Ericka Roe: ‘We had no money, no experience – just a prayer, a pint and a lot of cheek’

When I was a kid, I used to tell my ma I wanted to be a politician!

But honestly, I think I was more into the drama of it all—the posters, the speeches, the pageantry. Turns out, I was chasing a stage, not a career in the Dáil. In college, I studied theatre, because if I was going to be a broke student, I might as well enjoy myself.  

My most formative work experience was setting up Breadline in 2017 with Thommas Kane Byrne.

We had no money, no experience – just a prayer, a pint and a lot of cheek. Fast forward and we’ve just put on our first Arts Council-funded play. We added Ciara Ivie to the team along the way and somehow, in the midst of all the chaos, it’s working.  

My first real job was at a market research call centre – nothing prepares you for rejection like cold-calling strangers to ask about their tampon preferences.

The most invaluable thing I learned early on in my career was that you’re never going to please everyone or be everyone’s cup of tea, so stop trying. Be true to yourself and you’ll rarely go wrong.

A common misconception about what I do is that it’s glamorous.

Sure, if glamour means shivering in the rain at 11pm in a questionable costume, then absolutely honey, it’s very glamorous. My main responsibility in work is to show up, give it my all and keep the self-doubt on mute.

I don’t have one career mentor or person I took to for advice, but older actors with similar casting or backgrounds are always helpful.

Maureen Hughes, the casting director for our recent show It’s Always Your Bleedin’ Own, has been amazing over the years at steering me in the right direction when I’ve needed it. Most people are very generous with their time and want to help and offer guidance if they’re in a position to.

The biggest risk I have taken in my career so far is jumping headfirst into acting!

It’s not exactly a career for the risk-averse, you basically sign up to have rejection on speed dial. But honestly, I’m a bit of an adrenaline chaser because I thrive on the chaos and when it works out, there’s nothing like it.

I wake at around 8am, unless I’ve got an early call time, in which case it’s pure regret and coffee.

I start my working day at whatever time the call sheet demands. Sometimes it’s a cruel 5am, sometimes it’s 2pm, who knows?

I can’t go to work without my Kindle.

There’s so much waiting around on set and a book keeps me sane.  

On an average workday, I juggle imposter syndrome and the fine art of looking like I know what I’m doing.

I travel to work by foot. However, I’m about to start driving lessons, which is terrifying. But apparently it’s essential…

The first thing I do every morning is check my phone.

Addicted? Absolutely. Will I still take three days to reply to your text? Of course. My morning routine is coffee first. Always. I’ve been trying to get back into yoga—“trying” being the keyword.  

The first thing I do at work is suss out the food situation. Priorities.

I break for lunch whenever they tell me I can.  

The most useful business tool I use every day is my phone for emails, WhatsApp and expertly dodging phone calls.

I save time by saying, “Ah, sure, it’ll be grand,” and hoping for the best. That and being as prepared as possible, being able to go with the flow at the ever-changing work day and not getting pissed off when things don’t go to plan.

I rarely get through my working day without a phone call from Thommas.

He loves a call and I would rather a text or voice note so we’re trying to get the balance right for that at the moment!

The best part of my day is crawling into bed with my dogs, Honey and Buster. Pure bliss.

The most challenging part of my day is convincing myself I belong here. Imposter syndrome and self-doubt are persistent, but so am I. I know it’s been a good day if I’ve made it home without getting an email that starts with, ‘Quick call?’

I usually end my day at Grogans.

A Guinness and a b*tch about how the day went is my kind of therapy.

Before I go to bed, I’ll cuddle the dogs and overthink tomorrow.

I often prepare for tomorrow by taking magnesium, zinc and praying for eight hours of sleep.   

After a long work week, I destress by a freezing sea swim.

I’ll probably regret it until I don’t. 

The career accomplishment I’m most proud of is keeping Breadline alive and thriving.

It’s been a proper graft—side jobs, funding chaos, navigating schedules, the lot—but it’s all worth it. I want it to become a respected, long-running theatre company and that takes hard work.

If you want to get into my line of work, my advice is to grow a thick skin.

Keep your humour intact, keep good supportive people around you who won’t fill your head with bullsh*t and don’t let the quiet spells knock you. Find things you love to do in the downtime too. It’s a great job, but it’s not your whole life.

I’ve just finished working on a few things I can’t talk about yet (classic actor response, I know).

I’ve also just wrapped on It’s Always Your Bleedin’ Own, a Breadline production that ran at Project Arts Centre in December. Written by TKB and directed by Ronan Phelan, it starred myself, Lloyd Cooney—an unreal actor of both stage and screen—and Cameron Hogan, who’s fresh out of college and already a force to be reckoned with. It was a deadly show.