Aidan O'Sullivan has built a career out of keeping a straight face while making the rest of us laugh. From stand-up nights to short films, from villainous turns to eccentric scene-stealers, he’s at home anywhere there’s a story to tell and an audience to entertain. A core member of the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival team, he sits down with writer Emma Donnelly to chat about what drew him into comedy, the joy of performance and the secret labour that sits behind each and every punchline.
Let's start with an easy one...
Sounds ominous.
It is. What do you love about performance?
I love the sense of expression and trepidation that performance brings, plus working with other people. The mix of the social and creative; you are always learning. Comedy gives you more of a chance to show range. With some films, yes, there is both laughter and fun but also serious moments. These might deal with sadness and loss. In fact, my favourite film of all time does just this, Midnight Run.
Is that the one where Arnie plays a wrongfully convicted policeman who gets his shot at freedom?
You're thinking of The Running Man.
Oh, embarrassing. I'll make sure to edit that bit out.
Good idea. But you should watch Midnight Run though, it's a great film.
Eh... Gun to your head: writing or performing?
So at the moment it’s performing, although I’ve been doing more writing workshops lately and also going to writers’ rooms, which I’m finding very enjoyable. Maybe I will try my hand at both if I get the time.
Then what are the roles that really tickle you?
So, I like playing both eccentric comedy roles but also villains as it’s more fun and, ultimately, creative.
DICFF is great fun.
It is, but I have to admit, I am biased.
Tell me about what you guys do there?
The programme of Dublin International Comedy Film Festival involves so many different aspects of the craft, such as comedy films, stand-up and live script performances. Also because we are a young festival, the work behind the scenes is all done by a tightknit group of friends and volunteers. Most of us work in film and/or comedy as actors, writers, directors, producers, comedians and of course we are all big fans of comedy.
I imagine so!
So we help each other with the running of the festival, all while juggling other commitments of work and family. What is extra special about DICFF is the audience too; there are lots of people in the city and the surrounding counties that make it along to the festival each year. It’s a great event to catch up with people who you might not see that often. It's also a great spot to meet new people. And the cherry on the top is that we get international filmmakers and comedians from all over the world. They are the ones who put the “International” in DICFF.
And you?
My role at DICFF started out by taking part as an audience member. But then I enjoyed the festival that much so I decided to help out more the following year in whatever way that I could help. Now I help promote the festival online and in person whenever and wherever I get the opportunity. I also host Q&As and help organise our volunteers as well as the photographers and videographers. And also I do some hosting at the Stand Up Comedian Competition in the heats.
There's a rake of festivals. What's different about DICFF?
Well firstly, it's for comedy films only. Plus it includes a Stand-Up competition. A lot of comedians are also actors in films and shows, so it just makes sense to include this at the festival. It's a crossover. The heats for this start in early summer, long before the actual festival. At these events, our stand-ups perform their sets, all leading up to the finale, which takes place on Saturday 29th November.
What is also distinct is that, while many other festivals have a script competition, where you send in your scripts to be judged, at DICFF we have a live script reading competition. This is much more fun, the writers assemble actors to rehearse and then perform them to a live audience.
Eh, no pressure?
It's great craic.
What is the DICFF audience like?
Brilliant. Our audience is very diverse, from Irish and international filmmakers and comedians to friends of theirs who want to show support. We also get tourists and people who are passing by, who are curious as to what the festival is about. The feedback we get year on year has been how friendly and interesting a festival this has been to attend.
What are you most excited about this year?
That this year’s festival is held exclusively in the historic Tailors’ Hall in the Liberties area of Dublin 8 between Christchurch and St Patrick’s Cathedral. There is so much history attached to this protected building, including where one of Ireland’s most famous revolutionaries Theobald Wolfe Tone had his secret meetings. It’s a great place for a festival because it's near the centre of Dublin and also because of the grand hall, complete with big, old-fashioned windows and fireplaces. There's a breakout room for filmmakers to network and, of course, a nice cosy bar downstairs to socialise and get to know each other.
Another easy one... Why do you think comedy is important?
Well, in film it is important, both creatively and culturally, because at the end of the day, we all need a good laugh. When you’re laughing, and even smiling, you feel a lot better. And the better your mood then the more productive and creative you are. In Ireland, we have a reputation for being good storytellers and also good fun to be around. So as a result, we have the ability to make funny films and help to spread our culture of storytelling to a worldwide audience.
Always a plus!
What is your all-time top comedy moment?
