Out To Lunch 2026 Early-bird

Hiraeth is a Welsh word with no English equivalent. It’s a sense of loss or separation from your home or the sense of your spiritual being. The yearning of the émigré.

Michael Smiley is a Northern Irish actor who has come a long way since his days as a stand-up comedian in Belfast. His extensive filmography includes performances in Alien: Earth, Rogue One, Censor, The Lobster, Bookworm with Elijah Wood. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer & The Other Boleyn Girl,

Michael is perhaps best known for his acclaimed performance as Roger in Sharon Horgan’s award winning Apple series, Bad Sisters and Gal in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (for which he won Best Supporting Actor award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards) and has previously appeared in three more of Ben Wheatley’s films; Down Terrace, A Field in England and Free Fire.

He came to prominence playing Tyres O’Flaherty in cult show Spaced and his television credits include Luther, Black Mirror, Ripper Street, Bloodlands, Utopia, Doctor Who and the latest series of Blue Lights

As well as acting, Michael has written and presented two series for BBC Northern Ireland ― Something To Ride Home About ― focusing on his love of cycling, and he has recently written, directed and produced his first short film, La Petite Mort, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. He is currently completing his first screenplay.

Michael is married to Miranda Sawyer, the acclaimed, award-winning writer and journalist. Miranda is the author of Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs; Out of Time: Midlife if You Still Think You’re Young; and Park and Ride.

For this Out to Lunch special event Miranda will be interviewing Michael about his journey, the idea of ‘hiraeth’ and the notion of what and where is home.