The Wellington actress will perform in the Fortune Theatre's season of Outside Mullingar, a romantic comedy set in rural Ireland, about 50km from Dublin, where Brophy was raised.
Brophy became a New Zealand citizen last year after moving from Dublin with her family in 1972.
Since the move she has remained independent - like her homeland - and was expelled from Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt as a teenager.
''I hate institutions - I've never been to one. No university, no drama school, nothing. I don't like going into a hierarchy. I prefer to be in charge myself,'' she said during a rehearsal break in Dunedin.
However, she was invited back to Sacred Heart College as guest speaker for its 125th anniversary celebration.
''I went full circle,'' she said, laughing.
In Outside Mullingar, she plays an elderly mother involved in a land dispute with a neighbouring farmer (Simon O'Connor) .
Although their parents are feuding, the farmers' children - the play's central characters, Anthony (Phil Vaughan) and Rosemary (Lara Macgregor) - have a romance.
However, the play was no Romeo and Juliet, Brophy said.
''Undying love, passion, sex and youth - we don't have that. What we have got is all of the silly, awkward moments of being a grown up and trying to get it on.''
Brophy had been acting for 33 years and always knew it was her career path.
''That is all I have done with my life, so that is my reason for being here - as a storyteller.''
Her visits to Dunedin were usually fleeting - one or two nights with a travelling show - but she was spending more time in Dunedin this time because of the season at the Fortune.
''It's been seven years since I've been at the Fortune for a season. It's really lovely, because I enjoy Dunedin very much indeed.''
Outside Mullingar, directed by Lisa Warrington, is on at Fortune Theatre until February 28.
