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The Assembly - Season 1 (IE) - Episode 03: Rosie O’Donnell
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00:0134 autistic and neurodivergent adults from all over Ireland have gathered in
00:06Dublin's Docklands for a television program like no other.
00:10Welcome to the assembly.
00:11Why do you think Trump targets you so much?
00:14Was there a specific moment in your life that made you realize you had to speak out?
00:17How do you see yourself in the future?
00:22This location has been specially chosen to suit our cast.
00:26There are no lights, they're free to come and go as they please, and they share the space with the
00:31crew.
00:35What do you think we should be asking?
00:38What brand of tea do you like?
00:39Do you have any secret talents?
00:42Do you still think Tom Cruise is the perfect man?
00:45We're getting back to the question, like why did you attend as well?
00:49What's something you wish audiences knew about you?
00:52And please tell me everything!
00:56There's no script, no rules, no secrets.
01:00This isn't over, you cannot refuse.
01:03The team has been busy researching today's subject.
01:06They are ready for action.
01:08Welcome to the assembly.
01:20I can't wait to meet her and see her face, based on my questions and these little teddies.
01:27We know she came to Ireland because she and Trump are having issues, shall we say, in their relationship.
01:33But I'm interested to know how that made her feel, and also her thoughts on autism.
01:38You know, she is a child who's neurodivergent, so it'll be interesting to hear what she says.
01:42Hello.
01:42How are you?
01:43Good, what's your name?
01:44Amy.
01:45Nice to meet you.
01:46Nice to meet you.
01:47Hey.
01:47Hi honey, what's your name?
01:48Billy.
01:48Hi Billy.
01:49Nice to meet you, Rosie.
01:50Nice to meet you, Billy.
01:51I got something for you.
01:52You do?
01:53Thank you so much.
01:54You're very welcome.
01:55These are much safer than regular candles.
01:57Yep.
01:57Nice to have you here.
01:58You too, Rosie.
01:59Hi.
02:00Hello Rosie.
02:01What's your name?
02:01Emily.
02:02Hi Emily, nice to meet you.
02:03Nice to meet you.
02:04Nice to meet you.
02:05I'm very nervous because I know she has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
02:12You work out a lot, don't you?
02:13You look pretty good.
02:14I'm being powerful, yeah.
02:15Yeah, how are you doing that?
02:17Good?
02:17I'm good.
02:18Junior National.
02:19Wow, Junior National, and nice hair too.
02:22Hello The Assembly, how is everyone today?
02:25Hi.
02:27To introduce today, we have Amy.
02:31Take it Amy.
02:33Hello and welcome to The Assembly.
02:36We're a group of unique autistic and neurodivergent interviewers and we're really happy to have
02:43you here with us today.
02:44Our approach is simple, no rules, no limits, just the space to be yourself.
02:49Tell us a little bit about who you are.
02:51Thank you, Amy.
02:53You're welcome, Rosie.
02:54My name is Rosie O'Donnell, I'm 63.
02:56I am an actress and a comedian.
02:59I'm the mother of five children, all adopted.
03:02And I've recently moved here to Ireland with my youngest child, 12, and they have autism.
03:08They're also non-binary, so they go by they-them, even though sometimes I mess up and stay she,
03:14so if I do, you can correct me.
03:16Sure.
03:16Because they correct me every single day, and I'm very happy to be here.
03:20The first questioner we have today is Emily.
03:26From reading your posts online, it has become clear to me that you have very strong opinions about the current
03:31President of America.
03:33Yes.
03:34That's okay.
03:35That's okay.
03:36I've read online that you've attended one of the President's weddings.
03:39This is true.
03:40And why did you attend his wedding when let's just say you don't seem to be his number one fan?
03:45Well, it was before he was running for anything.
03:47He was just a sort of wannabe celebrity rich guy.
03:51He's got a sordid past, to say the least.
03:53Well, getting back to the question, like why did you attend his wedding, do you think?
03:58Well, it was just like a kick, you know?
04:00What do you mean by that?
04:01Like a fun little thing to do on a Saturday, you know?
04:04Okay.
04:04And this was, you know, before I had children, over 30 years ago.
04:08I just went as a kick, and that was that.
04:11Yeah.
04:11Thank you so much.
04:13There she is.
04:14She's got the cap on.
04:15Courtney is our next interviewer.
04:18Hello, Courtney.
04:19Hello, Rosie.
04:20Why do you think Trump targets you so much?
04:23I think I remind him of girls from his childhood because he grew up in Queens and I grew up
04:28in Long Island very close.
04:30We have a similar accent, which I hate when people say I sound like him because he doesn't sound that
04:35good, if you ask me.
04:36But, you know, I think that I remind him of the girls from his childhood who didn't take any crap
04:43from him.
04:43And he doesn't like that.
04:45You know, according to all the research, he wasn't necessarily well-liked in school.
04:49He wasn't somebody who had a lot of friends.
04:53And I think it really triggers him to his childhood.
04:56Fair play, Courtney.
04:58And up next, it's Adam.
05:01Adam, what do you got for me?
05:03You share a lot about your life.
05:04How does that make you feel?
05:05Very good.
