Gina Costigan (born 21 March 1984) is an Irish actress of stage and screen. She appeared in the original Broadway companies of Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman (2018) and Martin McDonagh's Hangmen (2022), and starred as Grace Hardy in the 2023 UK national tour of Brian Friel's Faith Healer.
Her film appearances include Veronica Guerin (2003), Becoming Jane (2007) A Terrible Beauty (2013), Halal Daddy (2017) and My Sailor, My Love (2023). On television, she’s had guest and recurring roles on Fair City (2007), Vikings (2019-2020), Harry Wild (2022), Kin (2023), and Law & Order: SVU (2024-2025).
In 2019, Costigan was named to The Irish Echo'''s 40 Under 40 for emerging Irish talent. She frequently appears in both English and Irish language roles.
Early life and education Born in Dublin, Ireland, Costigan is the daughter of theatre producer John Costigan and actress Maria McDermottroe. Raised primarily in Dún Laoghaire, she attended a Gaelscoil.
She made her professional stage debut as a child performer in the 1994 revival of James Plunkett's The Risen People at The Gaiety Theatre, directed by brothers Peter and Jim Sheridan. At the time, the production was the most expensive in the history of the Dublin Theatre Festival. In 1997, she appeared as Jenny in Brian Ó Riagáin's Irish-language play Buille an Phíce at the Andrews Lane Theatre.
Costigan later earned a B.A. (Hons) from Queen's University Belfast's School of Arts, English and Languages before studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Career 2003-2013: Early stage & screen work During the 2000s and early 2010s, Costigan began working extensively in Irish theatre, frequently appearing in both English and Irish-language productions. Her stage work during this period included two national tours of Máiréad Ní Ghráda's An Triail with Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company (2008, 2012), as well as premieres of new plays at Project Arts Centre, Smock Alley Theatre, and the Town Hall Theatre. In 2003, Costigan made her screen debut as Molly, the girlfriend of Irish crime figure John Traynor in Joel Schumacher's Veronica Guerin, appearing opposite Cate Blanchett and Ciarán Hinds. The film received eight nominations from the Irish Film & Television Academy. In 2007, she had a recurring role as Diane Sutton on the RTÉ drama series Fair City and appeared as Caroline Austen in Julian Jarrold's Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway. Costigan would later note in a profile with Hot Press, that the majority of her role in the film "ended up on the cutting room floor." From 2011 through 2012, Costigan starred in the world premiere of Isobel Mahon's Billy the Boat Loves Angelina at Liberty Hall Theatre and the The New Theatre, Dublin. In a review for The Irish Times, drama critic Peter Crawley noted "Costigan gives an assured performance while portraying a menacing figure with admirable bite." During this period, she continued to alternate between theatre and screen work, appearing in Keith Farrell's Irish-language docudrama Áille an Uafáisy, as well as Gráinne Curistan's Les Impossibles at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
2014-2019: Broadway & Off-Broadway In 2013, Costigan moved to New York City to study at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. She subsequently began working in New York theatre, making her Off-Broadway debut as Hen in Eileen Connolly's Daughter of the Waves at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. She later appeared in the world premiere of Honor Molloy's Crackskull Row at the Irish Repertory Theatre, followed by Teresa Deevy's The Suitcase Under the Bed at the Mint Theater Company. Both productions were named Critics' Picks by The New York Times. In a review for the latter, Stanford Friedman of New York Theatre Guide noted "Gina Costigan, as Mrs. Stims, shines the brightest." In 2018, Costigan appeared opposite Academy Award-winner Hayley Mills in the U.S. premiere of Isobel Mahon's Party Face at New York City Center. For their respective performances, Costigan and Mills were both nominated for Best Actress at the 2018 1st Irish Awards. Tim Teeman of The Daily Beast noted "Gina Costigan’s excellent performance is the layered heart of the play." The same year, she was cast in the original Broadway company of Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman, understudying the roles of Caitlin and Mary Carney. The production later won the Tony Award for Best Play. During this period, Costigan had recurring roles on the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime Video (2017), and Vikings on the History Channel (2019-2020), as well as a supporting role in the feature film Halal Daddy (2017). In 2019, she was named to The Irish Echo's 40 Under 40 for emerging Irish talent.
2020-present: Later stage & screen work In 2020, Costigan appeared in Joe Crilly's On McQuillan's Hill at the Finborough Theatre in London, England. The production received critical acclaim, earning five stars from the Morning Star and four stars from The Stage. In a review for The Arts Desk, drama critic Rachel Halliburton noted "In a play distinguished, not least, by its strong female characters, it is Gina Costigan’s Loretta who particularly shines." During the COVID-19 pandemic, she portrayed Molly Bloom in The Ulysses Project, a digitally produced adaptation of Ulysses featuring more than 75 performers. The film was later screened by the Irish Film Institute, as part of their Bloomsday Centennial celebration. In 2022, Costigan joined the original Broadway company of Martin McDonagh's Hangmen. The production was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. Shortly thereafter she portrayed the titular role in Seán Ó Muireagáin's Luaithríona, an Irish language panto adaption of Cinderella at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich in Belfast. In 2023, Costigan starred as Grace in the UK national tour of Brian Friel's Faith Healer. In a review for Plays International & Europe, drama critic Jeremy Malies noted "There is no distance whatsoever between actor and her lines in Gina Costigan’s wonderful performance. My heart leapt out to Grace as Costigan skillfully dismantled the character’s natural reticence." In 2025, she starred as Kate Mundy in Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa at the Asolo Repertory Theatre directed by Joe Dowling. In 2026, she appeared as Ann Putnam in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at The Gaiety Theatre. Her recent screen work has included guest and recurring appearances in various television series, including Atlanta on FX, Harry Wild on Acorn TV, Kin on RTÉ, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC, as well as supporting roles in the feature films My Sailor, My Love (2022) and TWIG'' (2024).
