“I loved being back in my dysfunctional family. And it’s got more dysfunctional. All the characters are elevated to a whole new level of messiness and funniness,” exclaims Belfast-born actor Roisin Gallagher about series two of the ITV drama The Dry.
Returning to the Dublin-set comedy drama as 30-something alcoholic artist Shiv Sheridan, she teases that her character’s journey across season two is both “chaotic and high-octane joy”.
She was last seen falling quite spectacularly off the wagon, but seven months on Shiv is sober, celibate, in a new job at an art college and is full of good intentions to get sobriety right this time.
Her younger brother Ant (Adam Richardson) has maintained his job at the estate agency and his relationship with Max. Her sister Caroline (Siobhan Cullen) is compensating for lost time by fully embracing the world of Tinder and has ambitions of becoming a consultant.
At first glance, the family seems fairly settled. However, how normal is it for three grown-up kids still to be living at home? Viewers will quickly discover life has got even more complicated for the Sheridan’s.
“Each family member has their own issues, dealing with their own turmoil. I think they are each at a point of change in their lives, and they’re trying to navigate that with their very different personalities under the same roof,” says mother-of-two Roisin, who confesses that after studying drama at the Royal Scottish Academy returned home as an adult to live with her parents and brother.
“Mum and dad were at a different stage in their life where they were finishing up with work and it was a much better experience than Shiv had with the Sheridan’s.”
As well as roles in Doctors and the Fall, Roisin enjoyed success on the stage, before quickly becoming a small screen leading lady favourite. Last autumn she starred in David Ireland’s Belfast-set Sky series The Lovers as foul-mouth supermarket worker Janet, who won the heart of political broadcaster Seamus (Johnny Flynn).
In this latest instalment of The Dry her character will face some devastating moments of betrayal and have to confront past demons, including ex-lover Jack (Moe Dunford), which make it difficult to move forward with the new life she’s trying to forge for herself.
“She’s still fighting addiction, which is always there and very present throughout. Most importantly, there’s a new man on the scene, so it’s interesting to see the dynamic between Shiv and him.
“He encourages her to look at her own worth, value and talent, and celebrates her in a way that she hasn’t experienced before,” adds the 36-year-old.
Best known as Kin hard-man Eric ‘Viking’ Kinsella, Sam Keeley plays charming barista and entrepreneur Alex.
“He’s somebody who has done a lot of work on themselves to try and figure out his own issues in life. His dad battled addiction, and this means that Alex is a big believer in boundaries and avoiding toxic situations.
“Alex is keen to take things slowly with Shiv but when he believes her family are being destructive, and that her sobriety might be at risk, he attempts to protect Shiv. He stirs the pot and that certainly makes for fireworks,” he reveals.
While some viewers may swoon over Sam’s on-screen vintage 1980s Beamer three series, others will adore his scenes as a life drawing class model.
“That was a hairy enough scene. Hairy is the wrong word,” he chuckles.
“It was enjoyable for sure. Though I do love the opening scene in the coffee shop where we first get to see Alex and have that bit of banter.”
We see how difficult it is to be honest when you’re suffering from addiction to yourself and to the people that’s closest to you.
— Roisin Gallagher
So would Sam bare all on stage or screen in the future in the name of art?
“It’s daunting, Jesus it was wild shooting that, but if the right role comes along, then sometimes you just have to go with it.”
Although it was their first time working together, Roisin and Sam found themselves at ease with one another – gaining a rapport over an undisclosed joke.
“We found out pretty quickly that we both had quite a dark sense of humour. For me it’s trust and knowing you can be vulnerable with this other person and be respectable. I felt very lucky to have Sam,” says Rosin.
Belfast actor Ciarán Hinds reprises his role as Shiv’s dad Tom, who has now been relegated to the garden shed as his wife’s new lover Finbar (played by Game of Thrones actor Michael McElhatton) moves into the marital bed.
In the second series Shiv will watch her dad struggle with family, work and his dignity, but it’s her relationship with mother Bernie (Pom Boyd) that is fully explored.
Their relationship is a complex one, which Roisin believes her character feels “both painful and funny in equal measures”.
“It’s brilliant to see them try and connect through their sober journey together. It means Shiv is not alone and she really appreciates and finds inspiration from her mum. I think she looks at Bernie and thinks at first, it’s really easy for her. Or at least much less difficult than it is for Shiv.
“But it’s not all plain sailing and we see how difficult it is to be honest when you’re suffering from addiction to yourself and to the people that’s closest to you.
“There’s a dual dependency and connection, but also a rejection that happens. It’s a bit of a paradox and I guess that’s what makes the drama.”
Rather than finding it difficult playing a character who is continuously put down and not appreciated by their family, Roisin thrives on Nancy Harris’ script.
“It’s sort of ammunition and Shiv uses it in that way as well. She uses the downs to try and educate her family about what she thinks that they shouldn’t be saying to her. I think deep down she’s loved and she knows that.”
Also joining the cast of The Dry is Thommas Kane Byrne (Derry Girls), Seán Doyle (Normal People), Helen Norton (Cracks) and Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club).
