We all had to make changes to our workplace during the pandemic, whether it’s working from home, masks while on duty or regular sanitising, but the cast of Smother had some major changes to get used to themselves while filming during lockdowns.
Niamh Walsh, who plays Jenny in the show spoke to Jenny Green about doing her own makeup on set and another major change almost all Irish people would struggle with…
“At the very beginning…we did [have to do their own makeup], which was met with just jaw drops from all of us. Anyone who’s ever met a makeup artist knows that it’s a really hard job and just me with a mascara wand is like totally hopeless. Luckily [it’s set in] modern day, so it’s pretty low-key.
“I’ve got mates who were in fantasy shows who were putting on sparkly ears and contact lenses…” she explained.
“Luckily by season two a professional was doing my makeup. I think you can tell between the two scenes that we’ve done ourselves and someone else has done,” she said.
Although the characters look pretty natural in the show, Niamh assured listeners it’s all an illusion, “No makeup-makeup takes a good hour to put on.”
Another major shock was that there was no tea allowed on set during the early days of the pandemic. Imagine no tea at work?!
“Things loosened up as they went on but the first protocol they brought in was because of Covid there would be no tea station… can you imagine the devastation? By the end we were allowed to bring our own tea flasks thank goodness,” Niamh explained.
We are glad they were able to continue the show sans tea and makeup artists while they needed to, and we can look forward to new episodes of Smother on RTE One this weekend as season two airs this Sunday at 9:30pm.