Navan actor's role in acclaimed new short film

A Navan actor who plays a lead role in a new Ridley Scott produced short film says he owes his success to a local teacher who pushed him to act despite suffering from a debilitating stammer.

Ed Cosgrave plays one of the four main roles in 'Woodlice' a short film based on a true story, depicting grief through symbolism in both surreal and real forms.

The film looks at death through relationships, religion and motherhood drawn from the director’s own personal experiences.

The film is the brainchild of director Leonn Ward who enlisted legendary film maker Ridley Scott to produce the short along with Oscar-nominated director of photography, Robbie Ryan.

Woodlice, which was shot over four days on location in Bray and Dún Laoghaire, premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in June and the Galway Film Fleadh last week qualifying for BAFTA and Oscar consideration.

"It was very well received and was nominated for Best UK Short and also got a nomination for Best Irish Short in the Galway Film Festival so it is now Bafta qualifying which is very exciting," said the Navan actor.

"It was a real honour to work with Ridley Scott and Robbie Ryan who are just powerhouses in their field," added Ed.

"Leonn Ward is such a talented director, I was thrilled to be a part of the project."

Following graduating from the Conservatory of Music and Drama DIT in 2000, Ed has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. His TV credits include 'Fair City', 'Kilinaskully' and 'Camelot', however his career in the arts may never have come to pass if it wasn't for the encouragement of his English teacher in St Pat's.

"Richie Ball was my English teacher in school and it is actually quite a funny story. He was casting for the play, 'Philadelphia Here I come' in fourth year," said the Navan actor.

" I actually wasn't interested in doing it because I had a really bad stammer," he added.

"So I didn't do the auditions, but two days later Richie Ball called out the cast over the intercom and cast me as Master Boyle. I told him I didn't even audition, I'm not doing it, and he said 'no, you are doing it'. The character you are cast as is a drunk, alcoholic school teacher. If you come on stuttering and stammering, it is going to add to the character.

"On the opening night, I was backstage and it was coming up to my line and I was pacing up and down the corridor and I could see the exit sign and at I was very tempted to run! Thankfully I didn't run and from that moment on, I got the bug! I owe Richie a lot."

After struggling with a stammer as a youngster, there was no suggestion that Ed would go on to a job where he would go on to make a living from performing to packed out theatres night after night but through support from those who believed in him he has done just that.

"A stammer is an awful affliction on any child," reflects Ed.

"In school, you are scared to read in public and it is ironic that in 2016 I stood up in front of 100,000 people and read out the Proclamation of Independence for the centenary of the 1916 Rising and I had no problem doing it. It was a learning curve and something I managed to overcome from being pushed out of my comfort zone, I was lucky I had people there to do that who believed in me."