City of Angels is Caroline Morahan's 'Ireland in the sun'

"I was packing up boxes in my house, clearing it out in preparation for departure and I remember clearly having David McWilliams on the radio in the background.

"I remember thinking he sounded over the top. The picture he painted of what the future held was so bleak. It was actually beyond comprehension what he described, so I thought it couldn't possibly come to be, but he was absolutely spot on".

The 37-year-old, who is currently starring in She Stoops to Conquer in the Abbey Theatre, in an ironic twist went on to star in Anglo The Musical. Now living in LA, Caroline describes the city as a home-from-home in the good times.

"LA is a money-obsessed place. It is in permanent Celtic Tiger mode. People are very showy and ostentatious. It's the kind of place where someone would drive a luxury car without being able to pay their phone bill.

"If you are not grounded and well-balanced it is a place where you could easily lose your perspective."

The model said more should be done to keep skilled workers here. "It is sad when we see our talented young people leaving the country because they feel there is more opportunity elsewhere."