Eileen Walsh


Eileen Walsh is an Irish actress. Her credits include Miss Julie, Janice Beard 45 WPM, When Brendan Met Trudy, The Magdalene Sisters, Pure Mule, Eden, The End, Catastrophe, The [Children Act (film)|The Children Act], Maze, Wolf, and Ann.
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival, Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.

Biography

Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, 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, who was also an actress. 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. She was later heartbroken when losing that role to Elaine Cassidy in the 2001 film version.
She worked alongside Peter Mullan in Miss Julie. In 1999, she played the titular character in Janice Beard 45 WPM, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patsy Kensit and Eddie Marsan.
She starred in When Brendan Met Trudy.
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. Her performance earned her a nomination for British Supporting Actress of the Year at the 2002 London Film Critics' Circle Awards.
She featured as Therese Farrell in Pure Mule, and as Breda Farrell in the film Eden, and the same year she played jessica in the short film The End.
In 2008, Walsh won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda, a lonely housewife whose willpower is put to the test in the film Eden.
Her film career continued with The Children Act, Maze, Wolf, and Ann.
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival, Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.

Personal life

Walsh is married, lived in London, and has two children.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996'Crushed Girl
1997Messaggi quasi segreti2nd Kid
1997'Carole
1999Miss JulieServant
1999Janice Beard 45 WPMJanice Beard
2000When Brendan Met TrudySiobhan
2001LookTrishShort film
2002'Crispina
2002Nicholas NicklebyThe Infant Phenomenon
200533X Around the SunRuth
2008EdenBreda Farrell
2008'JessicaShort film
2009TriageDr. Christopher
2009MonaShort film
2010SnapChris
2017The Children ActNaomi Henry
2017MazeKate Marley
2019RialtoPaula Grainger
2021WolfDr. Angeli
2022AnnPatricia
2024Small [Things Like These (film)|Small Things Like These]Eileen Furlong

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Lula FantasticTV short
2005Pure MuleTherese Farrell5 episodes
2015–19CatastropheKate6 episodes
2016Can't Cope, Won't CopePharmacist Geraldine O'NeillEpisode: "I Wanna Be Like You"
2016DeliciousMarianne KhanEpisode: "Death Comes to All"
2017On the HemlineMarthaTV movie
2018Patrick MelroseAnnette2 episodes
2018Women on the VergeAlison6 episodes
2020The South WesterliesKate6 episodes
2021Modern LoveLily De CourcyEpisode: "A Second Embrace, With Eyes Open"
2022Death in ParadiseOrla MillsEpisode: "The Phone-In Murder"

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022Breathing SpaceCiara FitzpatrickRadio play by Dorothy Cotter