'Irish Barbenheimer' happening next month as stars open up about phenomenon

‘Irish Barbenheimer’ happening next month as stars open up about phenomenon

Stephen Porzio

EXCLUSIVE: Two of the actresses involved have given advice on how to approach the projects going head-to-head.

Next month will see the release of two major Irish TV shows in close proximity to each other, events we are already dubbing ‘the Irish Barbenheimer’.

The second season of comedy thriller Bad Sisters will be premiering on Apple TV+ with two episodes on Wednesday November 13.

And then a day later on Thursday November 14, Troubles-drama Say Nothing will premiere with all nine episodes on Disney+.

Recently, JOE spoke to Bad Sisters’ star Eva Birthistle and Say Nothing star Hazel Doupe about their excellent new Irish drama thriller movie Kathleen is Here (you can read our thoughts on the film and about its comparisons to other classics at this link).

Birthistle wrote and directed Kathleen is Here, which focuses on a grieving 18-year-old (Doupe) fresh out of foster care, who forms an intense connection with her older neighbour (Clare Dunne).

During our chat with Birthistle and Doupe, we had to ask them about Bad Sisters season two and Say Nothing and how the release of the two shows is akin to Barbie and Oppenheimer coming out the same weekend.

The observation sent the pair into fits of laughter, with Birthistle exclaiming: “That’s brilliant,” and Doupe enthusiastically adding: “That’s so funny.”

“I think that’s great,” Birthistle also said, while Doupe had the following advice for viewers: “I think watch one episode of Bad Sisters, then one episode of Say Nothing and then just keep rotating until you’re done.”

Birthistle agreed, stating: “Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.”

Based on the book of the same name by investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, Say Nothing sees Doupe play prominent Irish Republican Marian Price.

On what the role was like to prepare for, the actress said: “There were a lot of things that weighed on my mind in preparation for Say Nothing.

“We had such a wonderful book and such a wonderful script to work off of. It was a real joy to watch the character and every other character in the series go on its journey, obviously all the way until the bitter end.

“You’ll see it when it comes out… It was a really interesting one to prepare for.”

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We also asked Birthistle about working with such great Irish actresses on both Bad Sisters and Kathleen is Here.

In response, she said: “I feel very lucky. I feel lucky to be part of the Bad Sisters cast and it’s such a brilliant job. I have the best time on it and I’m working with incredibly talented people as you say.

“And then to get to do [Kathleen is Here] as well with Hazel and Clare, the two Claires – my producer Clare [McCaughley] – everybody was very talented on both jobs.

“But when you’re working with particularly female-led stories or very strong talented women, it’s only ever been a really wonderful experience – a very supportive experience.

“It’s something I feel like I’ve spent a long time to get to this point in my career and it feels like we’re in quite a different place now and I feel like there’s just going to be more of that to come which makes me feel very happy.”