Irish singer-songwriter, Imelda May, has said filming in Cornwall was an “eye-opener” regarding the impact of second homes in the region.

Making her acting debut in the Fisherman’s Friends sequel, the 48-year-old plays Aubrey Flynn alongside returning stars James Purefoy and Maggie Steed.

As the film was shot during lockdown, they were forced to film many scenes outside, with the rockabilly revivalist explaining how Fisherman’s Friends: One And All “became a love story to Cornwall”.

Falmouth Packet: Imelda May with Bob Geldof performing at Night for Ukraine concert in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee fundraiser. Picture: PAImelda May with Bob Geldof performing at Night for Ukraine concert in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee fundraiser. Picture: PA

She said: “Where we probably would have done a lot of the scenes inside, we had to do them standing on the edge of the cliff, looking out to sea.

“When you watch it, the cinematography and the landscapes are breathtakingly beautiful, and I think that added all the more to it.

“It’s just stunning when you see it, it’s such a glorious place, but it really shows it off to its heights.”

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Cornwall second homes issue ‘needs to be addressed’

May said people needed to add to the “community spirit” in Cornwall rather than “taking away from it” in reference to the abundance of second homes.

She said: “I did notice when we started filming because of the lockdown, I could see how much of the village was in darkness. There was nobody, I could see that.

“As lockdown started to lift a little you could see all the lights come on, and I could see that people were just coming to the second home.

“So that was an eye-opener for me that I could see a difference when it was just locals.

“It needs to be addressed. People need to be able to live in their own communities and not be pushed out because somebody wants a second or third home.”

She added that people “don’t need a home to enjoy an area”.

May said: “I go on tour to a lot of places and I love to find local villages and local people, but the only way to do that is to support the locals.

“You can go and rent one off somebody who already lives there or I love going back to old-fashioned bed and breakfasts where you actually get to meet people and you get the best tips.

“It’s community spirit and if you do that you’re adding to the community and you’re adding to the area rather than taking away from it.”

Fisherman’s Friends films

Fisherman’s Friends was inspired by a Cornish sea shanty singing group who performed in their home town of Port Isaac in 1995, before going on to secure a record deal with Universal Music’s Island Records in 2010.

The sequel Fisherman’s Friends: One And All comes out on August 19.

Imelda May tour 2022

Of course, Imelda May is best known for her musical career and has been touring the UK throughout 2022. She still has a few dates left in the diary if you were considering going along to a gig.

  • August 26: Towersey Festival 2022
  • August 27: Páirc Festival 2022
  • August 28: Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival 2022

Next month May will also be performing a series of shows across France.

For more information, visit the Imelda May website.

Imelda May albums

Compared by some to jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday, May’s music career began at the tender age of 16, performing with local bands and musicians.

Forming her own band in 2002, she released her debut studio album, No Turning Back before relocating to London.

Following an appearance on the BBC music programme Later... with Jools Holland in 2008, she released her second studio album, Love Tattoo and she has gone from strength to strength ever since.

In Ireland, she also had her own music TV show, The Imelda May Show, showcasing the best of Irish and international talent.

If you’re interested in catching up on her back catalogue, here’s each album along with when it was released:

  • 2003: No Turning Back
  • 2008: Love Tattoo
  • 2010: Mayhem
  • 2014: Tribal
  • 2017: Life Love Flesh Blood
  • 2021: 11 Past the Hour