From Mayo to HBO

GROWING up, Swinford native Ellie McHale-Roe never imagined that one day she would find herself stepping onto the set of a major HBO production. Yet this year, the Mayo actress became part of one of television’s most iconic fantasy worlds, appearing in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’, the latest series in the ‘Game of Thrones’ series.

“I guess I always wanted to pursue acting,” Ellie told The Mayo News. “But I probably just didn’t have the confidence in myself yet.”

Rather than heading straight down the acting route, Ellie first completed an English degree, followed by a master’s in public relations. That path took her as far as San Francisco, where she worked in PR before eventually returning home during the COVID pandemic.

“That was the moment I just thought, why not go for it?” she explained. “I had experienced life a bit more, and I felt ready.”

Back in Ireland, she began training one-to-one at the Gaiety School of Acting before enrolling at Bow Street Academy in Dublin.

“Bow Street was incredible. It’s such a practical and supportive environment, and it really gave me the tools to approach auditions and roles.”

Ellie’s love of film and television, she says, began early on in her living room in Mayo.

“We’re a huge film family. We’d sit around watching movies or shows and then dissect them afterwards. Storytelling was always how we connected.”

Explaining what it felt like to be on the other side of the screen, Ellie said her first on-screen roles were both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

“It’s exhilarating, but also terrifying,” she admits. “You put in so much preparation, and then when you realise it’s going to air, and everyone you know will see it, it’s daunting. I find it hard to watch myself.”

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A significant stepping stone came with ‘The Cousin’, a Storyland production in which Ellie landed the lead female role. The part required her to perform in a Dublin accent, something she admits finding difficult as a Mayo woman.

“I was the only non-Dublin actor at the callback,” she recalls. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m not sure I’ve got this.’ But I just went for it.”

The experience proved invaluable, giving her the confidence to take on bigger auditions. Including one that would lead her to HBO.

Ellie originally auditioned for a different role in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’; however, she was given an opportunity to play a different part. When the call finally came, she was at Glastonbury, battling bad phone coverage.

“I had a message from my agent telling me to call her as soon as possible. I was between two roles at the time, and when she told me which one I got, I was just ecstatic. I rang my parents straight away - they’re my number one supporters.”

For someone who grew up watching ‘Game of Thrones’ with her family, joining that world felt surreal.

“It’s such an iconic universe. Knowing I was going to be part of it was unreal.”

On set, Ellie says the scale of the production left a lasting impression.

“You really have to see it to believe it — the sets, the costumes, the number of crew. When you step onto set, it genuinely feels like another world.”

Working with director Owen Harris and an international cast, including Galway actor Peter Claffey, was something she’ll never forget.

“It was just incredible to meet so many inspiring people. Being on a production like that makes future auditions less daunting. You realise you can handle it.”

When it comes to inspiration, Ellie says she doesn’t have to look far.

“Ireland is a creative country,” she says. “We’re natural storytellers.”

“We love Brendan Gleeson in my house, and Jesse Buckley is hugely inspiring.”

As for what comes next, Ellie is humbly ambitious.

“I’m still very early in my career. Right now, it’s about building something long-term, doing meaningful work and staying curious.”

She’s particularly drawn to period drama, which is not much of a surprise given her recent experience. However, Ellie says she remains open to whatever challenges come her way.

“It’s a career where you hear a lot of ‘no’, but you can’t be afraid of that. I didn’t take a straight path, but now I’ve ended up on an HBO series - something I never would have dreamed of.”

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