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.
Brenda, who was the first Irish actress to win an Oscar, passed away after a period of ill health, according to her agent Phil Belfield.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn a statement, Phil said: "It is with much sadness that I share the news that beloved actress Brenda Fricker passed away last night peacefully after a period of ill health, at the age of 81.
"Dublin born and bred, Brenda Fricker undoubtedly deserves the noun legend…
© Alamy Stock Photo"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."
Brenda's film and television career
Brenda, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 for her role in My Left Foot, appeared in more than 30 film and television productions over her six-decade career.
She was also known for her roles in the films The Field (1990), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Angels in the Outfield (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Veronica Guerin (2003) and Inside I'm Dancing (2004).
As for her television roles, Brenda was part of the original cast of BBC medical drama Casualty and also appeared as Nurse Maloney in Coronation Street and in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs.
© Getty ImagesHer most recent television appearances included in the 2021 ITV drama Holding, based on the book by Graham Norton, and the Channel 5 series, The Catch.
According to Brenda's agent, her most recent solo film performance in Tadhg O'Sullivan's The Swallow showed "the truth and majesty of Brenda as an actor".
Brenda's life off-screen
Brenda was born in 1945 and grew up in the south Dublin suburb of Dundrum. Her father, Desmond, was a journalist with the Irish Times and RTÉ, while her mother, Bina, was a schoolteacher.
She was married to director Barry Davies from 1979 until their divorce in 1988. Brenda became pregnant on a number of occasions but suffered miscarriages, which she said left her with severe depression for a large part of her life.
Brenda's 2025 memoir, She Died Young, appeared on the Irish Sunday Times bestseller list.
In her memoir, Brenda detailed her experiences of childhood grooming and sexual assault.
© Getty ImagesAccording to The Guardian, the actress wrote the book for financial reasons after struggling with debt.
"Every line I deleted and started again," she told the publication. "It was murder for me. It was kind of ironic because I was talking about things I had paid a fortune to psychiatrists to make me forget. So it was very painful bringing them back. I thought they were a bit morbid. I think I’m a bit morbid. I’m Irish."
Earlier this year, she was granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin, which her agent Phil said she was "particularly thrilled and proud of".
Tributes pour in
Tributes have poured in on social media following Brenda's death. The US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, described the actress as "a giant of Irish film" and praised her "unforgettable" performance in My Left Foot.
"From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland's stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic," he wrote on X. "She leaves a remarkable legacy, and I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all who loved her."
One fan described Brenda as "One of Ireland's greatest actors from a country," while another hailed the actress as an "absolute cinema legend".