05:06I'm lucky because when you're a stand-up comedian, what you have to do is talk about what makes your
05:12perspective unique.
05:14And so it taught me how to talk about my life.
05:17Sometimes my kids don't love it.
05:19They're like, do you have to bring me in for your act?
05:21I'm like, I'm afraid I do.
05:22Because you have to use what's in your real life in order to create art.
05:26I'll leave you with one more question.
05:28Okay.
05:29What is something that you wish more people cared about?
05:32Well, I wish more people cared about making life more easy to manage for autistic people, neurodivergent people.
05:40Yes.
05:40I think that, especially in the United States, there's not a lot of services for kids when they get to
05:47be 18.
05:47Yeah, they did very much here as well.
05:49They seem to forget you once you hit 18.
05:51Yeah, and it doesn't disappear as we all know.
05:54And so to have places where autistic people can be understood and work and live their lives fully and, you
06:04know, that would be my goal.
06:06Thank you very much.
06:06Thank you, honey.
06:07You're going to hand over to Kristen.
06:10Hi, Kristen.
06:11How are you?
06:11I'm well.
06:12How are you, honey?
06:13I'm good.
06:14Good.
06:14What is it like working with the Americans?
06:17Well, I've only worked with Americans, mostly, until January when I moved here.
06:23And now I work with Irish people all the time.
06:26And I have to say that it's very different.
06:29You know, people here, they're not obsessed with celebrity like in America.
06:33In America, celebrity is a really big deal and it's hard to sort of go out to have a dinner
06:38at a restaurant.
06:39People always want to come over and talk to you and everything.
06:43And here, people are just friendly.
06:45After I'm done with my dinner and I'm walking out with my child, someone will say,
06:50Welcome to Ireland, Rosie.
06:52Welcome.
06:52You're welcome here.
06:53And everyone is very sweet and very nice.
06:56So I like working with both.
06:58And I plan on staying in Ireland for a long time.
07:02David.
07:03David, if you want to step up.
07:05Hi, Rosie.
07:06How are you?
07:06Hello.
07:06How are you?
07:07I'm good.
07:07Thank you very much.
07:08I see that you have a non-binary autistic.
07:13When you found out that they were autistic, how did it make you feel?
07:17When I found out they were autistic, they were only two.
07:20Okay.
07:21So I didn't know what to expect and we learned about autism together.
07:25And I knew from reading and doing research that when you meet one autistic person, you've
07:30met one autistic person and everyone would be different.
07:34And so it's been a joy to get to know them and to get to love them and to be
07:39their mom.
07:40But when I found out they were non-binary, they told me when they were about ten, they
07:45lined up all their stuffed animals and they said, I have something to say.
07:49All of my animals are non-binary.
07:53I said, all of them, even the giraffe.
07:55And she said, especially the giraffe.
07:58But I asked what that meant because I wanted to see what they understood it to mean.
08:03And they said, it means I'm not a boy and I'm not a girl.
08:07And I said, okay, that's all right with me.
08:10Thanks for telling me.
08:11And then she asked me if I was non-binary.
08:13And I told her when I was a kid, there was no such thing as non-binary, that you were
08:18either gay or you were straight.
08:20And, you know, I'm just a plain old-fashioned lesbian, you know?
08:24OG lesbian.
08:24OG lesbian, exactly.
08:27Billy.
08:28Hello, Billy.
08:29Hello, Billy.
08:31Hello, Billy.
08:32Hello, Rosie.
08:32Hi, Billy.
08:33How did you do?
08:34I'm doing good.
08:35How are you?
08:35I'm good.
08:36I'm from Dunleer County, Loud, and I was born in New York City, USA.
08:41Wow!
08:42I'm from New York City myself.
08:44Oh, yeah.
08:44Well, mine is Upper East Manhattan when I was born in 1993.
08:49So, how do you feel coming to this small country after living in a big country like America?
08:56Well, I felt very excited to come here.
08:58I did my 23andMe ancestry DNA sample where you have to swipe your mouth and send it in.
09:06And it came back, we are 100% Irish, the O'Donnell family.
09:10I always knew that if I had to ever leave the United States, and, uh, and I felt I did,
09:16I would come to Ireland.
09:18Ahem.
09:19Let me say this.
09:20Ireland is a very beautiful country, and I hope you are very happy living here.
09:26Thank you, Billy.
09:27I am very happy living here.
09:29Billy, do you know the song that has your name in it, Billy Don't Be A Hero?
09:35Do you know that song?
09:37Billy, don't be a hero.
09:39Don't be a fool with your life.
09:44Billy, don't be a hero.
09:47Come back and make me your wife.
09:50Then, he leaned over and he French kissed me.
09:54Oh, my God!
09:56On live TV!
10:05Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
10:10Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
10:21Our next interviewer is Kevin.
10:24Hi, Kevin.
10:25Hi, Rosie. How are you?
10:26How are you?
10:27I like your shirt.
10:28It's so nice and red.
10:29What memories or stories do you have from doing the duet with Meatloaf on your show?
10:33Oh, boy.
10:33I'm a master fan of his.
10:35Do you remember that?
10:36Yeah, I've seen it.
10:37It was scary.
10:38We did that song.
