Eileen Walsh (born 16 April 1977) is an Irish actress. Her credits include Miss Julie (1999), Janice Beard 45 WPM (1999), When Brendan Met Trudy (2000), The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Pure Mule (2005), Eden (2008), The End (2008), Catastrophe (2015), The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).
Eileen Walsh | |
|---|---|
 Walsh at the 2024 Berlinale | |
| Born | 16 April 1977 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1996–present |
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.
Biography
editBorn and raised in Cork, Ireland,[1] Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister Catherine,[1] who was also an actress.[1] A young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops and her first break came when, as a student, in 1996, she landed the role of Runt in the stage version of Disco Pigs, alongside Cillian Murphy, who played her friend.[2] She was later heartbroken when losing that role to Elaine Cassidy in the 2001 film version.[3]
She worked alongside Peter Mullan in Miss Julie (1999).[2] In 1999, she played the titular character in Janice Beard 45 WPM, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patsy Kensit and Eddie Marsan.[4] She starred in When Brendan Met Trudy (2000).[5]
In 2002, she played the role of Crispina in The Magdalene Sisters, where her character was beaten and humiliated by nuns, forced to strip, and sexually abused by a Roman Catholic Priest.[2] Her performance earned her a nomination for British Supporting Actress of the Year at the 2002 London Film Critics' Circle Awards.[6]
She featured as Therese Farrell in Pure Mule (2005),[7] and as Breda Farrell in the film Eden (2008),[7] and the same year she played jessica in the short film The End.[7]
In 2008, Walsh won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda,[1] a lonely housewife whose willpower is put to the test in the film Eden.[8]
Her film career continued with The Children Act (2017),[4] Maze (2017),[4] Wolf (2021),[4] and Ann (2022).[5]
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.[5]
Personal life
editWalsh is married, lived in London (2009), and has two children.[1]
Filmography
edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Van | Crushed Girl | |
| 1997 | Messaggi quasi segreti | 2nd Kid | |
| 1997 | The Last Bus Home | Carole | |
| 1999 | Miss Julie | Servant | |
| 1999 | Janice Beard 45 WPM | Janice Beard | |
| 2000 | When Brendan Met Trudy | Siobhan | |
| 2001 | Look | Trish | Short film |
| 2002 | The Magdalene Sisters | Crispina | |
| 2002 | Nicholas Nickleby | The Infant Phenomenon | |
| 2005 | 33X Around the Sun | Ruth | |
| 2008 | Eden | Breda Farrell | |
| 2008 | The End | Jessica | Short film |
| 2009 | Triage | Dr. Christopher | |
| 2009 | The Ballad of Kid Kanturk | Mona | Short film |
| 2010 | Snap | Chris | |
| 2017 | The Children Act | Naomi Henry | |
| 2017 | Maze | Kate Marley | |
| 2019 | Rialto | Paula Grainger | |
| 2021 | Wolf | Dr. Angeli | |
| 2022 | Ann | Patricia | |
| 2024 | Small Things like These | Eileen Furlong |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Lula Fantastic | (voice) | TV short |
| 2005 | Pure Mule | Therese Farrell | 5 episodes |
| 2015–19 | Catastrophe | Kate | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Can't Cope, Won't Cope | Pharmacist Geraldine O'Neill | Episode: "I Wanna Be Like You" |
| 2016 | Delicious | Marianne Khan | Episode: "Death Comes to All" |
| 2017 | On the Hemline | Martha | TV movie |
| 2018 | Patrick Melrose | Annette | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Women on the Verge | Alison | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The South Westerlies | Kate | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Modern Love | Lily De Courcy | Episode: "A Second Embrace, With Eyes Open" |
| 2022 | Death in Paradise | Orla Mills | Episode: "The Phone-In Murder" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Breathing Space | Ciara Fitzpatrick | Radio play by Dorothy Cotter |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | London Film Critics' Circle Award | British Supporting Actress of the Year | The Magdalene Sisters | Nominated | [6] |
| 2008 | Tribeca Film Festival | Best Actress | Eden | Won | [1] |
| 2005 | IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress in Television | Pure Mule | Won | [9] |
| 2009 | Best Actress in a Leading Role Film | Eden | Won | [10] | |
| 2011 | Best Actress in a Supporting Role Film | Snap | Nominated | [11] | |
| 2023 | Best Supporting Actress - Film | Ann | Nominated | [12] | |
| 2023 | Kerry Film Festival | Maureen O’Hara Award | Women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media | Won | [5] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Interview with Eileen". The Colonel's Crypt. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ a b c Brian Pendreigh (2003). "Sisters Without Mercy". iofilm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2003.
- ^ Anne Marie Scanlon (8 October 2018). "'My heart was broken' - Eileen Walsh on not being cast in film version of Disco Pigs in which she had starred on stage". independent.ie.
- ^ a b c d "Eileen Walsh Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) launches their 2023 film festival programme and announces Eileen Walsh as this years Maureen O'Hara Award Recipient". kerryfilmfestival.com. 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b "London Critics Circle Film Awards 2004". famousfix.com. 11 February 2004.
- ^ a b c Katey Rich (14 November 2008). "Interview: Eden Star Eileen Walsh". cinemablend.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011.
- ^ "Eden: Q&A with Eileen Walsh". RTÉ. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2005". ifta.ie. 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2009". ifta.ie. 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2011". ifta.ie. 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "2023 Irish Film & Television Awards nominations announced". ifta.ie. 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
External links
edit- Eileen Walsh at IMDb