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Bronagh Gallagher

Bronagh Gallagher
Bronagh Gallagher in 2010
Born (1972-04-26) 26 April 1972 (age 52)
NationalityIrish
Occupation(s)Singer and actress
Years active1989–present
WebsiteOfficial website

Bronagh Gallagher (born 26 April 1972) is an Irish singer and actress from Northern Ireland. She had her first acting role in the 1989 television movie Dear Sarah. In 2020, she was listed at number 33 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors.[1]

Early life

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During her teenage years, she got involved in drama and music activities through school and joined a local amateur dramatics group called the Oakgrove Theatre Company. At one time she was a backing singer in a local band called The Listener (1989–90). The band practised in a garage that belonged to Kevin McLaughlin, the drummer. Laurence Harkin, aka L, was the lead singer and guitarist.

Career

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A former hairdresser,[2] Gallagher's big break came when she starred as Bernie in The Commitments (1991), followed by a supporting role in the BBC drama You, Me & Marley (1992). She had small parts in Pulp Fiction (1994) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Other film appearances include Mary Reilly (1996), Divorcing Jack (1998), Thunderpants (2002), Skagerrak (2003), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Grabbers (2012).[3]

Gallagher has appeared onstage in Théâtre de Complicité touring production of The Street of Crocodiles and The National Theatre's production War Horse as Rose Narracott.[citation needed]

Gallagher's first album Precious Soul was released in 2004 on the Salty Dog Records label and was produced by John Reynolds. The album features collaborations with Brian Eno on the songs "He Don't Love You" and "Hooks". Gallagher wrote most of the music on the album, played the drums and sang lead vocals.[citation needed]

Gallagher released a second album Bronagh Gallagher in 2012 and a third album Gather Your Greatness in 2016.[4][5][6]

In 2009, Gallagher starred alongside a well-known cast on the MySpace/Vertigo Films production Faintheart and starred in the BBC Three comedy TV series Pramface in 2012.[7]

On television, she played the mother of young Nick in the BBC drama Nick Nickleby. She played Trisha Meehan in The Field of Blood and Ada Mason in Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 10 episode "The Mystery of the Blue Train".[3]

An image of Gallagher, in character as Bernie McGloughlin in the film The Commitments, was featured on an Irish postage stamp as part of the Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary series issued by An Post.[8] The image includes her The Commitments co-stars Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy and Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte.[8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Dear Sarah Anne Conlon TV film
1991 The Commitments Bernie McGloughlin
1992 You, Me and Marley Frances
1994 Pulp Fiction Trudi
1995 Ruffian Hearts Dervla TV film
1996 Mary Reilly Annie
1998 Painted Angels Eileen
Divorcing Jack Taxi Driver
1999 This Year's Love Carol
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Captain Maoi Madakor
2000 The Most Fertile Man in Ireland Millicent
Wild About Harry Miss Boyle
2002 Sinners Kitty TV film
Thunderpants Mrs. Smash
2003 Skagerrak Sophie
Holy Cross Sarah Norton TV film
Spin the Bottle Teresa
2005 Tara Road Polly
2006 Tristan & Isolde Bragnae
Middletown Tessie
2007 Botched Sonya
Agnes Agnes Jones TV film
Clean the House Cleaner TV film
2008 Faintheart Maggie
Last Chance Harvey Oonagh
2009 Malice in Wonderland Hattie
Sherlock Holmes Palm Reader
2010 The Big I Am Di Baines
Tamara Drewe Eustacia
2011 Albert Nobbs Cathleen Page
Arthur Christmas Elf Voice role
Where Are They Now? Woman Short
2012 Grabbers Una Maher
After the Triumph of Your Birth Woman of the Theater
2013 Made in Belfast Undertaker
Orbit Ever After Mother Short
The Food Guide to Love Rachel
2014 Shooting for Socrates Irene
Justlikeabitch Mary Short
2017 Return to Montauk Irene
Brexit Shorts: Your Ma's a Hard Brexit Short
2018 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Charlotte Stimple
2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Micawber
A Bump Along the Way Pamela
2023 Dance First Nora Barnacle Post-production
2024 The End Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Screenplay Frances Episode: "You, Me & Marley"
The Bill Nicola Purdy 2 episodes
1993 Over the Rainbow Michelle Series regular, 8 episodes
1995 Performance Minnie Powell Episode: "Shadow of a Gunman"
1996 Screen Two Sandra Williamson Episode: "The Precious Brood"
1999 Shockers Alice Walker Episode: "Deja Vu"
2000 Cry Wolf Bambi Episode: Series 1, Episode 5
The Fitz Teddy Series regular, 6 episodes
2001 On a Life's Edge Zoe TV short
2004 The Clinic Lisa Episode: Series 2, Episode 8
2005 Agatha Christie's Poirot Ada Mason Episode: "The Mystery of the Blue Train"
2007 Holby City Gilly Conran Episode: "Paranoid Android"
The Bill Tina Wilson Episode: "Dicing with Danger"
The Street Mary Jennerson Episode: "Twin"
The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various characters Recurring role, 6 episodes
2010 Accused Siobhan Episode: "Helen's Story"
2011–2013 The Field of Blood Trisha Meehan 4 episodes
2012 New Tricks Mara Donaldson Episode: "Dead Poets"
2012–2014 Pramface Sandra Prince Series regular, 17 episodes
2013 Shameless Ronnie Episode: "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang"
2015 Moone Boy Pat O'Dwyer Episode: "The Plunder Years"
You, Me and the Apocalypse Larrson Miniseries, 7 episodes
2017 Count Arthur Strong Birdie Recurring role, 6 episodes
2018 Genius Berthe Weill Episode: "Picasso: Chapter Two"
2019–present Brassic Carol Dennings Main cast
2020 Belgravia[9] Speer Miniseries
2022 Derry Girls As Herself Guest appearance