10:39Stop right there, you gotta know right now.
10:43Before you go on your father, do you love me?
10:46Do you love me?
10:47Well, then, he leaned over and he French kissed me.
10:53On live TV!
10:56I was in shock.
10:57I didn't know what to do.
10:58I was like,
10:59Oh!
10:59Oh!
11:00Oh!
11:01Ah!
11:02No!
11:04I did not like that.
11:06But he was, he was a nice guy aside from the French kiss.
11:10And I talked about it on the show saying,
11:12Do you know what he did yesterday?
11:13He French kissed me.
11:14That was scary.
11:15And his mother wrote me a letter and said,
11:17Don't say that about my son.
11:21But I thought he was nice, and I liked his voice,
11:24and I grew up with his music,
11:26so I tried to forgive him, but it wasn't easy.
11:29I'd do anything for a love,
11:32but I won't do that!
11:35Or that!
11:38Now, Connor, you are up next, my friends.
11:42Hello, Connor.
11:44Hello, Rosie.
11:46How are ya?
11:47Good, you?
11:47I'm pretty good, thank you.
11:49Yep.
11:49My name is Connor Kelly.
11:51I'm, I'm, I'm from Betty's Town, County Mead.
11:55County Mead.
11:56Yeah.
11:56What type of music do you like?
11:59I love all kinds of music.
12:01I just went to the Electric Picnic Music Festival,
12:04and I got to see...
12:06Hosier, Hosier, and who was great.
12:09I loved him, and I got to see Chapel Rhone,
12:12and those two were favorites, but growing up,
12:15I always loved Barbra Streisand, and Elton John,
12:18and Bette Midler, and all those kind of groups,
12:21but my favorite kind of music is Broadway music.
12:24Ooh!
12:25Very good.
12:26Very good.
12:26And you are passing over to Una.
12:29Hello.
12:30Hi.
12:31Hi.
12:33Was there any difficulty bringing Clay's dog to Ireland,
12:36and did the dog have to go into quarantine?
12:39The dog did not have to go into quarantine
12:41because it's an autism service dog.
12:44What type of dog is it?
12:45It's a black lab,
12:46and we had to get a lot of shots and a lot of paperwork,
12:51but she was allowed to be in the cabin with us,
12:54and she did not have to go into any kind of isolation afterwards.
12:59It's the best dog I've ever had.
13:01It was trained for two and a half years in a prison
13:04with a hundred commands,
13:06and when Clay is dysregulated,
13:09the dog goes and lays on top of them,
13:12and they calm down, and Clay really loves her.
13:15What's her name?
13:16Kuma, which is Japanese for bear.
13:20Frank, you ready to go?
13:22Yeah, Frank. There you go, Frank.
13:24Hello.
13:25Can I ask you a question?
13:26Sure.
13:26When were you diagnosed?
13:29Twelve years ago at the age of 50.
13:32You're welcome.
13:33Now you can ask me whatever you like.
13:34During high school,
13:35you were voted homecoming queen, prom queen,
13:38class president, and class clown.
13:41Does that mean that at that time you still try to fit in with the crowd,
13:44or do you think that your sense of humor caused you to be accepted
13:48despite being different?
13:49I think my sense of humor helped a lot.
13:52I think that I was very friendly and compassionate.
13:56I cared about everyone.
13:57I wouldn't only stay with one group.
13:59Yeah.
14:00Like I was friends with the techie people.
14:02I was friends with the potheads.
14:03I was friends with the jocks.
14:05I played every sport.
14:07Like I had a need to make the teachers love me because my mom had died
14:12and I wanted the approval of parents.
14:16Yeah.
14:16So I was, you know, not, I was a class clown,
14:19but not at the expense of the teacher.
14:21I tried to make the teachers laugh, you know.
14:24All right.
14:24And so I think my sense of humor definitely helped,
14:28but I was not any different when I was in high school than I am right now.
14:33You know, I knew I was gay, but I didn't want to act on it.
14:37I didn't know how to act on it.
14:39I didn't, you know, I fell in love with a girl in high school,
14:42but I didn't know that that was what was happening to me
14:44when I couldn't eat and my stomach was turning
14:47and I would see her in the hallway and my heart would go like that.
14:50And, you know, sorry?
14:52Racing.
14:53Racing.
14:53I thought you said, where is she?
14:54I'm like, she's here.
14:57Yeah, my heart would be racing.
14:59And, yes, and it took me a while to figure out that that's what it was.
15:04You know, unrequited, she was in love with Augie Tofano,
15:07who looked just like you with all his muscles.
15:12But it wasn't until I went to college and then realized,
15:16oh, you're definitely gay, you know.
15:18I was in my rental car, I remember, I was like 20 or something,
15:23and I was renting a car and I was driving and I was going,
15:26I am a lesbian, I am a gay person,
15:29I am driving a car as a gay person in America.
15:32Like, I just had to keep saying it to myself
15:34so I would believe it and know it, you know.
15:37Thank you, those are great questions.
15:38Thank you for answering them.
15:41Kiran, ready to go?
15:46Hi, Rosie.
15:47Hi, Kiran, how are you?
