HE HAS played a khaki-clad soldier in Vietnam, a blue-collar airline union leader and more recently a smartly dressed US president, but yesterday film legend Martin Sheen was donning clerical garb for his new Irish-set movie.
The West Wingactor made his first appearance in Fethard yesterday morning on the set of Stella Days, which is currently undergoing a three-week shoot in the Co Tipperary town.
The star of Hollywood movies such as Apocalypse Now, Badlandsand Wall Streetis now starring in the movie, set in 1950s Ireland, which tells the tale of a priest who establishes a cinema for his parishioners but, in so doing, falls foul of the bishop.
Yesterday saw a busy day of filming for Sheen, who plays the main part of Fr Daniel. The film also stars Stephen Rea and Amy Huberman.
“The town is brilliant,” location manager Dermot Cleary said. “Everyone is just so relaxed. They’re all coming out for a watch but they’re all very respectful.” The morning saw the crew ensconced in McCarthy’s Hotel, before all involved decamped to the Holy Trinity Church in the town for the afternoon.
Part of the attraction for Sheen was that the story is set in Borrisokane in north Tipperary, his mother’s native village.
The film is based on Martin Doorley's book, Stella Days 1957-1967: The Life and Times of a Rural Irish Cinema.
