Actress Brenda Fricker, the first Irish woman to win an Oscar, for “My Left Foot” (My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, 1989), has died at 81 after a long illness, her agent, Phil Belfield, reported this Friday.
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“We will never see anyone like her again and the world is a poorer place for her absence”, Belfield said in a statement.
Brenda Fricker won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 for “My Left Foot,” a biographical film in which she played the mother of the Irishman Christy Brown, who was portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis and for which he also won an Oscar for Best Actor.
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In her acceptance speech in the heart of Hollywood, she remembered her country and dedicated the award to “all the people of Ireland”.
We will never forget the Lady of the Doves.
— Lugar Cinema🎬 (@LugarCinema) July 17, 2026
Brenda Fricker didn’t need much time in Home Alone 2 (1992) to leave a very important mark. pic.twitter.com/I7mT5xw26r
After that success, she became a familiar face to international audiences thanks to her roles in films such as “The Field” (1990), “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (Home Alone 2: Lost in New York/My Poor Angel 2: Lost in New York, 1992), “A Time to Kill” (1996) and “Veronica Guerin” (2003).
“I had the honor of knowing her, loving her, and working with her, and she will always hold a place in my heart and in the hearts of so many film and television fans around the world”, Belfield added in the note.
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Besides cinema, Fricker, born in Dublin, was a regular in television dramas on major Irish and UK networks, with notable roles in “Casualty” (BBC), “Upstairs Downstairs” (ITV), and the popular British soap opera “Coronation Street.”
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She also acted in numerous theatrical productions, including “Lavender Blue” and “A Pagan’s Place,” performed on stages such as the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.
The United States Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, described Fricker as “a giant of Irish cinema” and praised her “unforgettable” performance in “My Left Foot.”
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“From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland’s stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic. She leaves an extraordinary legacy and I want to extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all who loved her”, the diplomat wrote on the social network X.
Sad to hear of the passing of Brenda Fricker, a giant of Irish film and the first Irish actress ever to win an Academy Award for her unforgettable performance in My Left Foot. From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland’s stories to the world and inspired generations on… pic.twitter.com/wQndBq6GFC
— Ambassador Edward Walsh (@USAmbIreland) July 17, 2026
Fricker was married to director Barry Davies from 1979 to 1988. She became pregnant several times but suffered miscarriages, an experience that, she confessed, caused her deep depression for much of her life.
Her hobbies included caring for her dogs, reading poetry, playing snooker, and drinking Guinness beer.
