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Eileen Walsh

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Eileen Walsh
Walsh at the 2024 Berlinale
Born (1977-04-16) 16 April 1977 (age 47)
NationalityIrish
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present

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).

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

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Born 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

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Walsh is married, lived in London (2009), and has two children.[1]

Filmography

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Walsh at the Dublin International Film Festival in 2023
Film
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
Television
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"
Radio
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Breathing Space Ciara Fitzpatrick Radio play by Dorothy Cotter

Awards and nominations

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c Brian Pendreigh (2003). "Sisters Without Mercy". iofilm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2003.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d "Eileen Walsh Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b "London Critics Circle Film Awards 2004". famousfix.com. 11 February 2004.
  7. ^ a b c Katey Rich (14 November 2008). "Interview: Eden Star Eileen Walsh". cinemablend.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Eden: Q&A with Eileen Walsh". RTÉ. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2005". ifta.ie. 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2009". ifta.ie. 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  11. ^ "Irish Film & Television Awards Winners 2011". ifta.ie. 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  12. ^ "2023 Irish Film & Television Awards nominations announced". ifta.ie. 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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