AN accomplished Killarney actor, credited by Hollywood superstar Michael Fassbender for launching his career, has become the face of Lidl and is the star of the retail giant’s clever new TV commercial.
Donie Courtney fronts the new ‘Choose to live a little’ commercial in which he plays a smartly dressed businessman who turns a regular Tuesday evening into a fabulous Friday by opting to tuck into a prime fillet steak – a treat normally reserved for weekends only.
Donie, the son of Sheila and the late Cllr Michael Courtney from Ardshanavooley, Killarney, is a graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting and, in addition to his role playing, he is considered a very talented playwright, director and tutor.
His more high-profile work includes roles in RTE soap Fair City and the hit BBC drama The Tudors and he has scripted several hit stage plays, including the life story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and a brilliant take on a general election count.
Several years ago he established the Bricriu theatre group in his hometown of Killarney and one of the first to sign up to play several roles alongside him was Michael Fassbender with the two remaining very close friends ever since.