Stage roles

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Year Title Role Theatre
1991 The Patriot Game Second Soldier Abbey Theatre, Dublin
1992 A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant Agnes Smith Abbey Theatre, Dublin
The Iceman Cometh Pearl Abbey Theatre, Dublin
1994 Peer Gynt Ingrid/Green-Clad Woman Barbican Centre, London
1996 Portia Coughlan Stacia Diyle Abbey Theatre, Dublin & Royal Court Theatre, London
1997 The Caucasian Chalk Circle Mother Georgia Royal National Theatre, London
1999 The Street of Crocodiles Adela Queen's Theatre, London
2000 Dublin Carol Mary Royal Court Theatre, London
Light Adla Almeida Theatre, London
2009 War Horse Rose Narracott New London Theatre, London
Every Good Boy Deserve Favour Teacher Royal National Theatre, London
2011 The Faith Machine Tatiana Royal Court Theatre, London
2014 Seven Mukhtaran Mai Great Hall of Parliament, Belfast & The Guildhall, Derry
2017 Girl from the North Country Mrs. Burke The Old Vic, London & Noël Coward Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2003 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Television Drama Sinners Nominated
Best Actress in a Film Spin the Bottle Nominated
2004 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels Best Actress Holy Cross Won
Bodil Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Skagerrak Nominated
Robert Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
2008 Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series The Street Nominated
2012 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Television The Field of Blood Nominated
2013 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Film Grabbers Nominated
2020 Best Actress in Leading Role - Film A Bump Along the Way Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Clarke, Donald; Brady, Tara (13 June 2020). "The 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time – in order". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Whatever Happened to the Commitments", telegraph.co.uk; accessed 4 June 2017
  3. ^ a b Bronagh Gallagher at IMDb
  4. ^ admin (17 May 2012). "Bronagh Gallagher tours with eight piece band". Limerick Post Newspaper. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  5. ^ Telegraph, Belfast (19 December 2016). "For Bronagh Gallagher great music 'is a primal thing - it's my home, more so than film acting' '".
  6. ^ "Bronagh Gallagher: Gather Your Greatness review - sung with raw passion". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Myspace, Screen West Midlands and Vertigo Films Announce Innovative Plans To Release Faintheart, The Re-enactment Themed Film Filmed On Location In Ludlow, Shropshire". Ludlow & South Shropshire Tourist Information. South Shropshire Tourism Association. 5 January 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary". Emerald Isle Gifts, original stamps from An Post. 17 October 1996. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Meet the cast of ITV's Belgravia". Radio Times.
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