Lola Petticrew, one of Ireland's most fearless actors, is embracing her 30th birthday with a sense of liberation. For years, she has been afraid of getting old - the notion that life would slow down and become less exciting seemed daunting to her. But now, at the threshold of this new decade, she feels like she's coming into herself. "I feel like I'm just becoming me," she says with a smile. "And it feels amazing."
For Petticrew, 30 is not just a number - it's a symbol of growth and self-discovery. She's been spending the past year playing two Irish women from different generations in her roles for Netflix and Channel 4 shows, Say Nothing and Trespasses respectively. While both characters may seem worlds apart, Petticrew assures us that they couldn't be more different. "I think it's funny how people assume I'm doing another Troubles story," she chuckles. But to Petticrew, these stories are just that - stories.
As an Irish actor, Petticrew feels a sense of responsibility to tell the stories of her own generation and community. She's not afraid to speak out on issues close to her heart, from Palestine to classism in the arts world. "If someone's giving me space to talk about something," she says, "it might as well be about something that matters." Her outspoken nature has sometimes led people to suggest she tone it down - but Petticrew has no intention of being quiet.
In Trespasses, Petticrew plays Cushla Lavery, a young Catholic teacher who becomes embroiled in a complicated love story with an older Protestant man. The show explores themes of morality and privacy in a society where cultural omertà still holds sway. For Petticrew, the experience was deeply personal - she devoured the book on which the series is based and knew instantly that she had to be a part of it.
When asked about her own experiences growing up in west Belfast, Petticrew talks fondly of her childhood. "I think I grew up like everyone else," she says with a laugh. "A lot of women talking." But as she grows older, she's beginning to realize the importance of telling her own story - one that is authentic and raw. And for Petticrew, there's no place more homey than west Belfast.
As our conversation comes to a close, Petticrew reveals her plans for Christmas: boarding a plane back east, straight to her house, where she'll settle in with her dog and indulge in a classic west Belfast Chinese - salt and chilli chips with all the trimmings. It's a meal that's both comforting and divisive - but to Petticrew, it's just home. "If you do it once," she says, with a knowing smile, "you'll do it every time."
For Petticrew, 30 is not just a number - it's a symbol of growth and self-discovery. She's been spending the past year playing two Irish women from different generations in her roles for Netflix and Channel 4 shows, Say Nothing and Trespasses respectively. While both characters may seem worlds apart, Petticrew assures us that they couldn't be more different. "I think it's funny how people assume I'm doing another Troubles story," she chuckles. But to Petticrew, these stories are just that - stories.
As an Irish actor, Petticrew feels a sense of responsibility to tell the stories of her own generation and community. She's not afraid to speak out on issues close to her heart, from Palestine to classism in the arts world. "If someone's giving me space to talk about something," she says, "it might as well be about something that matters." Her outspoken nature has sometimes led people to suggest she tone it down - but Petticrew has no intention of being quiet.
In Trespasses, Petticrew plays Cushla Lavery, a young Catholic teacher who becomes embroiled in a complicated love story with an older Protestant man. The show explores themes of morality and privacy in a society where cultural omertà still holds sway. For Petticrew, the experience was deeply personal - she devoured the book on which the series is based and knew instantly that she had to be a part of it.
When asked about her own experiences growing up in west Belfast, Petticrew talks fondly of her childhood. "I think I grew up like everyone else," she says with a laugh. "A lot of women talking." But as she grows older, she's beginning to realize the importance of telling her own story - one that is authentic and raw. And for Petticrew, there's no place more homey than west Belfast.
As our conversation comes to a close, Petticrew reveals her plans for Christmas: boarding a plane back east, straight to her house, where she'll settle in with her dog and indulge in a classic west Belfast Chinese - salt and chilli chips with all the trimmings. It's a meal that's both comforting and divisive - but to Petticrew, it's just home. "If you do it once," she says, with a knowing smile, "you'll do it every time."
Anyway, I do love how she's owning her role in Irish storytelling and not afraid to speak out on issues. But what's with the constant need for context? Why can't we just watch a show without being spoon-fed background info on Petticrew's personal life and childhood? 
30 is definitely not old, especially when you're feeling like the best version of yourself 
. I think Lola Petticrew is super inspiring for speaking out on issues close to her heart - classism in the arts world and Palestine are really important topics that need more voices 
. It's awesome that she's using her platform as an actress to tell stories about her own generation and community 
. And who can blame her for craving comfort food like salt and chilli chips after playing two complex characters from different generations? 
I'm curious to see what the future holds for this talented Irish actress! 
she's like the queen of her own timeline and i love how she's not afraid to speak her mind 
as an irish actor she's got a responsibility to tell stories that matter to her community and i'm so here for it 
can't wait to watch all these shows and learn more about irish history through lola's eyes 
i mean have u seen her range in say nothing and trespasses?! 
i love how she's embracing her 30s as a time of growth and self-discovery - i'm def feeling that same vibe rn 
can we pls get more interviews with petticrew?! 
. And what's with this obsession over telling her "own story" and being all authentic and raw? It's just a marketing ploy to make people feel bad about themselves so they'll buy more Netflix subscriptions 
. Give me a break!
I'm dying over here! But seriously, Petticrew seems like the real deal, always staying true to herself and using her platform for good. Can't wait to see what she does next! 
Like, Lola Petticrew is embracing this whole decade thing and finding herself, which is honestly so inspiring. I mean, she's been in some intense roles lately, but instead of being afraid to take them on, she's using it as an opportunity to grow and learn more about her own experiences. And I love how passionate she is about telling stories that matter – it's like, totally relatable, you know? 
I feel like she's really breaking free from the expectations of who people think she should be, you know? 
Shouldn't it be hard for someone to just "become themselves" and not face criticism or expectations from others? 
. For me, it's still the same old worries and concerns about getting older and what's left of my youth. I mean, have you seen the latest social media trends? Everyone's talking about "midlife crises" like it's some kind of badge of honor 
.
And when we do finally start to feel like we're coming into ourselves, let's hope it doesn't come with the usual anxiety and self-doubt... 
anyway, i think lola petticrew is pretty cool for speaking her mind and telling stories that matter to her generation. like who doesn't love salt and chilli chips on christmas tho? 
can you imagine having a whole house full of dogs and being all cozy with your pup... sounds like the ultimate west belfast vibes to me 
climate change is getting worse by the day and we're already seeing the devastating effects on our planet 
it's not all doom and gloom though, but sadly, it's hard to look away from the bad news 
. Her outspoken nature is a testament to her conviction and dedication to telling authentic, raw stories 
.
? The way she talks about her experiences as a young woman from the Troubles era is so honest and raw 
. And that Christmas meal sounds like the ultimate comfort food to me