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Brenda Fricker Biography

Birth Name:Brenda Fricker

Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland

Profession Actress

Fast Facts

  • First Irish actress to win the Oscar for best supporting actress
  • Originally planning to become a journalist like her parents, she was cast by chance in her first film, "Of Human Bondage" at the age of 19 while working for a local newspaper
  • Quote: "Of all the films I've made only three do I remember where I felt I'd moved forward as an actress: Cloudburst, My Left Foot and The Field․"
  • Gained widespread prominence throughout the U․K․ after playing the role of Megan Roach on BBC One's "Casualty" until 1990
  • After winning the Oscar for "My Left Foot" in 1989, she would make her Hollywood debut with "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York"
  • Suffered from a severe case of tuberculosis as a child and was forced to give up a kidney before overcoming the disease

Awards

  • 1989LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1989Special Mention of the Jury-: winner
  • 1989NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1990Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1990BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1990NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1996Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1996Stinker Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000IFTA Award-Best Leading Performance - Television: nominated
  • 2002Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: nominated
  • 2002Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2003IFTA Award-Best Supporting Actress in Film/TV: nominated
  • 2003IFTA Award-Best Actress in a Television Drama: nominated
  • 2004IFTA Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2010Felix-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2012IFTA Award-Best Supporting Actress - Film: nominated
  • 2015Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2023IFTA Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Drama: nominated