With over three decades on Fair City on his portfolio, Tony Tormey says that Paul Brennan has become the "fifth member of the family". The actor talks to Janice Butler about the tough moments in his life that shaped him, family life and still loving the work.
It's a sunny day in Dublin's fair city and Tony Tormey is sitting in the RTÉ canteen waiting for our chat; dressed in his trademark black jeans and dark blazer. He points to the area that we sit in and tells me that it used to be a smoking area in the canteen; that was a very different time.
Having been on Fair City, playing the infamous Paul Brennan since it began in 1989, Tony has seen the many, many changes in RTÉ and on the soap, which took a while to get off the ground when it first went to air, but is now a staple of the Irish television schedule.
When it comes to acting roles for the Dubliner who learned his trade on stage, Paul has been the constant in his life, or as he says, laughing, "the fifth member of our family", referring to his wife Kate and their two kids, Max and Issey.
"I started playing him in 1989, it's hard to believe. People, when they meet you, expect you to be Paul, because you're in their living rooms four days a week and they invest in you.
"He's a character that dips his toe into each part of the community, which is great as an actor. So the public relate to him in several ways; relate to the family side, being a bit of an assh*le, but also that he has a heart of gold underneath it all."
But Tony couldn't be further from the womanising businessman that is Paul Brennan; it's the classic situation of the shy man finding sanctuary in acting. "I'm quite shy. I've always been shy, but being an actor you don't have to be yourself, it's great," he laughs. He admits that his father being tragically killed in his early 50s when Tony was only 16 completely changed the trajectory of his life and his outlook on life. The family, including his sister Barbara and mum, Betty, had spent their early years living on Dublin's Baggot Street and had moved to Finglas just before the accident happened.
Having had ambitions to go to art college, Tony and his sister Barbara had to take up work after finishing school, with Tony getting a job in the pathology lab at St James's Hospital.
"That was a big blow to us," he says, looking back on that time. "That set me back a lot, in terms of talking to people; I really went into myself and not in a bad way, but I guess back then it was encouraged to talk about those things. Something like that happening takes you to a different place; you're carefree, and then all of a sudden that's gone, and it's always in the back of your head. It was a tough time, but it either makes you or breaks you. And also, I found myself as the man of the house, I had to go out and start working."
After a few years of working at the hospital, he took what he describes as a "mad notion to give up the job and pursue acting." After seeing an advert, he enrolled in the Gaiety School of Acting, where he was encouraged by director Joe Dowling, who subsequently offered him a part in Borstal Boy.
"My poor mother, she nearly had a heart attack when I told her. She was so worried about how I would make money as an actor," he says of his career change. "She was proud of me, but even up to a few years ago, she'd say, when are you going to get a real job?" he laughs.
Did she watch him on Fair City? "She did, but she'd pretend she didn't! But you'd hear from other people that she was proud, she just wouldn't say it to your face."
His mother Betty sadly died last winter at the age of 92. He commends the team at St Francis's Hospice in Blanchardstown, where she spent the last six months of her life. "It was a tough time," he says. "We were up with her every day, but I have to say, the team there, they were absolutely brilliant, they made her feel like a queen. And they were great to us, too. You find yourself as an orphan and that's hard, but what can you do, you have to get on with it."
After a lot of turmoil in his late teens and early 20s with the passing of his dad, he says that the regular role of Paul on Fair City brought an excitement to his life that he was craving, but also a stability that he probably needed.
"That was the great thing about it. But when I started, people were asking me 'why are you going into that, you should stay and focus on theatre', people almost looked down their nose at me," he explains. "But there's no doubt there's a stability there and as an actor I'm very lucky to have it. Because there's not many actors who get to work on in a great part like Paul for 30-something years."
Did he ever have ambitions to go to the UK to pursue roles there? "I did, but I guess life takes over, you have the kids, and I wouldn't have wanted to be away from them," he says. "Now they're older, I do think maybe I should have tried more or harder, but my main objective was them, to be honest with you."
Tony and his wife Kate have entered a new stage of parenthood with their two children grown up and finding their way in the world. "Max is 21 and Issey is 18. She's in Trinity, and Max is in the NCAD but over on Erasmus at the moment in Holland, he's doing animation and illustration. They're living the life; once they're healthy and happy, that's all that matters," he says proudly. "They're great kids."
"It's a nice stage. Kate and I get more time together and the pressure is off a bit cos while the kids are still at home, they're much more independent."
He says as he gets older, he sees a lot of his dad in himself, especially when it comes to parenting; "although I'm probably a bit more fiery," he laughs. He credits his dad for his love of movies and acting, sowing the seed at a young age when they used to watch the Sunday movie together on TV.
"I remember watching movies with my dad, and he'd be pointing out different actors like Spencer Tracey or James Dean, and I was totally immersed in it. And I thought, I could do that," he says.
When he's not working, his ideal day is to sit in the house "all day watching old movies and just get lost in them. I'll bring the dog for a long walk, watch movies and I love cooking. I cook a lot but I have been accused of using every pot and pan," he laughs. He's been in the media spotlight in the few years with a highly publicised industrial relations case with RTÉ, along with other Fair City cast members, that was settled in 2023, but due to the legalities he can't say anything more than "we came to an agreement."
Looking back on the three decades of Paul, for him highlights include: "the two-hander with Clelia Murphy, who played Niamh, and myself. It was a full episode with just us. It was tough, a challenge but great fun to do; it was so exciting. I'd a lot of good stuff with Claudia Carroll, too, and Pat Nolan, who played Barry. I've been very lucky with Paul and getting to stretch myself with that role," he comments.
He reflects on Bryan Murray leaving the soap earlier this year due to his battle with Alzheimer's and the impact he's left on the cast and crew. "It's very sad. He's a man who loves acting; it was his life, and he's been doing it a lot longer than I have, and when that's just taken away from you, it's very tough and unfair. When you're on set and filming, you see these people more than your own family, so you become very close, you deeply care for these people. It is like a family, a dysfunctional one but family all the same," he smiles.
At the moment in the soap, Paul has got himself in a little bother, with shady businessman JJ (played by Brian Doherty) and a money laundering scheme that's bound to go wrong. "Paul thinks he's able to handle everything but he's out of his depth with this guy. He's being blackmailed also by Zoe who caught him doing a deal with JJ, so he's floundering now," laughs Tony.
Can he see himself still in Carrigstown in ten years' time? "Well, I hope so," he answers without hesitation, "If they'll have me."
