Main content

Belfast Actress Jessica Reynolds

Belfast actress Jessica Reynolds on wigs, corsets and how she nearly didn't audition for A Woman of Substance, and Irish Kiwi writer Nic Russell on grief, illness and resilience.

Actress Jessica Reynolds joins Anna to discuss her first leading role in TV in Channel 4's "A Woman of Substance". She talks about Barbara Taylor Bradford's iconic novel, how having a Northern Irish accent is no longer something to hide, and why she nearly took cold feet about auditioning for this latest role.

Anna is also joined by Nic Russell, from Cranfield in County Down, who now calls New Zealand home. A writer, charity founder, Ted Talk speaker and health advocate, her brutally honest memoir "Bollix" sees her write about surviving cancer, heart failure, Parkinson's, and the loss of her daughter.

And the Sunday Songbook is full of classic tracks.

29 days left to listen

1 hour, 53 minutes

Last on

Today11:03
BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Radio Foyle

More episodes

Previous

Charlie Landsborough, Jan Brierton & an Easter Sunday Songbook

Next

19/04/2026

See all episodes from Sunday with Anna Curran

Music Played

  • Dusty Springfield

    I Only Want To Be With You

  • Blondie

    The Tide Is High

  • John Lennon

    Woman

  • Shirley Bassey

    The Girl From Tiger Bay

  • Elton John

    Nikita

  • Toto

    Africa

  • Dionne Warwick

    Anyone Who Had A Heart

  • Aztec Camera

    Somewhere In My Heart

  • Pretenders

    Don't Get Me Wrong

  • Rod Stewart

    Sailing

  • The Turtles

    Happy Together

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Landslide

  • Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

    Somewhere Over The Rainbow

  • Rusted Root

    Send Me On My Way

  • The Beatles

    Ticket To Ride

  • Roxette

    Dressed For Success

  • Genesis

    I Can't Dance

  • Bee Gees

    You Win Again

  • Joe Dolan

    Make Me An Island

  • Bryan Ferry

    Let's Stick Together

Broadcast

  • Today11:03
    BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Radio Foyle