Presenter and journalist Lorraine Keane recently released her first book, 'Working the Red Carpet', documenting her many years in the showbiz industry.
We caught up with Lorraine to talk about the book, get the lowdown on her beauty tips and find out how she strikes the perfect work/life balance.
SMI: You’ve recently published your first book ‘Working the Red Carpet’. Did you have fun writing it?
LK: I did actually. You know it’s one of those things that as a journalist always wondered would I ever see a book with my name on the shelves. I got more involved in broadcast journalism so although I still have always written for TV, radio and print I just never thought I’d have the time to be honest, or that anyone would be interested!
SMI: What are your favourite stories from the book?
LK: It’s difficult to top the U2 stories, the Bono experiences, because they’re just amazing buys. They’re the biggest rock stars in the world and they’re so obliging and so down-to-earth, and just so kind. They’ve given me some incredible opportunities and experiences so it’s difficult to top doing a foxtrot with Bono in a New York nightclub. But Paul Newman in a Porsche with him at the wheel is a close second I have to be honest!
SMI: At the other end of the scale, what are the worst celebrity interviews you go into in the book?
LK: Yeah there are a few disappointing ones, I suppose they’re only about 10% of the book which is not bad considering it covers eighteen years. Some were rude and aloof, and unforthcoming, like Meg Ryan and Mick Hucknell, and others were just disappointing where you expected them to be more friendly and warm because of their public persona and that would be the likes of Robbie Williams, Daniel O’Donnell, Dannii Minogue. So yeah there are a handful of people who did disappoint unfortunately but I suppose I’ve been very lucky that 90% of the book is about the good times. It’s funny and humourous and I poke fun at the business, and I poke fun at the obsession we have with celebrity and I poke fun at myself really. So it is a humourous read, I hope! That’s the way it was intended anyway!
SMI: So you left Xpose last year to concentrate on family life, was it just all getting a bit too much?
LK: It was, the balance was just tipping too far in the wrong direction. And I always said that the juggle was a struggle, but as long as the balance was right I would continue, but as soon as it tipped in the wrong direction I would pack it in. I said that time and time again, but I just don’t think anybody believed me. And then when I left they still didn’t believe me! And that’s just speculation, and speculation sells papers. It’s frustrating that the world we live in today, that people find it unbelievable that you just want to be a mum for a while. I’ve clocked in and clocked out with my 20 days holidays a year for over 18 years and I’m not saying I’m going to give up work or give up my career, certainly not, I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am, but I need to make sure that my own little family is OK first. They’re my priority so please god in the future whatever I take on next will be something like writing a book where you can write it from home. we went away for the summer and I could write from there and still be able to spend the afternoons and evenings with the girls. So that’s what’s important now. I didn’t have them for somebody else to rear them. And I’m lucky I have two healthy babies so I want to enjoy them while they’re still little!
SMI: As well as being known for presenting, you’re also known for your fashion taste, who are your favourite designers?
LK: I love Irish designers, I wear Irish as much as I can firstly because you should, and secondly because they’re as good as any of the international designers. So my favourites would be Deborah Veale, Simon O’Mahony, Marion Murphy Cooney, Fran & Jane. Outside of Ireland then I like Marchesa, D&G, Preen, listen the list is endless we could be here all day! I love clothes but I also love highstreet and I love mixing it with more investment pieces. And I think that’s the key.
SMI: Do you have any tips for our readers on looking good on the go?
LK: Well again, I’ve another little sister who’s a makeup artist who works in MAC. So I’m very lucky that I have my A-team on hand. And I kind of feel guilty sometimes because it makes it so much easier for me than most women that are juggling career and motherhood. Where I can make sure to book the girls in advance and be totally and utterly spoiled. With regards make-up tips, something that I learned much later in life is that eyebrows are very important and can give a very youthful look. Don’t underestimate the power of eyebrows is one thing! It is really important, and that’s something Grainne Seoige shared with me a long time ago when we worked in TV3 together and I remember saying to her ‘Oh please don’t give me another thing to have to think about! I’ve enough things on my face that I need to draw in! Not the eyebrows too!’ But actually it really is important and thicker eyebrows are more youthful as well. The older I get the thicker my eyebrows will be. I’ll be like Liz Hurley in the 80s!
SMI: As the face of the Garnier Shade of the Nation campaign you must have some great tips for us for keeping hair in tip-top condition?
LK: Well I suppose I’m kind of lucky that one of my little sisters is a professional hairstylist, so that helps! I’m spoiled. But with Garnier it’s just been brilliant to be able to do it yourself particularly in the climate that we’re in, we all need as many cost-saving tips as possible. To be able to buy a product like that off the shelf and do it yourself is brilliant, and I’m proof that that actually does work. And it covers grey as well so that’s a bonus!
SMI: What are your top beauty products you always have to carry around in your handbag for touch-ups on the go?
LK: Well I genuinely use Garnier body cream, I always have, because I can get it in the supermarket and I usually forget to go to the chemist to buy more expensive ones. And you actually don’t need to because the Garnier stuff is great, I use the red one (Garnier Body Repair). Then for face I use La Roche Posay because they’re hyper allergenic and suitable for sensitive skin and I also have a tendency for high colour on my cheeks, so I use the Rosaliac - it has a tiny bit of mint green in it so it takes the colour out. Then I use the Gariner under eye roller ball thing, which is really good, it’s got a tint in it so I put it under my eyes and it’s a concealer as well as being an anti-dark circles, puffy eyes thing. Which is really not the right way to describe it but it’s a really good product! I don’t feel complete without it.
I was hosting the Ultimate Girls Day Out in the RDS a few months ago, I do it for Tatler magazine every year, and Toni & Guy was involved this year and they gave me a sample of Morrocanoil for your hair and I just find it brilliant. It gives it a shine, it’s a serum but it’s not greasy. And it really works.
'Working the Red Carpet' is published by Blackwater Press and is on sale now for €19.99 nationwide.
Photos by Mark Nixon. http://www.marknixon.com/index.html
