Monica Dolan on Portraying Catherine Corless in The Lost Children of Tuam
- Amateur historian Catherine Corless is brought to the screen by Laurence Olivier Award-winning English actress Monica Dolan in the new film The Lost Children of Tuam, directed by...
- Director Frank Berry provided Dolan with a research pack upon her casting, but the actress chose to visit Corless in her home environment to deepen her understanding of...
- Produced by Liam Neeson, the film adapts Dan Barry’s 2017 New York Times article detailing the fear, abuse, and shame historically tied to Ireland's mother and baby homes,...
Amateur historian Catherine Corless is brought to the screen by Laurence Olivier Award-winning English actress Monica Dolan in the new film The Lost Children of Tuam, directed by Frank Berry. The production recounts how Corless uncovered the dark history of the mother and baby home in Tuam, Ireland, exposing a major scandal within the Irish Catholic Church.
Unlocking the Role Through Research and a Garden Tour
Director Frank Berry provided Dolan with a research pack upon her casting, but the actress chose to visit Corless in her home environment to deepen her understanding of the role. Dolan noted that maps and documents were initially expected, but the meeting shifted when Corless displayed a model of the mother and baby home she constructed due to a lack of available photographs.
During the visit, Corless introduced Dolan to her garden and field at the back of her smallholding, accompanied by her dog Shadow. Dolan observed a distinct spiritual aspect to Corless, noting that when asked what mattered most to her, Corless pointed to her garden. Dolan stated, Everything about her is about wanting to get the message out there and the truth out there.
According to Dolan, Corless was adamant that the film focus on the babies and survivors rather than on herself.
Production Background and Real-Life Survivors
Produced by Liam Neeson, the film adapts Dan Barry’s 2017 New York Times article detailing the fear, abuse, and shame historically tied to Ireland’s mother and baby homes, the last of which closed in 1998. Dolan and Berry met with several survivors at their hotel during the shoot.
The second-to-last day of filming featured a scene where Dolan, portraying Corless, addresses actual survivors in a hotel and challenges them to organize an event around the story timed to a papal visit to Ireland. Dolan described the day as overwhelming and emotionally affecting, noting the strong support from the survivors in the room. I really felt the bravery in the room,
Dolan said.
Dolan connected the subject matter to her own family background. Her mother is from Enniscorthy and her father is from Swords in Dublin, and both parents were protective of their culture after moving to England. Though her parents had not previously discussed the homes with her, Dolan recalled taking them to see the film Philomena years later, after which they appeared ashen-faced yet relieved. She also noted that her father’s schooling under the Christian Brothers left him with difficult experiences.
