Julius Caesar Cast Bio | Ross

Ahead of the run, we’ve been interviewing the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School actors cast to play alongside theatre professionals, Julian Glover and Lynn Farleigh in Julius Caesar.

Here we get to know Ross, one of the Theatre School’s talented rising stars.

Ross O’Donnellan
Mark Antony

BOVTS: A in Crave (Directors’ Cuts, Wardrobe Theatre); Stage Manager in Our Town, Black Dog in Treasure Island, Claudio in Measure for Measure, Pandarus in Troilus and Cressida, Sparkish in The Country Wife, Cecil in Vivat! Vivat Regina!, Helge in Festen, Alan in Equus. Other: Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe (Sam Wanamaker Festival); Finn in Revolution (The Hollow Crown Films); Horatio in Hamlet (Folksy Theatre - National Tour); Martinez in In the Dead of Night (The Landor Theatre, London); Reader in Artemisia’s Frame (The Platform Theatre, London).

Where are you from and how did you get into acting?
I'm from Galway, in the West of Ireland. I studied Law in Trinity College Dublin before and worked as a human rights and social justice activist. While living in New York, I started taking acting classes with The Barrow Group. When my visa was close to expiring I had no jobs or internships lined up. I had no idea what to do next, but found out that a The William Esper Studio - a New-York-based Meisner school - was doing a summer course in London. In retrospect I don't know what was going through my mind, but I moved there for the course, got a job in a bar and started applying for drama schools. BOVTS took me in and I'm so glad they did.

Who are you playing in Julius Caesar and what challenges have you faced in that role?
I'll be playing Mark Antony, a close friend of Caesar's and an army general. I always find tackling Shakespeare an exciting challenge but we've been very lucky to have Simon to guide us and to be able to draw from the experience of Julian, Lynn and John.

What's your favourite thing about working with Julian Glover, Lynn Farleigh and John Hartoch?
All three of them are fantastic to have in the rehearsal room, contributing their knowledge and ideas and making time outside of rehearsals for one-on-one sessions. We really have been spoiled to have them.

What’s your favourite thing about training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School?
The teachers are exceptionally knowledgeable and encouraging and the students are always supportive of one another - being a part of this creative community has been an honour.

How does it feel to be taking the Bristol Old Vic stage in your graduating show?
My mum is freaking out.

This June we reunite with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to present Shakespeare’s riveting political drama Julius Caesar. For more info and to book tickets, click here.