John Cassevetes | carolinefarrell

So, for my Irish Women in Film Series, I’ve been asking the featured ladies to name six guests that they would invite to their fantasy dinner party. Why? Because it’s fun, but also because their choices can give us an insight into a person’s influences.

I’ve had a few queries since as to what my fantasy dinner party guest list would look like, and it’s a lot more difficult than you might think to narrow it down…to make it easier, I’ve eliminated anyone still living, as, life is funny that way, and you never know who you might meet!!

So from Rock and Roll Heaven, Marc Bolan, Elvis, Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain. Phil Lynott and Jim Morrison will have to go on the reserve list, I’m afraid, and from the film gang, Montgomery Clift, Brando, Dean, River Pheonix, Audrey Hepburn and Paul Newman...

Of the ones I have picked, I would expect each of my fantasy guests to bring a few of their own fantasy guests in for the after dinner drinkies…so long as they each bring a bottle!

It’s my party and I’ll cheat if I want to…

So here goes…

Ella Fitzgerald. Well if you are going to have a singer at your party, make sure you invite the best! And she could always bring Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra along!

Countess Markievicz…because I want her inside story on the 1916 Rebellion, and I would fully expect Pearse, Connolly and the gang to gatecrash!

Robert Mitchum. Bad boy Number One! ‘Night of the Hunter’ and ‘Cape Fear’…need I say more?

Bette Davis…from the moment I saw ‘Jezebel’ when I was nine years old, I have been fascinated by her…what a woman, what a life, what a career!

Oscar Wilde…because I would imagine that he has GOT to be the best conversationalist ever to grace this planet…a man before his time! And he could bring along Sheridan le Fanu, and his old rival in love, Bram Stoker…Wilde dated Stoker’s future wife, Florence…now there’s a story!

John Cassevetes. Such an interesting and complex man, a pioneer in the world of independent film making…I could learn a thing or two from him! And, er, Falk, Gazzara and Rowlands would be very welcome too!

Quite a frustrating exercise overall, so many influential peeps, so little dream time!!

And who would be on yours???