15:48You've obviously had a long career,
15:50but there's one role that's very special to me,
15:53and that's Tariq from Tarzan.
15:55Oh, yes.
15:56I did that film, my kid was, my oldest boy was five,
16:01and then my second child was three when the movie came out.
16:05So I didn't explain to my child that I was the voice of the monkey.
16:10And so in the middle of the movie, he stands on his chair and he goes,
16:14That monkey's my mama!
16:19Oh, no!
16:21And a lot of autistic people respond to Tariq,
16:24and some people have come up to me in the mall or in a restaurant and said,
16:28The fun has arrived!
16:33Because I'd be starstruck if I saw you in the cinema.
16:36Would you?
16:37Well, I'd say hello and then you'd relax and it would all be over.
16:41Thank you very much.
16:42Thank you. Great job.
16:44Sean's up next.
16:45Yes.
16:45Hello, Sean.
16:46Hello, Rosie.
16:47My name is Sean.
16:49Do you like traveling by bus or train in Ireland?
16:52I love traveling by train.
16:54My cousins live in Belfast,
16:56and my kid and I take the train up there almost every weekend to visit them.
17:01Every weekend?
17:02Yeah.
17:03Because we only knew two people when we moved here.
17:05There's a new Belfast Grand Central Station opens now.
17:08Yes, I've been there.
17:10I've never been, but I would love to go up and see it.
17:12Yeah, it's beautiful.
17:13Really clean and nice.
17:14It is.
17:14Thank you so much.
17:16Our next is Sive.
17:17Hello.
17:18Hello.
17:18It's very nice to meet you.
17:19Nice to meet you as well.
17:21So, my first question is, what is having a non-binary child like for you?
17:26It wasn't hard for me.
17:27I did not have any trouble accepting their declaration that they were non-binary, and I got
17:32they tattooed on my wrist.
17:34That's a lovely tattoo.
17:35In their handwriting, because whenever I would say she, they would hold up a sign that said
17:42they.
17:43And I said, what do I do when you're not here?
17:46She said, you better get a tattoo.
17:47And if I say she now, she goes, I guess your tattoo's not working.
17:56They sound great.
17:57Well, thank you.
17:58I have a present for you.
18:00Excellent.
18:01Oh, wow.
18:02That's beautiful.
18:04What a great job.
18:06Thank you so much.
18:07Wow.
18:08Love it.
18:08Love it.
18:09Very good artist.
18:10Lovely meeting you.
18:11Lovely to meet you as well.
18:12Thank you so much.
18:13And you are going to be handing over to Amy.
18:17It's your turn, Amy.
18:20Hello.
18:21Hi, Amy.
18:22The Sound of Music is one of your all-time favorite movies.
18:25Yes.
18:26What is your favorite song from that movie?
18:28I Must Have Done Something Good.
18:30That's a really good song.
18:31Yeah.
18:32That's a beautiful song, I think, about understanding that you create everything in your life.
18:38And I just love the love story between Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
18:43That's beautiful.
18:44That's the first time we've had a song mentioned, and you haven't burst into song.
18:48Douding me whether or not you should.
18:53So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.
19:02That's a beautiful song.
19:04That's so nice.
19:05Ready?
19:06Hey, Martin.
19:08Do you have a favorite quote from one of your own movies?
19:13Oh, um, I think my favorite quote from one of my movies is, do you think there's somebody
19:18in this country who ain't seen your bosoms?
19:22And what was the name of that film?
19:24League of Their Own.
19:25League of Their Own.
19:26That was the League of Their Own.
19:27And my character Doris said that to her best friend character named May, who was played
19:31by Madonna.
19:32And that's the one that everyone says to me the most in the street.
19:38And speaking of League of Their Own, what was your own favorite part about playing Doris?
19:45Doris Murphy was my favorite character to play.
19:48And I was very lucky.
19:50My agent called and said, can you play baseball?
19:53And I was very good at baseball, so I got the part.
19:56And I remember thinking, if I don't get this part, I'm not going to try to be an actress.
20:00Because I didn't look like most actresses.
20:03I didn't sound like most actresses.
20:05But I knew if I wasn't going to get cast in the baseball movie, the chances of me getting
20:10cast in anything was pretty small.
20:12So lucky for me, Penny Marshall gave me that role.
20:15Thank you, Martin.
20:16Thank you so much.
20:17David, you are going to get set up.
20:20A surprise performance for Rosie O'Connor.
20:24From lovely David.
20:26So, yeah.
20:26So this is a tune I wrote about being autistic.
20:30It's a song called Different.
20:32And I hope you like it, so.
20:43How many times will you put me down?
20:48Until you realize that I'm already on the ground.
20:59I'm hoping you get tired of this old contest.
21:07Cause I'm so tired of finding out.
21:13We're not different, no way to say you and I.
21:29Do you still think Tom Cruise is the perfect man?
21:32He's never missed my birthday.
21:33Ooh.
21:41Virgin Mobile.
21:42Proud sponsor of this show.
21:46Virgin Mobile.
21:48Proud sponsor of this show.
21:51Virgin Mobile.
21:53Proud sponsor of this show.
21:57Marjorie, you ready to go?
22:00Hi.
