Topics covered : Acting, celebrity culture, Palestine, grief, Zionism, solidarity.
This week, I’m honoured to speak with award-winning Irish actor Denise Gough, who has gained a whole new audience thanks to her chilling and complex portrayal of the fascist officer Dedra Meero in the acclaimed Star Wars series Andor.
But Denise is so much more than a brilliant actor — she’s a deeply compassionate and courageous human being.
She has spoken openly about painful chapters of her life — including experiences of grooming and childhood abuse, and her struggle with addiction.
Now, almost two decades sober, she has built a career defined not by glamour, but by emotional truth, talent and integrity.
In this first part of our conversation (part two coming next week), Denise reflects on her recent visit to the West Bank — how witnessing life there challenged her, changed her, and deepened her commitment to the cause.
She also shares her thoughts on celebrity culture, the importance of connecting with like-minded people, and how she strives to use her public profile for good.
We also talk about the time she filmed a movie in Jordan — 'The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall' — which tells the story of a young British peace activist killed by the Israeli army, and how, even as a child, she was deeply affected by the Holocaust and wrote to world leaders like Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War.
These moments reveal a restless compassion and a lifelong instinct to speak up — even when it’s not easy.
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Part 2 coming next week.
Míle buíochas agus Saoirse don Phalaistín.
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* You can also listen to other conversations exploring Palestine on Ready to Be Real from December 2023 onwards, with guests including Ruth Smith, Daniel Maté, Dr Myriam François, Caoimhe Butterly, Róisín El Cherif, Sarah Durham Wilson, Farah Nabulsi, Misan Harriman, Hala Sourani, Dr Gabor Maté, Raeeka Yassaie, Fintan Drury, Catherine Connolly, and more.
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