7 Irish actors and actresses we are loving at the moment

Which Irish actor or actress have you recently seen in a popular film or a series? Let’s check if you have seen everyone on our list! Here are the 7 Irish actors and actresses we are loving at the moment:

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell was born in Castleknock, Dublin. His acting journey started at the Gaiety School of Acting, which he left for a role in the BBC drama Ballykissangel. In 2009, he won the Golden Globe Award for his work in the film In Bruges.

In 2016, Colin Farrell starred as an Auror and Director of Magical Security in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and it’s a pity we weren’t able to see him in the follow-ups! Another recent role of his was in The Gentlemen (2019) where Farrell played Coach, a trainer with a serious reputation dressed in a cute plaid sports costume.

Pierce Brosnan

Born in Drogheda, County Louth, Pierce Brosnan spent most of his childhood in Navan, County Meath. At the age of 11, he first saw the James Bond movie, Goldfinger. Thirty years later, he was announced as the fifth James Bond, and that’s how most people now know him. His career, however, is not limited to playing the 007. Brosnan got two Golden Globe Award nominations for his roles in Nancy Astor (1982) and The Matador (2005). His most recent role was in 2018, in a follow-up to the romantic musical comedy Mamma Mia! And we loved him in it!

Saoirse Ronan

Although Saoirse Ronan was born in the Bronx, NYC, she grew up in Ireland and is considered an Irish-American actress. Saoirse Ronan debuted on the Irish medical drama series The Clinic (2003). In 2007, at the age of 13, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Atonement. Her career has skyrocketed as she starred in popular films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and Lady Bird.

In the film Brooklyn (2015), Ronan played a homesick Irish immigrant in 1950s New York. For that role and also for her work in Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019), Ronan got nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress. For Lady Bird, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

Ronan is not only a brilliant actress but also an activist. She has spoken about social and political issues in Ireland, and she is an ambassador for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the first ambassador of the Irish Film Institute.

Andrew Scott

Andrew Scott is another Irish actor born in Dublin. He owes his worldwide popularity to the role of Jim Moriarty in the BBC series Sherlock. Andrew Scott studied drama at Trinity College Dublin but left to join the Abbey Theatre. Apart from the theatre, he played small parts in films, TV shows and short films starting at the age of 17, but it was Sherlock that got him the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. After that, you can see Andrew Scott in the popular series such as Fleabag, Black Mirror, and Modern Love.

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy was born in Douglas, County Cork, and grew up in Ballintemple, Cork. In his early years, he wanted to become a rock star, so he pursued a musician’s career. In 1996, Murphy started studying law at University College Cork, but it wasn’t what he wanted to do in life. Around the same time, he started to lean more towards the theatre which segued into film.

Murphy has become a star since he appeared as the leading role in the BBC gangster series Peaky Blinders set in Birmingham between two wars. Murphy portrays Thomas Shelby, the leader of the Shelby crime family. The series premiered in 2013, and since then five seasons were released. The creators of the series plan two more seasons to finish the story, so we will see more of Cillian Murphy in the future!

Aidan Gillen

Born in Drumcondra, Dublin, Aiden Gillen is an Irish actor who started his acting career with the Dublin Youth Theatre. Recently he starred in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) as Queen’s manager John Reid and in some episodes of Peaky Blinders as Aberama Gold. However, most of us know Aidan Gillen as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish on the HBO series Game of Thrones. 

Fiona Shaw

Fiona Shaw was born in Farranree, County Cork. Many people will recognise her as Petunia Dursley from the Harry Potter series, but her achievements are far beyond than just that. She played at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, and her early work included Celia’s part in As You Like It and the title role in Hedda Gabler. Fiona Shaw has recently starred in the popular series Fleabag and Killing Eve. For portraying Carolyn Martens in Killing Eve, Shaw won the 2019 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Of course, this is only a few of the prominent Irish actors and actresses you can see on the big and small screen at the moment. Who else did you expect to see on this list, and who is your all-time favourite Irish actor or actress?