22:01Do you still think Tom Cruise is the perfect man?
22:03That's something you said on your older shows?
22:07Yeah, you know, I used to think that.
22:09We're friendly in the celebrity vernacular.
22:11He's never missed my birthday.
22:13Ooh.
22:14He sends me flowers every year on my birthday with a note.
22:17And he sends me a cake every Christmas.
22:20Ah.
22:21So he's been very, very kind.
22:23Now, I don't agree with Scientology.
22:26Oh.
22:26At all.
22:27But I wouldn't discuss that with him in that we don't have that kind of a friendship.
22:32It's not like, I don't have his number that I could just call his cell and go, what's
22:37up, Tom?
22:37It's Roe, you know.
22:38I don't know that there is a perfect man or a perfect woman.
22:42I was just talking really as a teenage kind of put the poster up on your wall kind of feeling.
22:48Yeah, exactly.
22:49Like a heartthrob.
22:50That was fabulous.
22:51And up next, we have got Max.
22:53And Max is with his communication regulation partner, Anna.
22:57Hello, Max.
22:59H.
23:01I.
23:03R.
23:05O.
23:06S.
23:08I.
23:11E.
23:13Hi, Rosie.
23:14Hi.
23:16P.
23:17E.
23:17O.
23:21P.
23:22L.
23:24E.
23:26H.
23:28A.
23:30D.
23:32A.
23:33L.
23:34O.
23:37T.
23:38S.
23:40A.
23:42Y.
23:43People had a lot to say when you portrayed.
23:46A.
23:47D.
23:48I.
23:49S.
23:51A.
23:52B.
23:53L.
23:55E.
23:56D.
23:58Okay.
23:59People had a lot to say when you portrayed a disabled woman.
24:03What would you say to them?
24:04Well, I played a woman in a movie called Riding the Bus with My Sister.
24:09Which was a true story about a woman who didn't have a specific diagnosis of autism.
24:15But I think that she did have autism.
24:17Back then they didn't give out diagnoses as often.
24:21But I got to meet her in real life.
24:24And her name is Beth Simon.
24:27And her sister Rachel wrote the book.
24:29We went and got it made.
24:31And Angelica Houston was the director of that movie.
24:34And I got to play Beth.
24:37And it was one of my favorite roles that I've ever done.
24:40Some of the feedback was positive and some wasn't.
24:44Some people felt that it was too broad of a character.
24:48But it was very specific to Beth Simon.
24:51That is very much how Beth Simon spoke.
24:55And the way she sort of stemmed with her hands.
24:58And the way her jaw was a little distended.
25:01And she sort of talked like that.
25:03And she looked away when she would talk to me.
25:06And talk like, so Rosie, very nice to meet you.
25:08My name is Beth Simon.
25:09And I loved playing her.
25:11Thank you very much for asking.
25:13Wonderful question.
25:13T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U.
25:26Thank you, Rosie.
25:27Thank you very much.
25:28Wonderful job.
25:31It is Orla.
25:33Orla.
25:34Hello.
25:35So, Rosie, have you ever seen or heard or watched
25:38the Eurovision Song Contest?
25:41I have.
25:42I only saw it this year for the first time.
25:45Yeah.
25:45And I was very impressed with it.
25:47I thought I'd ask you that because many Americans
25:50don't know Eurovision.
25:51I didn't know it until I got here.
25:53Yeah.
25:53And then I was like, everyone was talking about it.
25:56I'm a massive Eurovision fan.
25:58I wanted Austria to win all along this year.
26:03It's their third title, which was 66, 2014.
26:08They've won those years as well.
26:10And Ireland, on the other hand, is tied with Sweden
26:15for the most number of Eurovision wins.
26:17Oh, wow.
26:18I didn't know that.
26:19Your lovely horse?
26:20Not quite my lovely horse.
26:24I'd see that as a fake Eurovision.
26:27But, yeah, like, my favourite this year was definitely Austria.
26:31They deserved the win.
26:33Fair play.
26:33They did deserve the win.
26:35Thank you, Rosie.
26:36And our next interviewer is Liam.
26:39Oh, jump scare.
26:41Come on, Liam.
26:42Liam, here we go.
26:45All right, all right.
26:47Okay.
26:48Enough.
26:49Hello, Liam.
26:50Hi.
26:51Hi.
26:52They're all film related because I'm a big cinephile.
26:55Okay.
26:55I loved Tarzan growing up and a lot of Disney films as well.
27:00Sure.
27:01What is your dream musical role?
27:04Madame Trenardier in Les Mis.
27:07Nice.
27:08Yeah, that's a good one.
27:10Yes.
27:10Okay.
27:10What were some of your favourite filmmaking experiences as an actress?
27:15And please tell me everything.
27:16I would say League of Their Own was the most fun because we got to play baseball all day
27:21in Wrigley Park in Chicago.
27:23Nice.
27:24And I loved doing Sleepless in Seattle with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.
27:28That is a good one.
27:31Thank you so much for the answers.
27:33I appreciate that.
27:34I appreciate you.
27:35It's Nev.
27:37It's Nev.
27:38It's Nev.
27:38It's Nev.
27:39Go for sure.
27:40Hi, Rosie.
