Fiadhnait Canning is the lead actor in Grace, a new Storyland drama written and directed by Anna Rodgers; it's one of four new Storyland films coming to RTÉ this December.
Grace is a poignant coming of age drama centred on a woman in her late 20s with Down Syndrome, navigating the complexities of adulthood, independence and first love from within a residential support house. When Grace pushes the boundaries set for her, the consequences ripple through her carefully managed world.
Fiadhnait has Down Syndrome herself, and this is her debut film. She spoke to RTÉ Culture about the experience...
Can you tell us about Grace's story?
I’m really honoured to get to play Grace. You see she’s a young woman who just wants to get to live her life normally - who wants more out of life. Hopefully people like the beautiful journey that she takes. In the film, it's mainly about her experience, her journey, and her love interest Tommy.
It shows the relationship that she wants to have. She has to be a stronger person for herself because she's determined to have these things like love.. So she's kind of learning to find her voice or learning to get stronger and to speak for herself.
When you first read the script, what did you think?
The casting agent Maureen Hughes sent my agent the script. I read the whole thing and I literally fell in love with it and wanted to become friends with the character Grace. I was connecting with her and how she reacted to these experiences. It’s a sad story; sad but beautiful and kind of poetic in a way. I wasn't too hopeful to get the part but I thought I'll do my best and if it happens, it happens. And then suddenly it did. I felt so happy. I couldn't believe it.
Had you had any acting experience before?
This is my first film. I’ve never acted before. I was in a documentary called Dylan Mc Grath’s Secret Service, so that was very different and real. So this was a new challenge. When I got the role I was in the kitchen with my mother and brother. I was kind of stunned because I didn't think I would get the call back. I was giggling when I got it and had butterflies.
How did you prepare for the role?
Well, apart from reading the whole script back to front, front to back repeatedly, I got into character when I got into her clothes. There were a lot of fittings with our costume designer Sarah Yeoman, so I started to get a sense of Grace, what she's wearing. When I saw what she wore, I knew how to act like her. Grace has style in her wardrobe, I will say that!
You'd be surprised at people's abilities. People with disabilities should put themselves out there.
What was it like working alongside your co-star Luca Malocco Mulville?
I did rehearsals with the director Anna Rodgers, and with actor Eva-Jane Gaffney. We also had an intimacy coach Judith Devlin who came to talk to us about being comfortable together. And of course I had forgotten but I knew Luca from when we were teenagers in a thing called Wildcats for people with intellectual disabilities and he recognised me. And so that made it a little bit easier. He's a really sweet guy and he's fun to hang out with. It was the first time for both of us, so we kind were like 'we're in it together’ and helped each other.
Why do you think the story of Grace is important to tell?
I do think it's important to be making her own decisions about relationships. It is a big deal. It's okay if you have certain people there to support you, but Grace doesn't get to even be in the room for those conversations, even though she should have been. She doesn't always have full control over anything that happens around her. I know in my life I'll be in the room for decisions but some may not be, so I'm just making sure that's clear – I'm always in the room when decisions are being made. I am lucky and not everybody has that lucky moment. The film kind of shows how much is taken away from her, not only her becoming a woman. She is going through a lot of things all at once. She and Tommy aren’t treated like adults as they should.
Are you quite independent in your own life?
I am. But of course my Mom knows everything I'm doing. My mother is the most amazing person I know. I’m not doing this journey alone – we are doing this together. We are a package deal. But, I still go to work and travel alone. I'm quite independent. I think this is the thing that people don't really think about, but we all rely on somebody to make a decision.
Do you think people should be allowed to make mistakes?
Well, that's how you learn. If you make mistakes, you know from experience. Nobody really makes mistakes, maybe unwise choices, but it's how they respond to it where it was their own responsibility, and take ownership of what they're doing. In Grace you could see she is getting there but she's only learning. I think people in the audience should see how much strength that she does have. She's learning every day, which is a great thing. That’s how you learn by your experiences and how you do things and sometimes with mistakes.
What do you want the audience to think about after the film?
I think love is love, and if you allow love it kind of warms your heart a little. So you're not the only ones who get to fall in love. We have a heart too. So of course with Grace, she has a lot of heart.
She really loved Tommy. She was really invested in him. It is important to show people this relationship that she's in. When you’re doing something that is worthwhile, like making a film, you hope it speaks to a lot of people and is something that has meaning.
What was the hardest aspect of the filmmaking process?
The hardest part was probably getting up early. I had to be the first one there because I was the lead. So yeah, that just takes a little lot of time to get used to but we stayed in a hotel nearby.
Do you think it's important that people with intellectual disabilities are given an opportunity to participate in cultural life?
Most definitely because you'd be surprised what could come out of us. This is an activism in art and that's what I love the most because your art can tell a story, not just a story, but it could be like an activism kind of thing. There are actors out there. You'd be surprised at people's abilities. People with disabilities should put themselves out there. I know it's terrifying or frightening for those who may or may not be ready. But yet again, take the classes just in case that helps you build up your confidence. They should be funded more because it's always good to see the different abilities of these young adults. You'd be surprised what you can get out of us. So like why not? Put yourself forward. Sometimes a door opens and then something happens and then, but you just never know. And that's the exciting part.
Grace will premiere on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Monday, 15 December, with a cast that includes Fiadhnait Canning, Luca Malocco Mulville, Carrie Crowley, Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle, Deirdre Morley, Ally Ní Chiaráin and others. Find out more about the new season of Storyland here.
