An Irish movie producer has praised Maura Higgins as "a natural" at acting, saying she could "have a very good career" on-screen if she wanted to.
The Longford native came to fame on Love Island in 2019 and has since become a fixture on TV screens, appearing as an agony aunt on This Morning, competing on ITV's Dancing on Ice and Cooking with the Stars and presenting Ireland's Glow Up.
Most recently, the 32-year-old TV star appeared as a social host on the fifth season of the American version of Love Island.
It was revealed earlier this month that Higgins was set to make her acting debut in The Spin, an upcoming comedy filmed in and around Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Producer Edward McCaffrey told RTÉ Entertainment that they cast the TV star as Rose in the film as they thought she would be "perfect for the role". They weren't disappointed.
"I have to say, she was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant," he enthused. "For someone who's never acted before, to see her hit her cues, hit her marks, give the same performance every take, was excellent."
The film producer continued. "She played the role exactly how she was directed. She arrived, she was absolutely fantastic on set, very friendly, very approachable. Wonderful to work with.
"The extras who were on the scene were delighted, she was chatting away to those guys. It was just a lovely experience."
"She was the ultimate professional, she came, she did what was asked of her, she was a joy to work with. That's the way it should be!"
The Spin, which McCaffrey describes as "a musical comedic road trip", follows two characters, Elvis and Dermot, who are played by Hardy Bucks star Owen Colgan and Game of Thrones alum Brenock O'Connor. Tara Lynne O'Neill, well-known to viewers for playing Ma Mary in Derry Girls, rounds off the principal cast.
Higgins said it was "an incredible experience" and was full of praise for the people she worked with.
McCaffrey agreed that she seemed to "genuinely enjoy it".
"I know the team around her enjoyed working with her. It was a happy experience. I think if she put her mind to it she could have a very good career in acting. I think she's a natural at it," he said.
"Moving from something like Love Island or presenting to acting, if you'd never done it before, could be a big mistake.
"Having watched her in action and on screen, she has a presence on screen. We know that anyway, through her presentation work and her Love Island stuff, and it was no less on this.
"If she wanted to I think she could make a great career."
The Spin is slated for release in spring 2024.
