Brenda Fricker, first Irish actress to win an Oscar, dies at 81
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Brenda Fricker, the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award, has died at 81 in Dublin after a period of ill health, her agent confirmed.
- She won the 1990 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in "My Left Foot," portraying the determined mother of Christy Brown, played by Daniel Day-Lewis.
- Fricker appeared in over 90 films and TV shows, including notable roles in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and the BBC medical drama "Casualty."
- She was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2024 and published a bestselling autobiography in 2025 detailing her personal struggles and career.
- Irish officials and colleagues hailed her as a national treasure and a significant ambassador for Irish talent worldwide.
