Brenda Fricker (1945 - 2026)

The Irish Film & Television Academy is saddened by the passing of beloved Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who was aged 81.

Brenda became the first Irish actress to win an Oscar for Supporting Actress in 1990, for her brilliant performance in Jim Sheridan’s My Left Foot as Christy Brown’s mother, and in her acceptance speech said she would take the Oscar “very proudly back to Ireland”.
Born in Dublin in 1945, Brenda's career spanned more than six decades. Prior to becoming an actress, she worked as assistant to the art editor of the Irish Times. Her first film role was an uncredited part in 1964's Of Human Bondage, and she later appeared in RTE soap opera Tolka Row.

Her film roles at home and internationally included The Field, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Tara Road, So I Married An Axe Murderer, Veronica Guerin, Inside I'm Dancing, Albert Nobbs and A Man of No Importance. In addition to her Oscar, she received six IFTA nominations for work in both film (Veronica Guerin, Inside I'm Dancing, Albert Nobbs) and TV (Relative Strangers, No Tears, Holding).
Brenda continued to work in recent years, appearing in the 2022 adaptation of Graham Norton's Holding, and in 2025 she had her final starring film role in Tadgh O'Sullivan's The Swallow.

Aine Moriarty, CEO of IFTA, said: “Brenda Fricker was a wonderful actress, and her diverse body of work across film, drama and theatre has showcased her many brilliant performances throughout the decades.  Her role as Christy Brown’s mother in Jim Sheridan’s classic My Left Foot was such a stand-out performance back in 1990, which rightly earned her the Oscar for Supporting Actress. Brenda was an enormous character who will be fondly remembered by the Irish film & television community and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very sad time.”