Long before Lin-Manuel Miranda created the smash-hit musical based on the life of one of America's lesser-known founding fathers, one man was synonymous with the role of Alexander Hamilton: Mullagh, Co Cavan-born actor, Brian F O'Byrne. Alas, Brian's performance in the PBS production for US television was, he told Ryan Tubridy, a little less noteworthy than the all-conquering Broadway hip hop musical would prove to be:

"It was just me wearing bad make-up and a bad wig and speaking in a strange accent. And it was the most – it was not good, right? Then comes this Hamilton and I was like, 'Oh great – something about Hamilton!' And then I was like, 'Oh no – if people Google this they're going to see my thing and it's so bad!'"

He's probably being harsh on himself, right? After all, he's been nominated for a Tony award four times, winning it in 1999 for his role in Frozen on Broadway. (Not that Frozen, a different, much darker, Frozen.) And most recently, Brian won a BAFTA for his role in the ITV drama series, Little Boy Blue. His latest film, My New York Year, is screening in this year's Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival. But his conversation with Ryan was wide-ranging, touching on everything from Frank McCourt to Jack Charlton to Brian's own issues with alcohol. He gave up drinking 18 years ago:

"I had to stop. It ended up controlling my life in a way that was very, very, very negative. I couldn't – the problem with me and alcohol was I could stop, but I couldn't stay stopped."

Brian's description of his experience with alcohol paints a chilling picture of dependence:

"You feel full of shame because you end up in places you shouldn't be and your life starts to spin out of control in a way that is bewildering and you turn it in on yourself – or I should say, I did – turned it on myself, going, 'This is a problem of moral substance. I am a lesser person.'"

Happily, Brian, after many unsuccessful attempts to curb his drinking on his own, sought help and managed to stop drinking. And, as he told Ryan, "thankfully, there's endless amount of ways and people to help stop drinking". If anybody is worried about their drinking, the best time to look for help is now – and Brian quoted a very apt saying:

"If you get on en elevator and it's going down, it's better to get off at any time. You don't have to wait until it's the very, very, very bottom to get off."

You can hear the full conversation between Ryan and Brian F O'Byrne by going here. And Brian's new film, My New York Year is screening as part of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival on Thursday 11 March. Details here.

Niall Ó Sioradáin