27:42Hi.
27:42So, what was it like living in New York growing up?
27:46You know, it was different than here.
27:48I could tell you that.
27:49Sometimes the city wins when you're in New York.
27:52Okay.
27:52Like the city like gets you and beats you up and the trains don't work and there's rats
27:57in the subway.
27:58Oh, God.
27:59Yeah.
27:59You know, New York in the 70s wasn't the greatest.
28:03And as an adult I lived there and Clay and I lived there together.
28:07And it is my home, but I don't know that I would go back there to live full-time.
28:13All right.
28:14That was fantastic.
28:15Pass to Aidan.
28:18Yes.
28:18Yes.
28:23Nice to meet you, Rosie.
28:24Nice to meet you.
28:25Yeah.
28:25All right.
28:27So, the first question is, if you were cast in a fantasy or sci-fi film, what kind of role
28:32would you love to play?
28:33Something like that truly sparks your creative imagination.
28:37So, for example, a character like Princess Leia from Star Wars, Mary Poppins, Mario from
28:42The Sounds of Music, or Alan Ripley from The Alien.
28:46Yeah.
28:47I would love to play that role.
28:48Or Linda Hamilton from Terminator.
28:51Oh.
28:52Yeah.
28:53Yeah.
28:53But I'd have to get buff.
28:54I don't know.
28:55You're going to have to help me get buff.
28:57But I haven't done any sci-fi.
29:00I would love to do a sci-fi movie.
29:01Yeah.
29:02Star Wars is one of my favorites.
29:04Yeah.
29:05Yeah.
29:05The horses have to be with you, Rosie.
29:08All right.
29:09Okay.
29:09And do you like penguins or what are those?
29:11These are from the most popular cartoons around the world.
29:14Mostly in Europe and Japan.
29:16This is Bingu.
29:18And this little sister, Pinga.
29:19Ah.
29:20All right.
29:21Yeah.
29:21These characters are very popular on YouTube.
29:23Okay.
29:24Great.
29:25And now, he is a machine.
29:27He is in green.
29:28It is Andrew.
29:31The green machine.
29:34Hello, Rosie.
29:35Andrew, hit me.
29:36Okay.
29:37Okay.
29:38You ready?
29:38Okay.
29:39So, how do you actually contend when you're being like,
29:41take a micked on by the likes of the Simpsons or the,
29:44or Family Guy or a whole lot of lists of people?
29:47I forgot the list.
29:48Yeah.
29:48Well, I tell you this.
29:49My kids think it's a riot.
29:51They'd be cracking up.
29:52I'm like, how do you think it feels for me?
29:54They go, it's the funniest show on TV and they got you.
29:58So, you know, I had to get used to it because my kids were so
30:02in love with every time that anyone made fun of me.
30:05I think if you're a comedian and you dish it out,
30:08you have to take it too.
30:09But it's also kind of funny.
30:11I saw in Deadpool, they said, you know,
30:14what are you leaving me in this room with an angry Rosie O'Donnell?
30:17You know?
30:18I was at the movie with my son and he was like,
30:22oh my God, Mom!
30:24You know?
30:25Okay.
30:26Now that.
30:27Okay.
30:28Here's the, here's the second round.
30:29All right.
30:30Go ahead.
30:30The second round.
30:31If it wasn't for a comedy,
30:33what of a career path would you have gone into?
30:34I totally would have been a school teacher.
30:36Oh!
30:37Why a school teacher?
30:38Because my mom died when I was young
30:40and the teachers took over mothering me
30:42and the first person to hug me was a school teacher.
30:46The first person to say I love you to me was a school teacher.
30:49And I got a lot from teachers
30:51and I know how they can change a child's whole life by caring.
30:56And a bit of a tribute to you for,
30:58for doing a great part in the Flint, Flintstones.
31:01Thank you so much.
31:02All right, Bertie.
31:03I've had enough of this lug nut.
31:05Come on, Barney.
31:06Am I rich?
31:07Am I rich?
31:09Am I rich?
31:10Serves you right for being the best friend of that big lug?
31:13Oh, what for brains?
31:15Every time we have a bit of money,
31:16you always,
31:17you always have to go off on your hair brain scheme
31:19of whether it doesn't leave us in the stock.
31:22It's like jumping in a mirror.
31:24It sure is.
31:25Uh, thanks.
31:26Thanks, Bertie.
31:26I'll see you.
31:27See you at home.
31:28Oh, uh, make sure there's a...
31:30Just try to,
31:30try to put a bit of rust on our rust, uh,
31:33Rokasaurus, will ya?
31:35Good one.
31:36Thank you very much.
31:37Thank you very much.
31:37He survives.
31:38He's still here.
31:39I'm through.
31:41So I made a bold decision,
31:43and I don't advise that if any of you are in a relationship.
31:47That's not good, uh, partnering.
31:56Virgin Mobile.
31:57Proud sponsor of this show.
32:02Virgin Mobile.
32:03Proud sponsor of this show.
32:09Well done.
32:10Thank you so much for that.
32:11You are going to pass to...
32:13Dean.
32:15Hello, Rosie.
32:17Hello.
32:17Uh, my name is Dean.
