Eileen Walsh (born 16 April 1977) is an Irish actress. Her credits include Miss Julie (1999), Janice Beard 45 WPM (1999), When Brendan Met Trudy (2000), The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Pure Mule (2005), Eden (2008), The End (2008), Catastrophe (2015), The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.
Biography Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister Catherine, who was also an actress. A young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops and her first break came when, as a student, in 1996, she landed the role of Runt in the stage version of Disco Pigs, alongside Cillian Murphy, who played her friend. She was later heartbroken when losing that role to Elaine Cassidy in the 2001 film version.
She worked alongside Peter Mullan in Miss Julie (1999). In 1999, she played the titular character in Janice Beard 45 WPM, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patsy Kensit and Eddie Marsan. She starred in When Brendan Met Trudy (2000).
In 2002, she played the role of Crispina in The Magdalene Sisters, where her character was beaten and humiliated by nuns, forced to strip, and sexually abused by a Roman Catholic Priest. Her performance earned her a nomination for British Supporting Actress of the Year at the 2002 London Film Critics' Circle Awards.
She featured as Therese Farrell in Pure Mule (2005), and as Breda Farrell in the film Eden (2008), and the same year she played jessica in the short film The End.
In 2008, Walsh won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda, a lonely housewife whose willpower is put to the test in the film Eden.
Her film career continued with The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.
Personal life Walsh is married, lived in London (2009), and has two children.
Filmography
+ Film Year Title Role Notes 1996 Crushed Girl 1997 Messaggi quasi segreti 2nd Kid 1997 Carole 1999 Miss Julie Servant 1999 Janice Beard 45 WPM Janice Beard 2000 When Brendan Met Trudy Siobhan 2001 Look Trish Short film 2002 Crispina 2002 Nicholas Nickleby The Infant Phenomenon 2005 33X Around the Sun Ruth 2008 Eden Breda Farrell 2008 Jessica Short film 2009 Triage Dr. Christopher 2009 Mona Short film 2010 Snap Chris 2017 The Children Act Naomi Henry 2017 Maze Kate Marley 2019 Rialto Paula Grainger 2021 Wolf Dr. Angeli 2022 Ann Patricia 2024 Small Things Like These Eileen Furlong
+ Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Lula Fantastic (voice) TV short 2005 Pure Mule Therese Farrell 5 episodes 2015–19 Catastrophe Kate 6 episodes 2016 Can't Cope, Won't Cope Pharmacist Geraldine O'Neill Episode: "I Wanna Be Like You" 2016 Delicious Marianne Khan Episode: "Death Comes to All" 2017 On the Hemline Martha TV movie 2018 Patrick Melrose Annette 2 episodes 2018 Women on the Verge Alison 6 episodes 2020 The South Westerlies Kate 6 episodes 2021 Modern Love Lily De Courcy Episode: "A Second Embrace, With Eyes Open" 2022 Death in Paradise Orla Mills Episode: "The Phone-In Murder"
+ Radio Year Title Role Notes 2022 Breathing Space Ciara Fitzpatrick Radio play by Dorothy Cotter
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2004London Film Critics' Circle AwardBritish Supporting Actress of the YearThe Magdalene Sisters2008Tribeca Film FestivalBest Actress Eden2005IFTA Film & Drama AwardsBest Supporting Actress in TelevisionPure Mule2009Best Actress in a Leading Role FilmEden2011Best Actress in a Supporting Role FilmSnap2023Best Supporting Actress - FilmAnn2023Kerry Film Festival Maureen O’Hara AwardWomen who have excelled in film, TV and/or media
References
External links