Damien Molony: “I wasn’t trying to copy John Nettles’s Bergerac”

2024 saw rumors of a modern remake of the 80s Jersey crime series Bergerac. The original star, John Nettles, who portrayed the detective sergeant for a decade, pondered if it would be feasible in today’s world. He expressed that the show was a product of “Thatcher-era Britain, an age of quick fortunes and attractive women.” He further mentioned, “In all honesty, I find it hard to picture anyone else playing the character except myself.

Currently, another individual is portraying him: Damien Molony, a 40-year-old Irish actor known for Derry Girls, Brassic, and The Split, who’s standing here next to me, gazing at the breathtaking view of St Ouen’s Bay in Jersey that faces the Atlantic.

In a different but not drastically altered state compared to his appearance in Ripper Street a decade ago, where he portrayed Detective Constable Albert Flight, Molony now takes center stage in the significant revival of this series. “I’ve worked on many projects with a large cast,” he remarks, his eyes brown and carrying a touch of the melancholy that suits existentially troubled cops. “But this role, in such a renowned series, is particularly iconic.

In its original run from 1981 to 1991, the TV show Bergerac, penned by Robert Banks Stewart, catapulted John Nettles into stardom as the detective character hailing from the fictitious Foreign Bureau. He was often depicted brooding in a burgundy 1947 Triumph Roadster or displaying a hint of frustration towards his father-in-law, Charlie. Each episode then stood alone as an individual story. However, the upcoming series, referred to by creator Toby Whithouse as “Bergerac with a twist”, will feature a continuous narrative thread throughout each season, allowing one tale to unfold gradually.

In another twist, Charlie, previously father-in-law, has transitioned into the role of mother-in-law, portrayed by Zoë Wanamaker in a commanding manner. Molony expresses his admiration, saying, “I find Zoë as Charlie absolutely brilliant and ingenious. It simply fit perfectly. From the very first reading, we couldn’t help but laugh.

In the opening episode, Molony unveils a scenario where detective Jim Bergerac is seen feeling remorseful and resolute about self-improvement. His spouse has passed away, causing him to take a sick leave from work and spiral into an alcoholic downfall. To add to his troubles, his 14-year-old daughter Kim, upset by his drinking habits, has moved in with her grandmother, Charlie.

To convince Kim and Charlie that Bergerac is a suitable father, he needs to devise a plan to rejoin his workforce and take on an investigation concerning the murder of a young woman at a prominent businessman’s mansion in tax-free Jersey. The estate is vast, with each drive adorned with luxury sports cars.

According to Molony, Bergerac is utterly devastated by the passing of his wife. However, he needs to display courage for his daughter’s sake and reassure his fellow officers that he can resume work. In truth, he should not be working at this time.

To understand the troubled state of mind of character Bergerac, Molony delved into Alcoholics Anonymous and their 12-step program. He remembers having an insightful chat with a recovered alcoholic who had recently lost a parent. The person shared that the hardest part was waking up after dreaming about their deceased parent, only to remember they were truly gone. This struck Molony deeply. In the series, there’s a scene where Bergerac wakes up with a hangover and for a moment thinks everything is alright again.

Apart from his acting skills, Molony, who is married with two children, often uses his personal life experiences as a source of inspiration. He explains, “Being a father definitely aids me when portraying a father. During a scene, I’d try to replace it with my own family situation, asking myself, ‘What if this happened in my life?’ I would strive to find something that had already occurred in my own experiences.” This approach seems quite different from John Nettles’s series focusing on money and attractive women. Molony clarifies, “I wasn’t attempting to imitate Nettles’s Bergerac. Instead, I aimed to contribute my unique perspective. I believe this interpretation is darker.

Raised in Dublin, Molony learned from observing Irish rugby star Brian O’Driscoll’s team talks through videos. He admired how O’Driscoll carried himself in the locker room, which reminded him of an incident room at a police station. In other words, he saw it as a situation where clear instructions were given and no return was expected until the task was completed. Was Molony a skilled rugby player? He admitted that he was abysmal during his school years due to being too small and fearful; he often got trampled.

Despite struggling in the mud, Molony found himself pondering a career in acting. He had always dreamed of this, having spent countless hours watching TV as a child. He was completely captivated and believed MacGyver to be the most awesome guy on Earth. In secondary school, however, he was quite shy and felt uncomfortable enough to audition for plays due to his fear of standing out.

He had no connections in the industry, so he didn’t know how to turn his dream into reality since he had no family members working in it.

Molony studied business and politics at Trinity College Dublin, experimented with dramatics and eventually participated in a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Later, he tried out for a drama school in London and was accepted. In hindsight, he seems quite overconfident. However, he recalls feeling extremely eager about it.

He’s not too proud to learn from others, as evident in his experience working with Matthew Macfadyen on Ripper Street. It was one of my second TV jobs, and he truly stood out. While talent is crucial, leading effectively on set is equally important. Matthew excelled at this, creating such a comfortable atmosphere that it brought out the best in everyone.

He had envisioned himself as the main character, with a specific plan if given the opportunity. Now, he finally has that chance to put his vision into action.

2025-02-18 04:05

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