Fawlty Towers would have to be my absolute favourite.
That's a great one. Is there a comedic performance you consider pure perfection
Bill Murray’s performances in any of his projects are absolutely perfect. He plays the situations straight, understated and with charm.
You're some man for the comedy, but Galar dealt with incredibly weighty subject matter and was very close to home. Does your approach shift when working on something serious?
It does. Ahead of working on Galar I had worked with the film’s writer and director Niall Duffy on The Rock on the Sea, but as a production assistant. The film was set and filmed in Donegal, just like Galar. Firstly, it was just great to be acting in a film back home in Donegal. And you're right, the subject matter of Galar is a very serious problem in large parts of the county. So there's a responsibility to the subject matter. My approach to acting would be the same on a serious film as it would be working on something funny. At the end of the day, you need to be prepared and ready to do the job as best you can.
Always the professional! Which is harder to land do you reckon, comedy or tragedy?
Comedy is harder, because you have to get the timing right but also deliver the lines straight. You must resist the temptation to play for laughs. When acting in comedy the actor should never be in on the joke but also make the audience get the joke. The test on how good the humour is in the film is whether or not the audience are laughing.
Tell us more about The Astronaut… a speaking part alongside Laurence Fishburne and Kate Mara on a big-budget Hollywood film? Exciting!
Yes, my biggest role yet on a big-budget Hollywood film, but it was also one of my smallest acting parts. I had one full day on the set in a house in Co Wicklow. It was exciting to be around a lot of people and there was a frenetic energy. It was like a small village of filmmakers all bustling about. I even got to have a quick chat with Laurence Fishburne while we were sitting beside each other getting our hair and make-up done.
No way! What was he like?
He was friendly and very relaxed. Apparently it was his first time working in Ireland. Both of my scenes were short to film but we did have more time setting up and rehearsing the two scenes. Kate Mara was lovely too. It was interesting how between takes, both herself and Laurence Fishburne remained so relaxed and concentrated, despite the pressure of long hours and limited time to get the necessary shots.
Co-producing Tiolacadh was a new step...
It was.
Did your comedy background, the ability to improv and think quickly, help you when wearing multiple hats on set?
Well, Tiolacadh was a rewarding challenge overall. Sadhbh Larkin Coyle, who wrote, directed and acted in Tiolacadh, asked me to come on board with the film alongside S.J. M’Rad to help with pre-production, on-location filming and also helping to promote the film on social media and at various film festivals. I didn’t do a course on producing, but from talking to more experienced people and also working with a great cast and crew made the job more manageable. Having a background in comedy made me more able to enjoy the experience, while also making sure that I did the best job possible.
You certainly did. Thanks so much for chatting with us!
Thanks for having me.
Don't tell anyone about the Midnight Run mix up.
I won't.
Grand, I'll send this off to Film Ireland now. They'll definitely edit and fix that.
I would hope so. It would be very unprofessional of them to leave it in.
There is still time to get your tickets to the last two days of Dublin International Comedy Festival, which takes place from the 27th – 29th November in the historic Tailors’ Hall in the Liberties.
Aidan O'Sullivan
Aidan is a Dublin-based actor and a graduate of Bow Street Academy. He has a degree in Performing Arts and has also trained in the Meisner Technique with Momentum Studios Dublin. Aidan has acted in the IFTA-nominated best feature film The Troubles, A Dublin Story, which was also screened as part of the Galway Film Fleadh and California’s Newport Beach Film Festival in 2022. Also screened at Newport Beach Film Festival in 2022 was the short film Mildly Different, which he acted in.
Recently Aidan acted in the feature film Horseshoe, which won Best First Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh 2025. Aidan won best actor award at the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival 2022 for the comedy short film Wallpaper. He started doing open mic stand-up comedy in early 2022 and trained with stand-up comedian Stephen Mullan at Bow Street Academy and also with long-time stand-up comedian Ciaran McMahon.
Alongside acting and stand-up comedy he also works as a voiceover artist. Recently Aidan could be seen on the cinema screen in the award-winning feature film Dublin Crust by Baz Black. In March he went over to the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose in California to represent My Guardian Angel short film. He is now working alongside Mo and Cathal and a team of volunteers with the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival / DICFF. Aidan is also taking part in writing workshops and looking forward to spending more time writing in the near future. He also co-produced Tiolacadh (Divine Gift), which was screened at the Galway Film Fleadh and which will also be screened at the Foyle Film Festival.
Read more about his work at AidanOSullivanActor.com
