Her mother would tell stories from Charles Dickens while milking the cows, an influence on her later decision to take up acting, in which she trained using Stanislavski's system.

[3] During the centenary of the Easter Rising, she gave a key speech in Glasnevin Cemetery at the graveside of Constance Markievicz.

In it she warned Irish people against "empires of greed" and "a new form of capitalism [which is] even more powerful and less visible and less accountable" than that of 1916.

[5] In it, she expressed her indignation at the publication's editorial, which she said "did not encourage any negotiations before a ceasefire that could lead to a peaceful settlement between the Russians, Ukrainian forces and separatists.

"[6][7] After the letter received criticism, Higgins defended her comments, stating that she "strongly condemned the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine".