Nancy Collins took it as a sign to pursue her first love – acting
10:23, 10 May 2026Updated 10:28, 10 May 2026
Nancy Collins (right) who plays Carrigstowns newest arrival Síofra(Image: Fair City Photography | Shot by Square in Square)
Fair City star Nancy Collins has landed her dream job as an actress – after working as a data scientist.
Nancy, who plays Carrigstown’s newest arrival Siofra, was made redundant from her job last December and took it as a sign to pursue her first love, acting. She always dreamed of working in the industry, but opted for a “safe job” after speaking with a guidance counsellor in school. Nancy told RSVP Live: “I grew up doing community theatre from a very young age in Youghal, Cork, where I’m from.
“From when I could speak I always wanted to be an actor, but it didn’t seem achievable and I grew out of love with it. I studied marketing in DIT for four years and hated it. I thought I would go into tech, so did a computer science conversion masters in UCC.
“I actually worked as a data scientist for the last five years. I moved up to Dublin and thought to myself it was my chance to do my Plan A, because I still wanted to be an actor. I did a part-time course in the Bow Street Academy and did a few short films, two feature films and got myself an agent.”
Nancy was made redundant from data science late last year and took it as a “sign”. She said: “I remember ages ago hearing that Margot Robbie got her start in Neighbours by emailing them.
“So I just Googled the casting director in Fair City and emailed them. At the same time, my agent was putting me forward for this role, so it’s like we attacked them from both angles.”
Nancy, whose debut scenes as barista Siofra aired on Friday night, said her experience of filming so far has been “amazing” and it “still hasn’t sunk in”.
She added: “Everyone has been so nice, so relaxed and so welcoming. Obviously everyone is really professional and we get things done, but I didn’t expect it to be so much fun.”
As for what viewers can expect from her character, Nancy said: “Siofra is a very motivated, career-driven woman with a background in tech.
“She has been struggling in the tech world and was promised a dream, but she works as a barista. She takes it very seriously and wants to work in Brewzers. She is kind of ruling the roost. Siofra gives adult Hermione Granger [Harry Potter character] vibes, but no magic. She knows her stuff, but can be very much taken up the wrong way.”
Carrigstown’s newest barista catches the eye of Ben Fahey, played by Cian Fitzsimons. Nancy told us: “Ben definitely fancies Siofra, but I’m not sure Siofra reciprocates those feelings.”
Nancy “can’t believe” how lucky she is to have landed her job in acting. She added: “I’m definitely a creative person but I had been trying to convince myself I was a tech girl for the past five years and it just wasn’t me. Now I get to be out doing what I love and getting paid. Something in me has definitely lifted, I feel I get to connect with my real self now.”