In addition to acting, Costigan has worked extensively as a voice artist for advertising campaigns including Guiness, Ryanair, Volkswagen, Marks & Spencer, and Electric Picnic, among others.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role NotesRef.2003Veronica GuerinMolly2006The Front LineGarda2007Becoming JaneCaroline Austen2009Swansong: Story of Occi ByrneNurse 2013A Terrible BeautyBridget GraceBlack IceSister2016 The Board SiobhannShort film2017Halal DaddyMagda2018KryptonightsBeth2019Brittany Runs a MarathonDrunk Woman2020Flesh Is Heir ToAgent Kerrigan 2022The Ulysses ProjectMolly BloomMy Sailor, My LoveJoyce2023Suspicious MindsLolaShort film2024TWIGAnge's MotherThe FriendJocelyn
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.2007Fair CityDiane Sutton3 episodes2017The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselOfficer Judy2 episodes2019-2020VikingsRuna3 episodes2020I Know This Much Is TrueMrs. O'MearaEpisode: "Five"2021HalstonDoctorEpisode: "Critics" 2022AtlantaKarenEpisode: "White Fashion"Harry WildJenny DoyleEpisode: "A Corpse in My Soup"2023KinBetty DugganEpisode: "2.8"2024Say NothingLilyEpisode: "Evil Little Maniacs"2024-2025Law & Order: Special Victims UnitVirginia Becker2 episodes
Stage YearTitleRolePlaywrightVenueRef.1994 The Risen People Street child James Plunkett The Gaiety Theatre 1997 Buille an Phíce Jenny Brian Ó Riagáin Andrews Lane Theatre 2008The Countess and the Lesbians Countess Markievicz/Grace Carolyn Gage Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2009An Triail Mailí Máiréad Ní GhrádaAisling Ghéar Theatre Company (National Tour) Walnuts Remind Me of My Mother Áine Elizabeth Moynihan Focus Theatre Facebreak Tara Costello Gina CostiganDublin Gay Theatre Festival 2010Face to Face With the Enemy Kristine Judy Klass Town Hall TheatreGhost Stories VariousIsobel MahonMill Theatre Dundrum2011The Rainbows End WilhelminaLeslie LalorMill Theatre DundrumBilly the Boat Loves Angelina Sandra Smith Isobel MahonLiberty Hall 2012New Theatre, DublinThe Muse UnbiddenHilaryRoger GreggSmock Alley TheatreBun Go BarrPamelaÓrna Ní Choileáin & Aodán Ó CoileáinAisling Ghéar Theatre CompanyLes ImpossiblesActor 3Gráinne CuristanEdinburgh Festival Fringe2013An Triail MailíMáiréad Ní GhrádaAisling Ghéar Theatre Company (National Tour)2014Daughter of the WavesHenEileen ConnollyNew York Musical Theatre Festival2015The BacchaeChorusEuripidesGorilla Repertory Theatre CompanyThe SeedbedHannahBryan DelaneyNew Jersey Repertory Company2016Crackskull Row Dollie Moorigan Honor MolloyThe Cell Theatre 2017Irish Repertory TheatreThe Suitcase Under the BedJil/Mrs. StimsTeresa DeevyMint Theater Company2018Party FaceMollie MaeIsobel MahonNew York City Center2018-2019The FerrymanCaitlin/Mary Carney (u/s)Jez ButterworthBernard B. Jacobs Theatre,Broadway2019The Valley Of The Squinting WindowsBrigid Byrne / Mary Essie / Mrs. McGoldrick / Miss MckeonBrinsley MacNamaraMullingar Arts Centre2020On McQuillan's HillLoretta MalineJoe CrillyFinborough Theatre2022HangmenAlice/Shirley (u/s)Martin McDonaghJohn Golden Theatre, BroadwayLuaithríonaLuaithríonaBrothers Grimm & Seán Ó MuireagáinAisling Ghéar Theatre Company"What's on in the Arts". Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 2 December 2022. Accessed 7 June 2025.2023Faith HealerGrace HardyBrian FrielLondon Classic Theatre (National Tour)2025Dancing At LughnasaKate MundyBrian FrielAsolo Repertory Theatre2026The CrucibleAnn PutnamArthur MillerThe Gaiety Theatre
Radio Year Title Role Author BroadcasterRef. 2021The Long Wet GrassWomanSeamus Scanlon The Cell Theatre 2021Paddy Goes to PetraAir HostessAine Ryan Near FMRyan, Áine, playwright, and Anna Nugent, director. "Paddy Goes to Petra – Part 1". New Drama Hour. Near FM, 29 October 2021. Podcast audio. 2021Black CherryLeonieKrystal SweedmanNear FMSweedman, Krystal, playwright, and Anna Nugent, director. "Black Cherry – Part 2". New Drama Hour. Near FM. 3 December 2021. Podcast audio, 47:19. Accessed 7 June 2025.
Awards and nominations Year AssociationsCategoryWorkResultRef.20181st Irish AwardsBest Actress Party Face 2019The Irish Echo40 Under 40 The Ferryman
References
External links
Gina Costigan at IBDB Gina Costigan at BroadwayWorld