IT seemed inevitable that Niamh Cusack should become an actress. After all, her father, the late Cyril Cusack, was a leading actor in his time and her three sisters have all followed a career in acting. Niamh, 46, is set to appear in Amelia Bullmore's sha

IT seemed inevitable that Niamh Cusack should become an actress. After all, her father, the late Cyril Cusack, was a leading actor in his time and her three sisters have all followed a career in acting. Niamh, 46, is set to appear in Amelia Bullmore's sharp play Mammals, in which she plays a mother at the end of her tether. She said: "The play is both funny and tragic. But, very fresh, new and significant." The Dublin-born Niamh, who has been seen in a long list of television dramas and films, said: "I tend to play people who are a lot more organised than the character. However, in real-life I would liken myself to her because I'm so disorganised." Reflecting on the play, she said: "I think it's a play about love and friendship and getting through life the best way you can." Niamh said she has really enjoyed working with the cast of Mammals, - which includes Mark Bonnar and Anna Chancellor. Theatre, she said, is where her heart lies. "I do love mixing television and theatre, but if I had to choose one it would have to be theatre. "Theatre is very live and you have a very much animal experience and are able to get out in an audience." Some of Niamh's theatre credits include, A Woman of No Importance at The Gate Theatre in Dublin, Othello at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Three Sisters at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. She is known, too, as GP Kate Rowan in Heartbeat. She said: "I was in Heartbeat for about three years. I really enjoyed it and I'm still very fond of the crew." But two people she said she has enjoyed working with most during her career have been two women directors, Aisling Walsh on Little Bird in 2000 and Jean Stuart on Loving You in 2003. Niamh pursued a career in acting at the age of 23 when she went to The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and during her first year at the school, she got her first acting job at The Gate Theatre in Dublin. But before starting her acting career, she was a musician and performed as a flautist freelancing with the RTE symphony and concert orchestras. Niamh added: "All of us have such belief in the play. None of us would have left our homes if we didn't think the production was brilliant." Performances at the Arts Theatre will take place from January 30 until February 4 at 7.45pm on Mondays and Saturdays and at 2.30pm on Saturdays and Thursdays. - To book call the Box Office on 01223 503333.