Claire’s a knockout in TV show

Editorial Department • Published 19 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Former world champion boxer Wayne McCullough with Claire Falconer.

It’s not every day a Fermanagh girl gets into a boxing ring with a former world champion.

But that’s exactly what artist and actress Claire Falconer did in Los Angeles just a couple of weeks ago, with fighter Wayne McCullough.

The pair met during filming for the new BBC Northern Ireland series Jackie’s The Boy and within days were planning a short film of their own.

“It was an exhilarating experience. I was in the ring for three hours! Wayne has the fastest punch you can imagine, but he’s a gentleman so I was left entirely intact.”

Claire, a daughter of Seamus and Ann Falconer from Enniskillen, appears in next Monday’s episode of Jackie’s The Boy as Jackie Fullerton travels across America meeting Northern Irish people who’ve chosen to make their homes there.

Claire’s living in Los Angeles, and the programme shows the spectacular landmark building housing the apartment she shares with parter Christian Filippella. It was built by movie stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, and nestles below the Griffith Observatory, not far from the legendary Holywood sign.

Claire is an accomplished artist and actress, and has appeared in several films directed by Christian. She’s now taken on the role of producer in their movie company Satyricon Pictures.

Jackie visits Claire at home, and joins her on her regular morning walk through Griffith Park.

Coincidentally one of Claire’s lifelong friends, Jane Veitch from Lisbellaw, was assistant producer on Jackie’s The Boy.

The programme will be screened at 10.35pm on Monday, August 23 on BBC One Northern Ireland.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 19 Aug 10

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