Actor Philippa Dunne: ‘Someone once saw me in a play and said that I was disgusting’

Born in Dublin, Philippa Dunne, 44, trained at the Gaiety School of Acting and co-founded a comedy group called Diet of Worms. Her TV work includes Derry Girls and This Is Going to Hurt. Since 2016, she has played Anne Flynn in the BBC sitcom Motherland and its spin-off, Amandaland, now in its second series; her performance won her a Bafta nomination this year. She is married with a daughter and lives in London.When were you happiest?

Any time I’m in rehearsals.What is your greatest fear?

I’ve a phobia of statues. It does go back to childhood. My parents brought me to look at a French church late at night. Since then I can’t deal with them.What is your earliest memory?

Being about two and a half and drawing stick men on little wooden blocks with a blue marker. I thought this was the best idea and why hadn’t someone thought of doing it already.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Laziness.What is the trait you most deplore in others?