Love/Hate star Tom Vaughan Lawlor has told how he finds it “tough” and “very strange” being aggressive towards women as Nidge.
The RTE actor has been verbally abusive towards a haul of female characters – including Siobhan, Janet and Debbie.
But Tom – who admits filming the series is “non-stop and pretty intense” – feels horrific after filming the scenes.
“It’s a bizarre thing listening to yourself being aggressive, especially aggressive against women,” he said.
Intense: Tom finds it tough to be mean to women | RTE
“It’s very strange. I’ve got three sisters and my wife, and it’s very strange to be aggressive towards women.
“I found them the most difficult scenes. All the other stuff [was tough] but especially towards women I find it hard. It’s tough to film.”
And Tom said it will take him a lot of time to come down from Nidge – with his son Freddie a great helper.
Asked how he relaxes after the intense scenes, he said: “It’s usually just family stuff, coming home and doing family stuff which is lovely – just being with Freddy my son and him laughing.
Help: Tom comes down from Nidge with help of wife Claire Cox
“And just watching boring things with my wife on TV, and having a bit of food. My wife is brilliant at de-stressing me.”
And Tom, who is now starring in Howie The Rookie, told the Ray D’Arcy Show that he is totally different from Nidge – with people finding it odd when they discover he’s actually posh.
“Sometimes you get slightly odd looks or double takes. For the most people are very kind,” he said.
“I’ve had it myself seeing actors who you think are one thing, then you meet them and they are totally different. It is quite jarring, very bizarre dynamic.
Posh: Tom isn’t as rough as Nidge | RTE
“You are seeing these people in your homes, and you go, wow they are this person. Then you meet them in a different context.”
Meanwhile Tom revealed he actually hasn’t watched any of the fifth season – but does expect a sixth will come.
He added: “I haven’t seen this season. I usually watch every season before they go to air.
“This year I was doing a play and I was very busy, I didn’t round to seeing it this year.
“I literally haven’t seen anything. I’ve seen bits and pieces from stuff we did. I haven’t seen this episode.”