32:20Hi, Dean.
32:21Uh, I am a queer artistic person.
32:26I live in Rada.
32:27Hello.
32:28And I have a few questions.
32:31Go ahead.
32:32As a person fostered by a wonderful same-sex couple myself,
32:37have you noticed any difference between the way fostering is handled in Ireland compared to America?
32:43Yes.
32:44I had two foster children.
32:45I'm a licensed foster care provider.
32:48And, uh, I, um, think that the foster care system in America is really in shambles.
32:54So there are kids who just float around going place to place to place.
32:58And, um, when I was visiting a foster home where kids were kept until they got into their placement, I
33:07saw two little siblings, three and five, holding hands.
33:11And, uh, the foster care director told me that they were going to a mental hospital.
33:17Oh, wow.
33:17And I said, how can you take a baby to a mental hospital?
33:20They're five and three.
33:22How, how could you do that?
33:23And they said that they had failed out, which I don't know whose fault that is.
33:27Maybe the foster parents.
33:28I don't know.
33:29Thirty homes.
33:31Oh, my gosh.
33:31They had been in thirty homes.
33:32And no one could take them.
33:34So I made a bold decision without telling my partner at the time.
33:40I came home with two more kids in the car.
33:43And I don't advise that.
33:44If any of you are in a relationship, that's not good, uh, partnering.
33:49But, uh, so we came home and, uh, we had, uh, foster kids for a while.
33:55So I think that the foster care system needs to be revamped.
34:00And I don't know about Ireland, but in America, again, when you turn 18, they give you a small
34:05check and they tell you good luck.
34:06And I don't know anyone at 18 who can survive out in the big, bad world without a family.
34:11Fair enough.
34:12Dean, thank you so much for that.
34:14Emmett?
34:15Emmett, are you ready to go?
34:16Good man yourself.
34:19There you go.
34:20Hi, Emmett.
34:21Hi.
34:22I'm kind of nervous, but...
34:24Don't be nervous.
34:25It's all right.
34:25Take your time.
34:26Uh, okay.
34:27Um, do you think that you'll ever go back to America in future?
34:31I promised Clay that we would stay here until they were done with high school.
34:36So that's six more years.
34:37Oh, okay.
34:38So in that six years, I hope that they can right the ship.
34:41Now, my son is about to have his first child.
34:44So, um, yes, thank you.
34:47So very, very exciting.
34:49So I'm going to try to go home in the summer.
34:53Hopefully that will be safe.
34:54I don't know.
34:55We have some security people who will let us know if they think that's a good idea or
34:59not.
35:00But I hope it is because I do have four other children there and need and want and must see
35:07them.
35:08So, um, I don't know that I would live there again, but we'll see what happens politically
35:15and culturally to the nation.
35:19Uh, you're just a really wonderful person.
35:21Uh, you have my respect.
35:23Thank you so much.
35:24Well done.
35:25And you are going to be handing over to Rebecca.
35:30Hi, Rosie.
35:31Hi, Rebecca.
35:31So nice to meet you.
35:31Nice to meet you.
35:32Was there a specific moment in your life that made you realize you had to speak out?
35:37Oh, boy.
35:38I think it was when I was about 10 years old and I was watching the Vietnam War on television.
35:43Oh.
35:43And it was so upsetting because, you know, there was such violence and such pain.
35:50And I was crying.
35:52And my father, who was Irish, said, you know, you're not allowed to watch TV anymore.
35:56You're not allowed to watch the news.
35:58And so I think back then when everybody was protesting to try to end the war in Vietnam,
36:03I realized that using your voice was important in democracy.
36:08And that's when I decided I would use my voice no matter what I was doing in my life or
36:13career.
36:14I like that.
36:15That's really good.
36:17Now, will you pass over to Jack?
36:19Okay.
36:20First of all, nice to meet you.
36:21Nice to meet you, Jack.
36:22What's poetry like?
36:23Because I heard you were, like, a bit insecure about it or, like, you don't really like sharing
36:27it or showing it.
36:28Why is that?
36:28Well, I write my poems on Substack.
36:31And I'm a little nervous and shy about my poems.
36:33It feels very, very personal.
36:35So I do it on Substack where there's just a small group of dedicated people who really
36:41are interested in my art.
36:43But there's talk that I'm going to do a book of poetry soon.
36:47And, you know, my favorite poet is a lyricist, Joni Mitchell.
36:52And she's, to me, the best poet that I've ever read.
36:56And I hope to one day be as good as her.
37:00You have to have people you look up to.
37:02Yeah.
37:02And she's one that I definitely look up to.
37:04Yeah.
37:05I look up to a lot of people.
37:06Yeah.
37:06Again, like my uncle or my granddad.
37:08And then a celebrity, Jack Black, you know.
37:11Yeah, like Adam Sandler.
37:11He's just a regular guy.
37:12That's what I like about him.
37:13He's a great guy.
37:14He's just a great guy.
37:15He just doesn't care.
37:15I love Adam.
37:16I think he's so nice.
37:17I know his wife and his kids.
37:19Wait, you met him?
37:21Yes.
37:21Wow.
37:21We grew up in the same area.
37:23We did comedy together around the same time.
