EXCLUSIVE | 'Billy the Kid' star Eileen O'Higgins talks about bringing Kathleen to life
EPIX’s latest western drama ‘Billy the Kid’ is the latest attempt to dramatize the life of the infamous American outlaw William H Bonney. The outlaw, who got famous as Billy the Kid, killed eight men before dying at the age of 21. We have seen a lot of projects based on the aforementioned historical figure, but the EPIX series undoubtedly gives viewers an in-depth look at his life. Most importantly, it talks about the circumstances and people that changed his life forever.
According to the series, Billy’s (Tom Blyth) mother Kathleen McCarty played a vital role in his life and gave him all she could. In the series, the role of Kathleen is played by the supremely talented actress Eileen O’Higgins. The Irish actress has done a phenomenal job in showing the character's humanity even when she is being met with challenging circumstances. Kathleen is the only reason why Billy still has empathy for people. Kathleen’s death in the show made everyone emotional and fans could not help but applaud Eileen for her extraordinary acting skills.
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MEAWW caught up with Eileen to discuss the show and how she approached the role that was filled with challenges. She also opened up about her time with the cast, especially the show’s lead Tom Blyth.
MEAWW: You have a really diverse resume. From period dramas to thriller movies, you have done it all. So, how has your journey been as an actor in the entertainment industry?
Eileen: I have been really fortunate because I get really excited when I get the chance of telling an amazing story and I’ve been involved in telling some really incredible stories. Sometimes people look at me and go, ‘You are in the wrong century, go back in time’ (laughs). There’s something wonderful about having the ability to go back and sort of imagine or have a little taste of what it would be to live in times before we have got here. Quite recently, I’ve done modern-day and independent movies which have been super fun and real heartbreakers. That’s because I find people so interesting and telling stories that really touch on what it is to be human.
I have been really privileged to work with some of my favorite actors of all time and to be on set and watch these people do what they are supposed to do is really incredible. Hopefully, I learned something from them and applied it on screen. I have a lot of gratitude for the opportunities that I’ve had and feel really grateful for everything. Also, beyond telling the stories, the connections you make on set and I’ve been fortunate in finding diamonds on set that have remained my friends in real life as well.
MEAWW: Did you always want to be an actor? Or you took some time to realize that acting is the profession that you want to be a part of? Also, when you got the part, how did you prepare for it?
Eileen: I grew up in a very small town in Ireland and I didn’t know any actors nor did acting seem like a viable career option. When I went to school, it was like what is considered a good job and I always got the same answers. ‘You’d be a lovely teach’ and ‘become doctor or nurse’ were always the answers that I heard. Obviously, I never had a big drive toward any of them, but I was always performing. However, I always thought of it as a hobby and my father also called it a ‘hobby’ (laughs). I auditioned for the drama and got into it, so that’s how the journey started. Being an actor seemed so far away, I basically felt that I couldn’t it. If anyone is reading this and thinks they can never be an actor, it is possible because I achieved what I wanted to. So, just keep the hope alive and train.
MEAWW: We have seen a lot of projects based on Billy. But not a lot was heard about his mother Kathleen, and the important role she played in his life. So how did the role come up? And what kind of preparations went into it?
Eileen: The role came up through my manager in LA and I had done another job where I was playing a mother. I think, they saw it which is why I got to the audition part. When I got the part, I did not know that Billy was the kid of Irish immigrants, and as I read Michael’s script, I had no idea about the strong female that had created the wonderful, complex, sensitive, and smart man. The part just spoke to me and I just read it and thought of my extremely wonderful mother that I don’t give enough shout-outs. So, it would be easy for me to say that I took inspiration from some of the women I know in my life. In Ireland, the rural female dynamic is very strong. I understood all of that and then showed that in my role.
For me, all I am trained to do is completely empathize with the choices of the character so that it looks truthful. I just want everyone to believe that I am Kathleen.
MEAWW: One thing that connected with a lot of people was Billy's kindness. Even though he is an outlaw, he has a lot of empathy and it was all because of his mother. What was that one element you wanted to show the world through Kathleen?
Eileen: Wow, it’s pretty difficult to pinpoint just one. There are a few things that were really important for me. I think about how Kathleen sees the world and how this woman operates in a time where the female voice is basically nowhere to be seen. She has no rights, she can’t even go to the bank and get low, which is so silly. But in spite of her lack of status, she does have a strong voice and that is important because when you think you are powerless, you actually have full power and conviction over who you are as a person and how you behave.
She’s (Kathleen) very certain about those things and that’s how I wanted the character to feel. I didn’t want her to feel powerless or someone with little hope because she has a lot of hope about so many things. She had a lot of hope for what they will achieve in spite of all the corruption. She’s not judgemental and was such a strong feminine character and that was important for me to show.
MEAWW: You have worked with such a talented pool of actors like Tom Blyth, Daniel Webber, Joey Batey, and more. What kind of relationship do you share with your co-stars?
Eileen: Oh my god, it was really good. Jamie, who plays my second husband Antrim, is the nicest person you will ever meet and we have been friends for years. We did a play together in London. So, I knew him and it was nice to have a buddy on set. Jonah (Young Billy) is so generous.
Joey, who played the role of Patty, was amazing and I completely believed he was Patty. He’s such a talented actor. And I cannot speak more highly of Tom. He led from the front and is a really fun guy in real life. I am just so happy about his performance because I knew his performance is really amazing. When you get to work with an actor as talented as Tom, it’s really hard to describe the feeling. My love for them is huge. Lucky me.
'Billy the Kid' returns to EPIX with a new episode every Sunday at 9 pm EST.