Love Island's Irish star Megan is set for big things, says her former drama teacher
Megan Forte oozes talent on stage, according to her drama school trainer Rob Murphy, who says he was mesmerised by her performances
A stage school owner who trained Irish Love Island sensation Megan Forte Clarke and gave her her first break last night said: 'I always knew she was going to be a star'.
Rob Murphy, who runs Dublin's Dramatic Action stage school and is famous for playing 'Buffy' in Alan Hughes' annual Christmas panto, also predicts Megan and her beau on the show, Tommy Bradley, are set to be 'the next Molly-Mae and Tommy'.
'She has Italian blood and so does Tommy. They're both so good looking,' Rob told the Sunday World.
'We are absolutely thrilled for her. I do think her and Tommy could be the next Molly-Mae [Hague] and Tommy [Fury], there's something there and it seems quite genuine.
'I do think they are going to be the next big thing.
'They are really, really cute together and she is not playing a character, that is who she is.'
Megan Forte and Tommy Bradley
When jokingly asked if he might take a leaf out of Cilla Black's book and buy a hat, he replies: 'A hat? A Las Vegas show piece. Buffy will be there!'
Rob managed to see the first two episodes of the series before flying to London on Wednesday with more than 40 of his stage school class for their annual trip to the British capital.
'I think she is absolutely brilliant. She has really shown how down to earth she is with her reaction to things, her facial expressions,' he said.
'I think she has been herself. It's great to hear a Dublin accent in there – and a really authentic Dublin accent. She is flying the flag and flying it well.'
Rob runs his stage school classes in several parts of Dublin, including in 24-year-old Megan's native Finglas, located on the city's northside.
'She joined the stage school ten years ago as a little nipper,' he recalls.
Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague
'We have a class in Finglas every Saturday with our stage school, she's from that area. I remember the day that she walked in with three or four friends, but she stood out a mile, she was really very talented.
'She did musical theatre with us. She played Elphaba in our Wicked scene, she played Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. She played Mrs Wormwood in our Matilda show, she always got lead roles, she always had something that was just extra in stage school
'From the moment she walked in the door she was oozing with talent, or as my friend Twink would say 'diseased with talent'.
'You always find talent when you teach young people, but she did have the X Factor; there was something about Megan.'
Rob recalls having to pinch himself on one particular day when he was left mesmerised by her natural talent.
'I always remember sitting in rehearsal when we were doing Wicked before it was a film, and she was singing 'I'm Not That Girl',' he smiles.
'Time stood still when she sang that song.'
Megan Forte oozes talent on stage, according to her drama school trainer Rob Murphy, who says he was mesmerised by her performances
He can't remember her being that interested in lads as a teenager as she was so immersed in training for her roles.
'She was focussed so much on her talent and always focussed on learning her lines and being prepared for class,' he explains.
'That was really her passion when she was a teenager, coming to class prepared and fighting to get that lead role. She was always on it. I think as a teenager she number one focus was always theatre.
'She was energetic, bubbly and could take a joke. I always like to take a fun atmosphere when I'm teaching kids, and she was always up for a laugh, but was a hard worker and we always knew she was going to be a star – and here she is.
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'Her mother, Alison, was such a good stage school mother, she was so supportive. She was always really supportive of the stage school and the opportunities Megan got from the stage school.'
Rob fondly remembers bringing Megan on the annual stage school trip to London a couple of times.
'When she turned 18 we had an open call for a Princess for the Civic Theatre Panto (in Tallaght). She walked away with the part,' he says.
'I still remember making that phonecall to tell her she got the part and she bawled crying, it was her first professional contract for theatre work.
'I always knew there was something with Megan that was quite special. I gave her her first professional contract, I gave her the part of Snow White many moons ago and from there she went on to London.
Stage school owner Rob Murphy
'So, I was chuffed to hear then when she got into college in the UK.
'When Megan went to England it was during Covid and lockdowns and we lost that bit of contact. But I'm still in touch with her mother, Alison.'
He says he was thrilled when it was announced Megan was appearing on the show.
'When I heard the news I said to her 'Oh my God Alison', she said 'Oh stop, my phone hasn't stopped!' I said 'I'm just delighted'.' he says.
'I actually think sometimes you might need reality TV now to break into the West End or that kind of thing, and I think she is going to be inundated with work because she has got a fine singing voice
'Love Island, people might say 'it's a reality show blah blah blah', but it is a stepping stone now for young people and I'm hoping it's going to be a really good stepping stone for Megan because she has talent."
'The minute we land home this weekend I have all the programmes on record. Everyone in the stage school are all mad about it and cheering her on.'
On Thursday's show, Megan also opened up about a scar on her forehead, which was caused by an accident several months ago in England when she fell down some stairs.
'I knew about her accident. Megan has always been open and transparent about that scar and I think even on her TikToks she talks about the scar on her forehead and I think that's very good for a role model for young people,' Rob points out.
'We are all this body image stuff and anxiety going on, I think that is a role model to young people to speak about differences and are facing differences on their body and I commend her for that.
'She has always been transparent and I commend her for that.'
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