This week Miriam O'Callaghan meets actor Gabriel Byrne and his long time friend and agent, Teri Hayden.
Both recall the night they first met when Teri saw Gabriel perform in a play called The Liberty Suit. Teri explains that Gabriel was one of a number of young actors who appeared naked on the stage. They met through Aine O'Connor, a close friend of Teri's and Gabriel's then girlfriend. Both reflect on living in Dublin in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Teri tells Miriam how she became an agent on Gabriel's encouragement. He recognised her business sense and fearlessness. Teri attributes her business acumen to the influence of her father - who always said that his word was his bond and had a reputation for being a decent man.
Gabriel tells how he likes having women as friends and how he can have a more intimate emotional relationship with women than men. Teri says that Gabriel loves listening to the nitty gritty of a story, where other men would only half listen. Despite their close friendship, they have never been a couple. Gabriel is proud of the close intimate relationship and the professional relationship they have enjoyed for more than thirty years.
Gabriel explains some of the insecurity that plagues actors. He talks about how people act roles in their everyday lives, but actors try to find the truth. He talks about his Tony nominated performance in Eugene O'Neill's Moon for the Misbegotten. And he describes a more recent performance of Camelot with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Teri says that her friend Gabriel has not changed over the years - he still remains the same Dublin man he always was. Gabriel tells Miriam that he still keeps a great interest in Irish affairs. Fame hasn't changed him, but he says it changes the attitude of people around him.
In more recent times, Gabriel has spoken about his experiences of depression and drinking. He says that he didn't find speaking out cathartic, but he did it for the people who feel that they cannot speak out themselves. But he dosn't want to keep revisiting these issues. He regards himself as being stronger and more empathetic as a result of these experiences.
Recently, Gabriel explained it was an honour to be appointed a Cultural Ambassador for Ireland, working with Culture Ireland in the United States. Though time consuming, Gabriel has found the role tremendously satisfying. But no, he doesn't plan to run for President of Ireland.
Teri tells Miriam about the film At Swim Two Birds which has been in the planning for a number of years. All going well, shooting will start in Spring 2012. Gabriel pays tribute to Brendan Gleesons adaption of the novel and describes how he is looking forward to working on the film - the first he will have made in Ireland in many years.
Gabriel tells Miriam that his daughter Romy Marion plans to become an actress while his son Jack Daniel is in a blues band called The Dough Rollers. They recently opened for Bob Dylan on tour in America.
