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Eileen Walsh

Eileen Walsh
Walsh at the 2024 Berlinale
Born	(1977-04-16) 16 April 1977 (age 47) Cork, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996–present

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.

Born and raised in Cork, Ireland,^[1] 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,^[1] who was also an actress.^[1] 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.^[2] She was later heartbroken when losing that role to Elaine Cassidy in the 2001 film version.^[3]

She worked alongside Peter MullaninMiss Julie (1999).^[2] In 1999, she played the titular character in Janice Beard 45 WPM, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patsy Kensit and Eddie Marsan.^[4] She starred in When Brendan Met Trudy (2000).^[5]

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.^[2] Her performance earned her a nomination for British Supporting Actress of the Year at the 2002 London Film Critics' Circle Awards.^[6]

She featured as Therese Farrell in Pure Mule (2005),^[7] and as Breda Farrell in the film Eden (2008),^[7] and the same year she played jessica in the short film The End.^[7]

In 2008, Walsh won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda,^[1] a lonely housewife whose willpower is put to the test in the film Eden.^[8]

Her film career continued with The Children Act (2017),^[4] Maze (2017),^[4] Wolf (2021),^[4] and Ann (2022).^[5]

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.^[5]

Walsh is married, lived in London (2009), and has two children.^[1]

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