Brenda Fricker, Oscar-winning Irish actress, dies aged 81

Brenda Fricker, the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, has died at 81. She passed away in Dublin on Thursday after a period of ill health, her agent confirmed. Fricker was celebrated for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in the 1989 film "My Left Foot," for which she won the best supporting actress Oscar.

Her portrayal of the determined mother of Christy Brown, a writer born with cerebral palsy, earned her critical acclaim. The film also led to Daniel Day-Lewis winning his first Oscar. Fricker's career spanned over 90 films and television shows, including notable roles in "The Field," "So I Married an Axe Murderer," "A Time to Kill," and as the kindly Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2."

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She was an amazing actress, amazing character, a forceful personality. She was vibrant and full of life and had her own opinions. She took no prisoners, let's put it that way.

Fricker, described by The Irish Times as one of Ireland's most respected actors, also appeared in the BBC drama "Casualty" and "Veronica Guerin." Earlier this year, she received the Freedom of the City of Dublin, the city's highest honor. Her autobiography, published in September 2025, detailed her life, including struggles with sexual violence and mental health issues, and became an Irish bestseller.

Director Jim Sheridan remembered Fricker as an "amazing actress" and a "forceful personality" who was "vibrant and full of life." Fricker herself once described how she used her Oscar statuette to prop open her bathroom door, and noted that the award led to her being typecast in mother roles.

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anybody who gives birth 22 times deserves one of these