‘Everybody has had an encounter with a Josie in their lives’ – Pat Shortt on making Garage

The actor talks about connecting with Mark O’Halloran’s script and getting inspired by Lenny Abrahamson

Pat Shortt delivered an incredible performance in 'Garage'

Barry Egan

Garage, one of the great Irish films, focused on Josie, who works in a petrol station in the middle of nowhere in Ireland. Time Out wrote that he belonged “to a class of intellectually and emotionally ‘challenged’ individuals who are charged with living their lives without much family or social support”.

Shortt turned in a moving ­performance of which director Lenny Abrahamson said: “Pat’s performance is so subtle and deep, and the film is open and quiet enough to let you watch him closely, that after a time it becomes impossible to sustain your first impression of the character.” ​