Actor Ryan Andrews talks to Julie Lordan about his hectic schedule, directing Blonde Bombshell, acting in Fair City, and his preparations for a big summer wedding in Spain.
Ryan Andrews is one of the busiest artists working in Ireland. So when he spoke about his Dublin school, Stage Kids Academy, which he runs with his wife, Michaela, I assumed he delegated a lot of the day-to-day activity. I am wrong.
"I am there teaching every single day. In all the years, I've only missed one hour," says Ryan. Obviously, then, this isn’t a hobby for the talented actor, dancer, director and producer. "It's been going for five years now," he says proudly. "It’s the best thing I've ever done, besides being a good business, it’s doing something I love."
Ryan is also directing and producing the stage musical Blonde Bombshell, has a central storyline in Fair City, and is planning a wedding. He also made a mark with his brilliant performance in Dancing with The Stars in 2020 and not forgetting his heroics in Ultimate Hell Week.
Does he have time for any life outside of work? Ryan laughs, "The good thing is I love it so much that when I wake up in the morning, it's all I want to do and when I go to bed, I set my alarm for an early start and do it all again."
It’s a precarious business and Ryan is aware of how it can all change quickly. "During Covid, everything stopped, so it’s always in the back of your mind to have as many things going as possible. You never know what tomorrow could bring," he says. As he and wife Michaela plan to have a family, he might not always have the time he does now. "Yeah, keeping busy before the kids come along, hopefully," he laughs.
Keeping both of them busy is their upcoming wedding. Ryan says he has to remember to call Michaela his wife. She was his girlfriend for so long, and then fiancée, but since last November, it is been husband and wife.
"We actually got married here in Ireland but it was a small wedding, just the immediate family and we had it on Michaela’s dad’s birthday – who died a few years ago – so we wanted to mark that too. But the celebration in Spain in July is with all our friends and family," explains Ryan.
"The winter wedding here was one of the most magical days in my life, even though on the day itself I was very nervous, but it was great. This way, we can have a summer and a winter wedding, which is what we always wanted."
He and Michaela have known each other since they were ten years old and hung around together as kids. "We were friends, and then as teenagers we auditioned for the panto and both got parts. We've been together ever since," says Ryan. "I guess when you know you know, as they say. And when you find someone like Michaela you can’t let that go."
With Ryan so involved in the arts, it is perhaps surprising that he didn’t grow up in a theatrical household.
"There's no one in my family that was involved in any way, shape or form. I loved sports as a kid. Then there was a musical theatre class on and I thought, 'I could give that a go,’ and from then on, I was hooked. I loved the buzz, the adrenaline. Like everything I do, I threw myself into it completely. I'm like, ‘How can I go further? What other classes can I do?’
Then I auditioned for Singing in the Rain, where I got the part, and since then I've been in the Olympia pantomime for the last 18 years."
Ryan also started young in Fair City: he was 15 when he first appeared as Sean Cassidy. "I was in The Clinic for three years beforehand, and growing up in a soap, from teenager to adult, means something to viewers when they meet me. People definitely have an affiliation with Sean and there's been so many great storylines. At the moment with the housing crisis and Sean’s role as a tenant, people can relate to that," says Ryan.
Viewers might have felt that Sean’s behaviour, having a one-night stand with Anna, Dean’s girlfriend, showed a darker side to him but Ryan is loyal to his character.
"Sean is a really good guy and it's completely out of character. Sometimes things happen, but he was honest and upfront and that's the type of person he is. While he doesn't necessarily regret it, he definitely wants to make amends.
"Sean is always the one that gets himself in trouble but it's never really his fault. Even with the house-sharing storyline, he tries his best but always comes up short in the end," he says.
Ryan’s latest project involves directing and producing the musical, Blonde Bombshell. What is unique about this show is that there is no dialogue at all, it’s like a ballet, with the dancing and music telling the story of Marilyn Monroe.
"Ian Banham, the choreographer on Dancing with The Stars, had an idea of mixing the Marilyn Monroe story with the dancers from DWTS: it seemed like an absolute perfect fit. We tell Marilyn’s story from young Norma Jean Baker right up to the height of her fame. The dancing is terrific and the songs are all well-known. It was a huge success when we did a performance last year, so hopefully we will get the same reaction when we tour with the show."
Directing a show is challenging but if anyone is up for it, it’s Ryan. As fans of Ultimate Hell Week will know, he was injured during the show and despite being advised to step down, he kept going and triumphed, through the pain. "It was the toughest challenge I have ever endured; well, apart from planning a wedding, which is fairly tough as well!" he laughs. "Quitting wasn't on my agenda, so I went back in and I finished the entire course with two broken ribs," he recalls.
"I would say to anyone thinking of doing something challenging, is to take yourself out of your comfort zone, and that might be getting up an hour earlier, going for a 5km walk, it might be something small, to push themselves. Ultimate Hell Week was a little bit extreme, but I would advise people to try new experiences as much as possible. That's what I do, with Ultimate Hell Week or Dancing With The Stars or whatever. They're all new experiences and I learned so much about myself," he says.
Ultimate Hell Week was an opportunity for Ryan to raise money for the Mater Hospital Foundation, which was a personal cause for him at the time. "My dad was in ICU with Covid, and it was touch and go. He is fine now, but that is the reason I donated to them."
For many, Ryan's time on Dancing With The Stars was a highlight of the series. "It was really nice because I was learning a new skill and learning more about myself along the way," he explains. "The glitz and the glamour made it a little bit easier than Ultimate Hell Week! For years, I was a fan of Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With the Stars so when I finally got the chance to participate it was the easiest decision I've ever made in my life."
It looks like Ryan and Michaela, who is a primary school teacher, could do with a break and after the wedding they plan to relax in Spain, a sort of honeymoon.
"We’re still going through the logistics of it all," he says. "It’s a big wedding in some ways, with five bridesmaids, four groomsmen, four pageboys and one flower girl. There are around 70 guests, so it's kind of a nice size wedding overall."
As is traditional, he is in the dark about Michaela’s dress. "I haven't a clue. I barely have a pair of boxers and socks myself, so I couldn't be telling you what Michaela will be wearing. I will find out on the aisle," he laughs.
As for the future, it is no surprise that Ryan is open to every opportunity. "Look, if projects come my way, I would jump on that in a heartbeat. But I wouldn't be specifically looking for work abroad if that makes sense. I would travel the world, twice back, for any new experience, but home will always be here," he says.
Blonde Bombshell is in Cork Opera House on May 5; Mahony Hall, Dublin on May 21; and Concert Hall, Limerick on May 26.
