Little Shea McDermott is the youngest star in a horror movie being made in Pettigo.
He wasn’t even born when the scene in which he features was filmed two weeks ago.
Indeed, he wasn’t due for another five weeks – but Shea, now 11 days old (Wednesday 22nd October 2008) , was impatient for more fame and decided to arrive early.
His mum Amanda, from Drimawark, Pettigo, gave birth to him just days after her bump was filmed as a double in the movie, Wake Wood.
Amanda’s heavily pregnant tummy was shot in silhouette behind a frosted shower door in a vital scene featuring a character played by one of the stars, Dubliner Eva Birthistle.
Hairdresser Amanda, 29, who owns the Border Cuts salon in the village, wasn’t even aware she was doubling for Eva when she was recruited for the scene.
She said: “Some of the film people happened to mention that they were looking for a bump double and somebody mentioned me.
“I was phoned on a Sunday and when I was told what they wanted I thought at first that somebody was taking the piss. On Monday I was standing behind the shower door being filmed. It was all over in five minutes and that was it. I had no lines. I know nothing of what the film is about.”
Amanda joked with cast members, including Aidan Gillen who shot to fame nine years ago as the star of a hit tv series, Queer as Folk,.
She said: “They were very nice and somebody suggested that when the baby was born I might think of naming him after Aidan. I said that was too much to ask. I had already chosen a name.”
Two days after filming the scene, and still several weeks away from taking maternity leave in her own job, Amanda’s waters broke and she was taken to hospital for the birth. “I don’t know if the excitement of the film persuaded him to come early”, she laughed.
There was even a showbiz link to Shea’s arrival. Amanda said: “I was watching The X Factor when I went into labour.” Shea weighed in 45 minutes later at 5 lbs 2 ozs.
Now he and mum are at home with three-year-older brother Tiarnan, and bus-driver dad Mark.
A Dublin-based independent production company is making the €1 million film, with involvement by horror movie specialists, Hammer, and the Irish Film Board.
The Association for the Development of Pettigo and Tullyhommon(ADOPT), in conjunction with Donegal County Council, played a major role in attracting the film to the area after producers ruled out another location under consideration, Waterford.
Reporter: Paddy Clancy