All her life, Ruth has been driven by a creative need to tell stories. She started in theatre at a young age, performing in productions in the Cork Opera House. Even though she loved acting as a young girl, she never saw herself as a film actor—film seemed like this magical, unattainable thing that existed somewhere far away from Cork, Ireland.
Early in her working life Rutt became a journalist. She continued to nurture her creative urge to tell stories as developed her career from a local newspaper, to establishing her own print publication before going on to produce and present a TV magazine show.
It was after Ruth became a mother that she was called back to performance, this time as a dance instructor to young students. Ruth spent nine years teaching dance, and somewhere along the way, she started taking part in local theatre again. From then on she ended her career as a dance instructor and began a full-time career as an actor.
Focusing initially on theatre productions, Ruth then secured her first screen role. Being on set and feeling the buzz and euphoria of working on a project that could eventually be seen anywhere in the world was extremely rewarding.
In addition to acting, Ruth stays busy writing and producing dramas and documentaries for radio, as well as campaigning for Ovacare, an advocacy group for women with ovarian cancer. She also serves as a community ambassador for Mary’s Meals, a global feeding programme for children in areas of extreme poverty.
Ruth will always be a storyteller. She tells stories when she writes, produces for radio, and while supporting the causes she believes in. But acting allows her to live inside the stories while she tells them. Ruth can’t imagine a better calling for a natural-born storyteller.
