Up and at it – what is your new morning routine? How has it changed?
My morning routine varies depending on what job I'm doing. My cat, Finch, never fails to let me know that he needs breakfast so that helps to get me out of bed each morning. During lockdown, I did a Zoom exercise class with my friend Helen, who lives in a different country, but at the moment, I'm rehearsing for Into the Woods with Northern Ireland Opera, so I have to be up, warmed up, switched on and ready to go at 10am.
What might you eat in a typical working day for...Breakfast?
Hard boiled eggs, toast and decaf tea.
Lunch?
I love using up leftovers, or you can't go wrong with a Tesco meal deal.
Evening meal?
A pasta dish - my fiancé is Italian, so he's introduced me to lots of tasty recipes.
Have you been able to work from home – if so, how have you found it?
I actually started a new side hustle during the pandemic to help pay the bills after all my performances got cancelled. I started OKVA [O'Kelly Virtual Assistance], where I provide digital online services for freelancers and small businesses. Most of my clients are in the US so I've done all of that working from home. It's a brave new world for me and it's been a steep learning curve, but I don't know what I would have done without it.
Best/easiest lockdown meal?
Takeaway pizza.
Weekend treat?
I love being home in Belfast at the minute because it means unlimited trips to Rossi's ice cream. In my unbiased opinion, it's the best ice cream in the world.
How have you kept physically and mentally fit during lockdown?
My friend, Helen, and I did our morning fitness every day for a year, which was everything from HIIT to yoga, to pilates and dance. I also went running a lot with my partner. Mental health and fitness is really important to me, as it is something I struggle with anyway, so I meditate every single day, make sure I take my medications and vitamins, and see my therapist once a week without fail.
What has been your daily outdoor exercise?
Can't beat a nice walk around the Waterworks.
How do you relax?
I love puzzles and I'm a big fan of the Nintendo Switch.
Teetotal or tipple?
I'm currently five months pregnant so I haven't had a tipple in a while, but I love whiskey and I have a huge collection - my favourite is the Bushmills 12-year single malt. That will be my first request after the baby is born.
What book are you currently reading?
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown.
Best Netflix?
Dark, a thrilling German drama. I was living in Switzerland these past few years and my partner is a native German speaker so I've been learning the language.
Most surprising thing you've learned about yourself?
I don't consider myself to be a particularly strong person, but I've been adaptable during these past few years and found solutions to problems that at times seemed insurmountable.
On a scale of one to 10, where have you been in relation to cabin fever and where are you now?
It's definitely much better now, being able to go to actual rehearsals in person, chat to people in real life and create art in a room with brilliant minds. There was definitely a point when Finch [my cat] was my only company for most of the day and I stopped singing altogether because I just couldn't muster the mental or physical energy to do it.
What are the three things you missed most during the beginning of lockdown?
I was living in Zürich at the time, so I definitely missed the freedom of being able to travel to my family. I missed singing and working with other people in the flesh because, with anything artistic, there really is only so far you can get with Zoom. And I missed going out for dinner.
Where will you go and what will you do when restrictions are fully lifted?
I'll go to Italy to visit my in-laws - I haven't seen them since I got pregnant and I hope I get to see them before their grandchild arrives.
Biggest gripe?
Not being able to travel to see my friends has been a tough one.
Have your priorities in life or perspectives changed?
Absolutely. I completely changed my outlook about my career direction and my work/life balance. I never considered starting a family before the pandemic because I was hyper-ambitious and focused on getting to a certain level, career-wise. That ambition is still there but it looks different now - I want to be closer to family and see them more often and I want to do work that fulfils me artistically.
Any new skills or hobbies?
I'm writing an album of indie folk songs about growing up in Belfast which will be coming out next year - that's a new departure for me. I also learned how to solve a Rubik's cube and how to do a cryptic crossword - I'm truly a nerd.
What would you like to see change for good when this is all over?
I would like to see a continued emphasis on the importance of prioritising good mental health.
Has coronavirus changed your attitude towards your own mortality?
I've always been somewhat painfully aware of my own mortality, so I'm not sure that the pandemic has made it any more stark. But I do want to make a difference and leave the world a better place than it was when I found it and the pandemic has certainly given me more opportunities to do that.
Sinéad O'Kelly plays The Baker's Wife in Northern Ireland Opera's production of Into the Woods which runs at the Lyric Theatre until February 27. lyrictheatre.co.uk
