing at all.
"I hated every minute of it..."
The second series of police drama 55 Degrees North, which is scheduled for broadcast on BBC 1 on Sunday, May 22, at 8pm, portrays Dervla's character, Claire Maxwell, juggling motherhood with a busy career.
And it's a balancing act that couldn't be more apt for the fiercely private actress.
Last year after agreeing to play Claire, Dervla discovered she was pregnant.
But rather than seek a new star for the gritty drama, producers decided to write her real-life pregnancy into the script.
One year on, Dervla is the proud but tired mum of Florence while her on screen character, Claire, is adapting to life as a working mum with her baby, Emmy.
However, Dervla claims she has coped with the reality much better than her character.
She said: "I don't think Claire deals with having a baby as well as I do.
"She is the absolute personification of an uptight perfectionist, and full of her own self importance.
"She doesn't cope very well with being a mum and then hates that about herself."
Dervla said Baby Florence is yet to show signs of following in her parents' footsteps, but added: "Well, she can't speak yet, which is always a bit of a drawback when you want to become an actor.
"If she did end up having a talent for it then I'd want her to go into it with her eyes open.
"It's a very tough business if you're deluding yourself about your ability.
"At this stage I just want her to be happy, enjoy life and be a good,
fully-rounded, functional
human being."
COPYRIGHT 2005 MGN LTD