Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does it take to bring Bridget Walsh to life in The Westies? Sarah Bolger reveals the thoughtful character work behind one of the series' most compelling performances.
In this exclusive Collider interview, Bolger discusses how creators Chris Brancato and Michael Panes shared Bridget's long-term arc before production, giving her the confidence to build the character beyond the pilot. She explains why Bridget is constantly balancing the pull of her past with the hope of a different future, and how seemingly small choices—from what she drinks in the bar to how she carries herself around the Westies—helped define her without ever being written into the script.
Bolger also talks about Bridget's relationships with Jimmy and Brendan Cahill, why it was important that Bridget earned her own place within the Westies, and how reuniting with Allen Leech naturally deepened the history between their characters. She also reflects on drawing inspiration from the strong Irish women in her own family, embracing Bridget's Irish identity, and the unforgettable experience of walking onto the production's meticulously recreated 1980s Hell's Kitchen set for the first time.
Chapters:
0:00 Sarah Bolger on becoming Bridget Walsh
1:21 Chris Brancato's vision for Bridget
2:34 Bridget's relationships with Jimmy & Brendan
4:16 The character details audiences won't notice
5:00 Reuniting with Allen Leech
6:20 Drawing on her Irish family history
7:44 Stepping into 1980s Hell's Kitchen
Our Social Media:
facebook.com/collider
x.com/Collider
Our Website
collider.com
Video By Maggie Lovitt & Joaquin Rodriguez Carvalho
For copyright matters, please contact us at: legal@valnetinc.com
#thewesties #sarahbolger #collider
What does it take to bring Bridget Walsh to life in The Westies? Sarah Bolger reveals the thoughtful character work behind one of the series' most compelling performances.
In this exclusive Collider interview, Bolger discusses how creators Chris Brancato and Michael Panes shared Bridget's long-term arc before production, giving her the confidence to build the character beyond the pilot. She explains why Bridget is constantly balancing the pull of her past with the hope of a different future, and how seemingly small choices—from what she drinks in the bar to how she carries herself around the Westies—helped define her without ever being written into the script.
Bolger also talks about Bridget's relationships with Jimmy and Brendan Cahill, why it was important that Bridget earned her own place within the Westies, and how reuniting with Allen Leech naturally deepened the history between their characters. She also reflects on drawing inspiration from the strong Irish women in her own family, embracing Bridget's Irish identity, and the unforgettable experience of walking onto the production's meticulously recreated 1980s Hell's Kitchen set for the first time.
Chapters:
0:00 Sarah Bolger on becoming Bridget Walsh
1:21 Chris Brancato's vision for Bridget
2:34 Bridget's relationships with Jimmy & Brendan
4:16 The character details audiences won't notice
5:00 Reuniting with Allen Leech
6:20 Drawing on her Irish family history
7:44 Stepping into 1980s Hell's Kitchen
Our Social Media:
facebook.com/collider
x.com/Collider
Our Website
collider.com
Video By Maggie Lovitt & Joaquin Rodriguez Carvalho
For copyright matters, please contact us at: legal@valnetinc.com
#thewesties #sarahbolger #collider