37:26And I've met a lot of people in showbiz.
37:28Does he act the same way as he does, like, in movies?
37:31Like, is he, like, really loud?
37:33Adam doesn't act loud at all.
37:34He's kind of a little bit shy.
37:36Really?
37:37I find that a lot of comedians are a little bit shy or maybe a little bit sadder.
37:41Yeah.
37:42Really?
37:42Yeah.
37:42The big, famous guy that everyone knows and looks at is shy?
37:46Yes.
37:47Believe it or not.
37:48Robin Williams was very shy.
37:49Oh.
37:50Yeah.
37:51Anyways, thank you.
37:52That really means a lot to you.
37:53Thank you for answering those questions.
37:54Who's next?
37:55Ella?
37:56You good to go?
37:57Ella.
37:58Good woman, Ella.
37:59Here we go, Ella.
38:01If you could have the absolute, like, the complete and 100% true answer to any question,
38:06what question would that be?
38:07Are UFOs real?
38:09And I would like it to be yes.
38:14UFOs or aliens?
38:15Both.
38:16Okay.
38:16Because you can't have UFOs without aliens, right?
38:19Okay.
38:19Thank you so much.
38:20You're gonna hand over to Daniel.
38:22Come on, Daniel.
38:23All right, Daniel.
38:25What's something you wish audiences knew about you that rarely comes up in interviews?
38:29I would say that I'm very, uh, sensitive.
38:33And I think people, because I'm from New York and I have, like, a tough exterior, they
38:38think that I'm, you know, tough.
38:41But a few of my friends said to me once, you know, there's not a lot of Rosie O'Donnell
38:45in Rosie O'Donnell.
38:46Because I'm not, like, I'm not so tough.
38:49So I think that's one thing that I would like more people to understand about me.
38:54Like you said, you give off that exterior of, like, a big persona that you can deal with
38:58anything.
38:59And obviously over the years, you know, having to deal with a lot of criticism and a lot
39:02of kind of backlash, you know, you've shown a lot of bravery that way.
39:06Do you find with your physique that people think that you're a tough guy, too?
39:09That they feel like, you know, that's a guy you've got to be careful of?
39:14Yeah, like, you get kind of the looks.
39:16Like, you know, people kind of think, are you going to be a threat?
39:18Are you going to be, you know, violent or aggressive?
39:21It can kind of be a double-edged sword, you know?
39:23Right.
39:23It works well in one way, but in another way, sometimes that's all people see.
39:27You know, they don't see maybe the other sides of me.
39:30The other side.
39:30Yeah, yeah.
39:31Well, thank you.
39:31Very nice to meet you.
39:32Up next, Jamie.
39:33Hello, Jamie.
39:38Looking back, what advice would you give your younger self
39:42when you were first starting out in entertainment?
39:45Well, you know, I was very lucky because I was very young
39:49and I thought that I wasn't going to get anything to fall back on
39:54because I didn't want to fall back.
39:56My father always said, well, you have to get your teaching degree,
39:59you have to get this degree, and I was like, I don't want to get
40:02that degree because I don't want to fall back.
40:04I want to be successful in this business.
40:06That's the biggest thing I would say to people who want to succeed at anything,
40:10is be sure it's what you want to do and never give up.
40:16Cy is going to sign us out.
40:19Rosie O'Donnell, it was very nice to have you today.
40:22I hope you had a great time here.
40:23Thank you so much.
40:24I had a wonderful time.
40:25You're all great, and I can't wait to hear what you all do in your lives.
40:30I wish you much success and happiness.
40:32How did you find this experience?
40:33I loved it.
40:35And again, I said to Clay, they're like, where are you going?
40:38And I said, I'm going to meet like 30 different autistic people,
40:41and they get to ask me questions.
40:43And she was like, meh.
40:47Everything I think is going to hit a home run with them never does.
40:51But, you know.
40:52You'll get there eventually.
40:54Yeah, eventually.
40:55But thank you so much.
40:56We have one more special thing.
40:59Daniel, take your position, and we hope that you enjoy this, Rosie.
41:02I'm sure that I will.
41:08Memories.
41:09Wow.
41:11Light the corners of my mind.
41:17Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.
41:33Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind.
41:43Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were.
41:58Can it be that it was all so simple then?
42:05Or has time rewritten every line?
42:12If we had the chance to do it all again?
42:17Tell me, would we?
42:21It was lovely to have her here.
42:22We also got to see a more personal side of her as well,
42:27which I kind of find celebrities aren't always able to show in interviews.
42:32Full and yet, what's too painful to remember?
42:42We simply...
42:43It's just really special to be in a company with someone that has seen so much of the world,
42:47and has met so many people.
42:49There should be more Rosie O'Donnells.
42:54We will remember whenever we remember the way we were.
43:35The whole interview was brilliant, and she copied Flintstones.
43:41Thank you everybody, I had a great time.
43:44You're all great.
43:45Nice voice.
43:49Andy Farrell and the team are in Paris, where the opening match of the Guinness Men's Six Nations sees old
43:55rivals and title holders France host Ireland in the Stade de France this Thursday night.
44:00Live coverage starts from 7 on Virgin Media Play and 1.
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