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Rose McGowan so sympathized with the senior Irish Republican Army operative she plays in Kari Skogland’s Fifty Dead Men Walking that, had she lived in Belfast during Northern Ireland’s Troubles, she’d have joined up with the Republicans.
“My heart just broke for the cause,” McGowan said at a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its world premiere Wednesday night.
The true-life thriller features McGowan as a strong-willed IRA leader who works alongside an IRA infiltrator played by Jim Sturgess, who secretly provides information to Britain’s Special Branch.
“Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it,” McGowan said.
McGowan, whose father is Irish, added that she prepared for her role by receiving extensive direction from former IRA volunteers and local Belfast Catholics.
Canadian director Kari Skogland, who adapted Martin McGartland’s 1998 autobiography to make Fifty Dead Men Walking, said former IRA volunteers provided security and logistic support for her Belfast shoot.
And creative advice. “I had many secret meetings in dark places. We were being watched by all side, phones tapped, that sort of thing,” Skogland said.
She added IRA advice on how to make a bomb, or torture and murder informants, aimed to lend the drama authenticity.
Sturgess recalled one especially emotional scene where his character, “Marty,” is inducted into the IRA, as poignant for the IRA advisers on set that broke down as the cameras rolled.
“We were in such a weird place. Everyone was recalling an intense moment, and Dickie, one of the IRA guys, was in tears,” Sturgess said.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Dear Ms. McGowan,
The recent comments you made at the ‘Toronto International Film Festival’ regarding your support for the IRA and their ‘heart breaking cause’ was disturbing and arrogant beyond belief. I come from Northern Ireland and have lived though ‘The Troubles’. I, an Irish Nationalist support the unity of our people and perhaps someday, the unity of our Island. Why do most Irish American’s profess to know everything about the Irish cause whilst actually the IRA war of terror on the streets of Northern Ireland killed fathers, mother’s brother’s and sister’s? If you want to understand what the cause was REALLY like, go and speak to the people of Omagh, County Tyrone whose wives and children had nail bombs exploded in their paths, go speak to the parents of the school group of Spanish tourists who were in the town that sunny Saturday morning and listen to their real heart felt stories. Ms McGowan, you should learn not comment about things you don’t know about. You heard one side of the story, from a terrorist… did you go and speak to the families who still mourn their loved ones… I don’t think so. Here in Ireland your rash comments just make you look ignorant. Your desperate cry for media attention has actually seriously backfired here in Ireland and I’m sure the UK too. I hope Director Kari Skogland is proud of you.
Lastly… we in Ireland are trying to make a better life for ourselves without hearing outrageous and stupid comments from self-proclaimed Irishmen born and living in North America… think before you speak next time you silly girl, You know nothing… shame on you.
Regards
M. Delaney.
ok to the person above me get a life god im irish and proud of it and my grandad was in the IRA who gives two monkeys if rose said shed join the IRA i have to admit i would of too if i was born at the time but i wasnt rose is irish and is allowed to have her say is well just because you dont like what she said doesnt mean you have to go and make a big dramatic sence about it and the part you said about rose’s “desperate cry” for media attention is a load of bull i mean out of all celebs id have to say rose is one of the most down to earth celebs youd come across shes not in the magazine like most celebs so just give her a fricking break
