Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker dies, aged 81

Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, best known for her roles in My Left Foot and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, has died aged 81, her agent said. Her agent Phil Belfield said in a statement: "We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her." "I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over," he said. Dublin-born Fricker had a career spanning more than six decades across stage and screen, becoming one of Ireland's most celebrated actors. She made history in 1990 when she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Christy Brown’s mother in My Left Foot alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. Her emotional acceptance speech, in which she dedicated the award to "all the people of Ireland", remains one of the defining moments in Irish film history. Earlier this year, Dublin City Council announced that Fricker would be awarded the Freedom of Dublin in recognition of her exceptional contribution to Irish arts and culture. Before turning to acting, Fricker worked as an assistant in the art department at The Irish Times. She went on to make her screen debut in the 1960s before becoming a familiar face on Irish television in RTÉ soap Tolka Row. She went on to become a familiar face to international audiences through roles in films including The Field, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, in which she played the kindly Pigeon Lady opposite Macaulay Culkin, A Time to Kill and Veronica Guerin. Watch: Brenda Fricker on The Late Late Show in 2020 where she discussed her illustrious career and revealed the chaotic story of how her Oscar statuette ended up at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool in Connemara. We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Alongside her acclaimed film work, Fricker was also a familiar face on television. She was one of the original stars of the BBC medical drama Casualty, playing staff nurse Megan Roach when the long-running series launched in 1986. She later returned to the role on several occasions with her final appearance coming 2010. She also starred in The Ballroom of Romance, the acclaimed television drama adapted from William Trevor's short story, which won the BAFTA for Best Single Drama and is regarded as a landmark of Irish television. Her other television work included the 2004 drama Omagh, Coronation Street and Holding, the adaptation of Graham Norton's novel. In a wide-ranging interview with Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 last year, Fricker spoke candidly about personal struggles explored in her memoir She Died Young: A Life in Fragments, including her battles with depression and alcoholism, as well as the experiences that shaped both her life and career. Listen: Brenda Fricker's full interview with Brendan O'Connor in September 2025 We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Fricker also enjoyed a distinguished stage career, performing with the Abbey Theatre and appearing in productions at London's Royal National Theatre. Her theatre work spanned classic and contemporary plays, reflecting the versatility that defined a career lasting more than six decades. She was married to director Barry Davies from 1979 until their divorce in 1988. Paying tribute the Tánaiste said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Fricker's passing. Simon Harris described her as: "One of Ireland’s most celebrated and cherished actors. Our country has lost a national treasure." In a statement on Friday, he said: "As the first Irish woman to win an acting Oscar, she opened doors and set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire generations of Irish artists. "She was a consummate performer who graced our screens and stages with remarkable talent and authenticity. Brenda brought depth and humanity to every role she undertook. "She truly was among the greatest exports this country has ever produced and an ambassador for Irish talent on the world stage. Quite simply, we will never see the like of her ever again." Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of her death. In a post on the social media site X, the Taoiseach said: "She was an iconic figure in Irish film and theatre, an Oscar winner and an actor of world renown."