Navan boy (9) stars alongside Martin Sheen in new movie
A nine-year-old Navan boy, who has proved to be a talented film actor, was in Galway last weekend with his family to attend the premiere of his first feature film, 'Stella Days'. Joey O'Sullivan from Kilcarn worked with one of the biggest names in Hollywood, Martin Sheen, as well as Oscar nominee Stephen Rea, Marcella Plunkett and Amy Huberman when the film was shot last autumn. Joey, a son of Karen and Joe O'Sullivan, has just finished third class in St Joseph's Convent of Mercy School this year. He had never acted until he saw an ad in the Meath Chronicle last year looking for young actors for the production. He applied, thinking he might get work as an extra, but was surprised and delighted to land the leading child role of Joey. The film was made by Ireland's Newgrange Pictures and Norway's Paradox Films Pictures and filmed in Tipperary and Dublin over five weeks last October and November. Directed by IFTA-winning Irish director, Thaddeus O'Sullivan,' Stella Days' features Martin Sheen as parish priest Daniel Barry, whose love for the cinema leads him on a path to help set up a local cinema in the town. He comes up against opposition from doubtful local parishioners who question his faith and Bishop Hegarty, played by Tom Hickey, who is more interested in raising funds for a new church. Joey plays the son of the leading lady in the film, Marcella Plunkett, who is a local supporter of the cinema. Amy Huberman plays his aunt, Eileen. Based on the book by Michael Doorly, the drama was produced by Jackie Larkin and Maggie Pope. Joey enjoyed filming in Tipperary and either his mum or dad was with him at all times and he brought his schoolwork with him. While 'Stella Days' was his first acting experience, he has since caught the bug and now has an agent and recently finished filming a McDonalds ad and finished recording an audio play - 'All That Falls' by Samuel Beckett. 'Stella Days' premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh last weekend, and Joey, his parents and brother and sister travelled to Galway for the event. "It was great. Joey was delighted and we all really enjoyed it," said his proud mum, Karen.