A New Life: A career as a midwife will ensure this actor will never be typecast, writes Brian O'Connell
When Natalie Doherty announced in late 1987 that she was to become an actor, the reaction from those closest was, to say the least, a little hesitant.
There was no long-standing tradition of performers in the Doherty household, yet she was undeterred, and had her sights set on the acting life from a young age. Eventually her family would row in behind her.
"My parents never wanted me to be an actor I think, but they gradually came round and were very supportive in the end.
"I'm not sure where I got the idea to choose that profession, as there's no actor in the family. I guess I was one of those people who wanted to do it since I was a little child.
"I played Mary in the nativity play in school and joined drama groups right throughout my youth so to me at least it was apparent I didn't want to do anything else."
The next step was to enrol for a drama degree at Kent University, from where she graduated in 1990. With little in the way of professional work in the area, Doherty and a number of her classmates decided to form their own company and create work for themselves.
Things didn't quite go according to plan though.
"When we graduated, a few of us from college decided to set up our own company. It only lasted a year, and we nearly killed each other by the end of it. Some of the group headed for Italy, others for Brazil, and I headed for Ireland. We all got as far away from each other as possible basically!"
Doherty arrived in Dublin just prior to the boom, and found voluntary work with a community project set up by Peter Sheridan.
Her involvement was an important way to make contacts and learn about prospective auditions, and within a short space of time she was offered her first professional contract. Yet the time in between roles was the hardest and, as she progressed through her 20s, she found the uncertainties of the acting life less and less appealing.
"I first got involved in a scheme Peter Sheridan was running, which was basically a hang-out for actors, and from where we produced community theatre for kids. There was a great bunch of actors involved at the time and through that I began to hear about auditions.
"It started from there really. I did lots of theatre over the years, from companies like Rough Magic to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. I also got bits and bobs of television work. The hardest part was the period in between jobs. It's a great job while you're doing it, but no one likes being unemployed at any stage, and I think as you get older it gets harder.
"I found myself in student films thinking what the hell am I doing here?"
Doherty says the hardest part is that you have such little control over your work life.
"There is no such thing as a career structure. One minute you can be getting rave reviews, while the next you find yourself auditioning for an ad with 40 models ahead of you.
"I was now in my 30s and seeing women older and I thought 'I don't want to be doing this forever'."
The turning point came in 2001 when Doherty become seriously ill, and reassessed her priorities and ambitions. The medical profession had always fascinated her, and she began to research ways of studying without having to live on the breadline.
"There's nothing like a health scare to change your perspective. I think also when in my 20s I didn't question my career too often, I had the attitude that I didn't know what else to do, and even if I did I thought it was too late to change.
"But two years ago I had enough with the acting life. I wanted to do something that made a difference, which is hard to do as an actor if you are constantly in between work.
"I was always fascinated by different aspects of medicine and radiography so I did a little research and found that I could get a bursary to become a midwife in the UK, so I started in 2003."
Having graduated in the past few months, Doherty is about to begin full-time employment as a community midwife worker in Britain.
"I am very passionate about the work. Even after working 19 hours straight I feel privileged to be in this type of work. It's such a life-affirming experience witnessing a birth - the whole atmosphere in the room changes.
"It still has an effect on even the most hardened of midwives. I am about to begin work with the Albany hospital, where I will have a lot of community involvement, which is something I am excited about.
"I'm astounded I got the job, and a little nervous but I've already been present at over 40 births so I have gained a lot of experience."
The limited opportunities for home birth workers in Ireland means that Doherty is in no rush to return, preferring instead to gain experience and insight in London. Yet don't expect to see her treading the boards at a theatre near you any time soon.
"Our plan was to move straight back to Ireland once I had qualified, but at present the opportunities for midwifery in Ireland aren't great. At least not for the type of work I want to be involved in.
"I also think that if I spent some time abroad, when we do eventually settle back then I will have a lot of experience of home birthing to bring with me.
"I haven't longed to get back on the stage once since I left Dublin, which I am very surprised at. I guess it's to do with feeling completely fulfilled in the work I do now."