Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker has died, aged 81

Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker – famed internationally for her roles in films like My Left Foot, Home Alone 2, and The Field – has died, aged 81.

Her agent Phil Belfield confirmed the news – stating that we "will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her."

"I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over," he added.

Fricker, who was born in Dublin, was the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award – earning the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Christy Brown's mother in the 1989 film My Left Foot. She went on to appear in many other films and TV series, with her career spanning six decades, across stage and screen.

In 2025, Fricker published her acclaimed memoir, She Died Young: A Life in Fragments.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the actress was to be honoured with the Freedom of the City of Dublin, as "one of Dublin’s most distinguished cultural figures."

Former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam – who nominated Fricker for the Freedom of the City of Dublin during his time in office – is among those who have paid tribute to her today.

"Brenda was one of Ireland's most celebrated actresses and a true daughter of Dublin," he wrote. "Through her extraordinary talent, she brought Irish storytelling to audiences across the world, while never losing the warmth, wit and grounded nature that made her so beloved at home.

"Her Academy Award win was a source of immense national pride, but perhaps even more importantly, she remained a figure who represented the very best of Dublin: resilience, authenticity, compassion and humour."

Former President Michael D. Higgins also paid tribute via a statement.

"Brenda Fricker was the first Irish woman to win an Oscar, but what she’ll most be remembered for is the wide range and versatility of the roles she took, and above all, her reputation among fellow actors for kindness, generosity and support," he said.