‘Working in Ireland is my favourite thing’ – ‘Hidden Assets’ star Catherine Walker enjoys the comforts of home
Walker has twice worked with Ridley Scott – on House of Gucci and Napoleon – but the opportunity to work in Ireland remains a treasure to her.
“It’s always my favourite thing,” she said. “It’s my absolute favourite thing. It’s something that means the world to me. It’s a great privilege to work with colleagues from here, and be at home.
“Versaille was an extraordinary experience because I got to live in the centre of Paris for two six-month periods, but you’re still away and living out of a suitcase.
“Also, we’re working at such a high level. Irish productions are working at an extraordinarily high level, so I love it.
“Crews here have always been working at a very high standard. With more work, that gets better and better, but I do think we’ve always been punching above our weight.”
The latest chance to work here as come on the third season of RTÉ crime drama Hidden Assets. Walker plays Dr Niamh Bennett, who from the outset of the first episode is forced to deal with the repercussions of a CAB raid ending tragically.
Dr Bennett’s sister Alice (Rebecca O’Mara) flees the country. Meanwhile, her own work for a charity providing on-the-ground medical aid to refugees is caught up in the investigation.
The story gave Walker a chance to act within a fascinating moral grey area.
“Her life’s work is being being jeopardised by what CAB are investigating. There’s a wonderful dilemma there – she’s doing extraordinary work – but in dealing with nefarious governments in war torn places, and you may not act in the most morally right way.
“There’s a dilemma there, for CAB investigating her, because they’re destroying this incredibly valuable work. It was very interesting to play with that dynamic. You’re in a grey area, which is the best place to be.”
Part of the appeal of Hidden Assets from the very start has been its scope. It has reached beyond Dublin, to Antwerp in prior seasons and this time around, to Bilbao in Spain.
Walker was not part of the crew making the trip abroad, but she said the European flavour adds a “wonderful” new aspect to its production.
“It just makes the whole world of the show bigger. Working from a European perspective is so exciting for us and I loved that influence in it. It makes it really strong.
“There’s great strength to be had in co-production, and there are really interesting stories to be told that way. It’s a very clever thing. It works, and you can tell so many stories when you have those different perspectives.
“We can be a bit of a village here, so it’s nice when a story moves out. It helps our imagination and allows us to engage with stories in a different way.”
Hidden Assets airs Sundays at 9.30pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
