Meet the Cast – Tracy Coogan

1. What’s your name and where do you come from?
Hello, I’m Tracy Coogan and I’m from County Meath, Ireland

2. Who are you playing in Hedda Gabler?
I play Julia Tesman

3. What’s your favourite play?
I have so many favourites both old and new. Medea, Macbeth, Anna Christie, A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing.

4. If you could play any role in any play who would you play and why?
It would have to be Medea. I think it is probably one of the most challenging roles for an actress to ever play. The idea of taking on that thrills me beyond words.

5. What are you most excited about discovering in this new production of Hedda Gabler?
Ohhhh, I can’t wait to get into the underbelly of this play and Ibsen. What cages we put ourselves in? The same cages exist today? Society? Why?

6. What was your first ever theatrical experience?
Juno and the Paycock, Séan O’Casey

7. Who is your inspiration?
Tristan and Lucian, my children. Gena Rowlands, Cate Blanchett, Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Michael Haneke and many more.

8. What’s the best thing about being an actor?
Playing all the time. Losing myself in my work. Living all these incredible lives. Learning, constantly.

9. What did you see the last time you went to the theatre?
I just saw Nora: A Dolls House at the Young Vic and I saw the sublime Dame Margaret Smith in A German Life last year that I’m still thinking about, Amazing!

10. If you were going to destroy Lovborg’s manuscript how would you do it?
I would, over time remove pages from his manuscript so that it would never be complete. (That’s the first thought that came to mind, so mean)