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Top 10 Irish Actresses

Ireland is an island nation in the North Atlantic. The north channel the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel separates it from Great Britain.

It is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth.

This country is known for Guinness, Smithwicks and Harp Lager.

Irish culture has a significant influence on other cultures, especially in literature.

Other than the mainstream Western culture, the Irish culture is strongly expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language.

When it comes to film, this country has a ton of talented actors and actresses. Here is our list of the top 10 Irish actresses.

1. Maureen O’Hara

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Maureen O’Hara was a famous Irish and American actress and singer. She died at the age of 95 in 2015.

She grew up in Dublin and trained at the Rathmines theatre company with the hopes of becoming an actress. She later joined the Abbey Theatre at the age of 14.

Her first role on a movie wet was in 1939 alongside Charles Laughton in the film Jamaica Inn.

She later moved to Hollywood and was part of the Hunchback of Notre Dame production where she signed her first contract with RKO pictures.

She was known for her roles as the passionate but sensible heroine portrayed in the western adventure films. She also earned the name the queen of technicolour.

As the last surviving member of the Golden age of Hollywood, Maureen worked closely with renown film director John Ford and John Wayne.

2. Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath is an Irish actress who has excelled in television and is known for her roles in the BBC One series Merlin between 2008 and 2012; the British-American series Dracula in 2013 and 2014; the series Slasher in 2016 and Supergirl.

She graduated from Trinity College with a degree in history and a major in Russian history.

She has featured in supporting roles in several films such as Damage, La Marea, Eden, Freakdog and Merlin

She acted as a young princess Margaret in a documentary show on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen.

Her other supporting role was in the movies Jurassic World and the throwaways.

3. Ruth Negga

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Ruth Negga is 38-year-old Ethiopian-Irish actress known for the AMC television series Preacher and the film Loving.

She started in theatre before moving to the big screen sets. Her first role was in the movie Capital Letters, Isolation, Breakfast on Pluto and Warcraft.

She has also been involved in BBC mini-series criminal justice, Misfits, Marvel Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and Preacher.

The film Mildred loving in loving granted her a nomination for the Academy Award for the best actress; Golden Globe Award for best actress in motion pictures; best female lead in independent Spirit Award and Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress.

She won Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress.

A film director, Neil Jordan, was impressed by Negga’s talent that he adjusted the script of the movie Breakfast on Pluto to create a role for her.

4. Brenda Fricker

This Irish actress was born in Dublin in 1945. She got her acting experience from being part of Irish theatre, the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Court Theatre Company in Great Britain.

She won an Oscar award for her supporting role as the determined mother of a son afflicted with cerebral palsy in “My Left Foot” in 1989. She was the first Irish woman to win this prestigious award.

Her performance in the movie also earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. She won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress too.

She has appeared in more than 30 films and television roles during her incredible career.

She has featured in more than 30 movies and television series during her amazing career.

She now lives a quiet life and takes part in charity work in Dublin, her home town.

5. Saoirse Ronan

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The next Irish actress is Saoirse Ronan who played a part in the movie Atonement. This movie won the critics award and she got an Oscar nomination.

Ronan grew up in Carlow and Dublin. She is very talented; she is known for her ability to switch up different accents.

Her first appearance on television was a small role in the series clinic in 2003.

She later made a first film appearance in the movie; I Could Never Be Your Woman in 2007.

Ronan has played important roles in several films that have been successful in earning her several nominations and awards in both supporting and leading roles.

Her third Oscar nomination was for movie Lady Bird in 2017. She is among the youngest actresses to receive three Oscar nominations before the age of 24.

She currently lives in London, United Kingdom.

6. Niamh Algar

Niamh is a super talented Irish actress who has won the hearts of many through her role in the BBC drama series The Virtue. She also got named BAFTA and Netflix’s rising star of the century.

Her big break into the film world was in 2017 when she played a role in an indie film, Without Name.

It premiered at the Toronto International Film festival and London’s BFI Film festival. It was later released to the public that year.

She has also been featured in the Ridley Scott sci-fi series; Raised by Wolves.

She does her stunts in all the movies that she has been in. Most of the roles she played, she was able to fight her abusers with punches to unconsciousness.

7. Evanna Lynch

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Evanna Lynch was born on 16 August 1991. She is an actress, an activist, a voice artist and a narrator.

Her rise to fame came after playing a part in the last four series of Harry Porter as Luna Lovegood; their video game and the musical Avery Potter Senior Year.

Evanna has been advocating for animal rights pushing for veganism to be embraced by people.

She has taken part in numerous non-profit campaigns, has a vegan-themed podcast and endorses cruelty-free cosmetics brands.

T is said that before her role in Harry Porter; Evanna was a big fan of the series. She would write to the author J.K Rowling her reviews of the book and desire to be part of the cast.

At 11 years old while hospitalized, she was given an hour to go for her signed copy of the fifth book Order of the Phoenix.

She also does charity work for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and the Harry Potter Alliance.

8. Fiona Shaw

Fiona Shaw is another star from the Harry Potter franchise. She is Irish born from County Cork, Ireland.

She has also featured in other famous series and movies such as Fracture, My left foot, the tree of life, out of innocence, killing Eve, Fleabag and True blood.

She has received awards for her roles. She won the 2019 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress; was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress.

She is an opera director when she is not on a movie set. She has worked for a long period with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

She is also a fitness enthusiast and loves riding her bicycle around her London home.

9. Michelle Fairley

Michelle Fairley was born in Northern Ireland and is best known for her role as Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones.

She’s also featured in television series such as Suits and 24: Live Another Day; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and In the Heart of the Sea.

She has also acted in British television shows such as Misfits, The Bill, Holby City and Casualty.

In 2017, Michelle appeared in the play Road by Jim Cartwright at the Royal Court Theatre.

She was among other great acts such as David Calder, David Morrissey and Ben Whishaw.

Her most heart-wrenching scene and the role was Game of thrones red wedding episode.  It was her last appearance on the show and it took her a week to move on.

10. Caitriona Balfe

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Caitriona Balfe is the final Irish actress on our list. She was born in Dublin and has appeared in movies such as Super 8, Now You See Me, and Ford v. Ferrari.

The most famous role that she is known for is Claire Fraser in the Television series Outlander.

This series has made her win two People’s Choice Awards, two Saturn Awards, and an Irish Film and Television Award.

She has also received four Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama.

She had studied Drama at the Dublin Institute of Technology and did some modelling that got her on the runway and advertising campaigns.

She worked for big brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Max Mara, Bottega Veneta and Oscar de la Renta for a decade before going fully into acting.