Rising star Eleanor O’Brien stars in the acclaimed new Irish language mystery Báite, winner of Best Irish Language Feature Film at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh and nominated in four categories at this year’s 2026 IFTA Awards.

Set in September 1975, Báite (The Drowned) begins with the discovery of a body in the receding waters of a lake. For Peggy Casey (played by Eleanor), who runs the local pub, the revelation threatens to upend not just her life, but an entire community built on secrets long submerged…

We asked Eleanor for her choice cultural picks…

FILM

I recently watched Perfect Days, a film about a man who cleans public toilets in Japan. And that’s essentially the whole story. Yet it’s one of the most joyous, life-affirming films I’ve seen this year.

The lead actor, Kōji Yakusho, is exceptional. He finds such quiet joy and dignity in his work, and it’s deeply moving to watch. It’s a slow-paced, calm film, the kind you turn to when you feel like you need to slow down or be gently held for a while.

MUSIC

Lily Allen’s new album West End Girl is fantastic. It is theatrical, playful, and full of brilliant storytelling. I’d recommend listening to it in one sitting. That’s what I did, while putting on a wash and tidying up, and it felt like going on a journey. I loved every minute of it.

BOOK

I’m currently reading How to Be an Artist, which I bought years ago in Kildare. My dad is a painter, so I grew up around art, looking at it, making it, living alongside it. I love comparing acting to visual art. With art, the work exists outside of you; you can step back and look at it. Acting, on the other hand, needs an audience. I find myself feeding both their processes and mentalities into how I think about acting.

THEATRE

I saw The Weir in London and felt such a sense of pride in Ireland and in the art it produces. It’s a beautiful piece of storytelling. I met a woman who was French who came to the show specifically to see Brendan Gleeson. She was saying how she loved him and I just felt very proud of Brendan, even though I have never met him, I thought it was just so lovely how this woman felt so moved by Irish storytelling that she made such an effort to see the play.

TV

I watched Pluribus, and it is nuts in the best way. I really enjoyed Season 1. The first episode had me thinking, “No way, not for me.” But I stuck with it, and it’s brilliant. Really well written and completely unique. I won’t spoil a thing, but it’s from the same creator as Breaking Bad, which says a lot. But also very different to Breaking Bad. A great sci-fi show to watch, and very thought-provoking!

GIG

I went to Other Voices in Wales, and there were so many talented musicians. I particularly loved George Houston from Donegal. He has a beautiful voice and feels completely unique. I found myself trying to place who he reminded me of and I couldn’t. Which I think says a lot about him and how he is just one of a kind. I especially love his songs White Fang and Drag Queen.

ART

I adore going to the final year show at Limerick School of Art and Design. It’s always so inspiring, I’d recommend it to anyone who needs a creative lift. Every year it is fantastic! One piece that stayed with me was Don’t Let Me Fall Apart by Charlie Yris. It was a ceramic work that personified derelict houses in Limerick, homes that could potentially help combat the housing crisis. It was thoughtful, moving, and socially aware in a way that really struck me.

PODCAST

The weather has been so relentless lately. So much rain, so little sunlight. It feels deeply connected to the climate crisis, and sometimes I feel like I’m going mad because it doesn’t seem to get the urgent mainstream coverage it deserves.

That’s why I listen to The Climate Alarm Clock. It’s exceptional. The presenters are warm and down-to-earth, and they bring on brilliant guests. It fills a gap for me, a place to hear what’s actually happening and what can be done. It is also very reassuring to hear other people and their concerns. Even though it is a huge topic and overwhelming, it is nice to know I am not alone in feeling concerned for the planet.

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TECH

The app Too Good To Go is magical. Restaurants and cafés use it to sell surplus food at reduced prices instead of throwing it away. It’s good food, affordable, and actively tackling food waste. I love it as I love food.

THE NEXT BIG THING…

I don’t think the next big thing needs to be a person or a trend. I’d love it to be something deeper like a shift in what we value as a society. Irish people are incredibly hard workers. We’re also known around the world for being sound, for our warmth, our humour, our ability to connect and care for one another. That spirit of community is one of our greatest strengths. I’d love to see that same energy reflected more clearly in how we shape our country’s future.

There are some very obvious challenges that deserve greater attention and urgency. I would be thrilled to see more focus placed on making Ireland an exceptional place to live, particularly in housing and becoming more environmentally responsible. We have the creativity, the work ethic, and the heart for it.

Báite is released in cinemas nationwide on 6 March 2026