Fionnula Flanagan | |
|---|---|
 Flanagan in 2012 | |
| Born | Fionnghuala Manon Flanagan (1941-12-10)December 10, 1941 (age 84) |
| Education | Abbey Theatre School |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Works | Filmography |
| Spouse | |
Fionnghuala Manon "Fionnula"Flanagan[1][2] (born 10 December 1941) is an Irish actress. Flanagan is best known for her roles in the filmsJames Joyce's Women (1985),Some Mother's Son (1996),Waking Ned (1998),The Others (2001),Four Brothers (2005),Yes Man (2008),The Guard (2011) andSong of the Sea (2014). She is also known for her recurring role asEloise Hawking in the seriesLost (2007–2010). Notable stage productions she has performed in includeUlysses in Nighttown andThe Ferryman, both of which earned herTony Award nominations forBest Featured Actress in a Play.
For her contributions to the entertainment industry, she was given theIFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. She was honoured with the Maureen O'Hara Award at theKerry Film Festival in 2011, the award is offered to women who have excelled in their chosen field in film. She was also nominated for twoPrimetime Emmy Awards (winning one) and won aSaturn Award. In 2020, she was listed at #23 onThe Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.[3]
Flanagan was born and raised inDublin, the daughter of Rosanna (née McGuirk) and Terence Niall Flanagan.[4] Her father was an Irish Army officer and Communist who had fought in theInternational Brigades in theSpanish Civil War againstFranco'sNationalists.[5] She was educated at Scoil Mhuire onMarlborough Street, the current headquarters of theDepartment of Education.[6] Although her parents could not speak Irish, they wanted Fionnula and her four siblings to learn the Irish language; thus she grew up speaking both English and Irish fluently.[7]
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Flanagan made her acting debut as the lead role of Máire inMáiréad Ní Ghráda's Irish-language playAn Triail at theDamer Theatre in 1964. She continued the role in the radio version and rose to national prominence in theTeilifís Éireann television adaptation, for which she won the 1965Jacob's Award for her "outstanding performance".[6][8] With her portrayal of Gerty McDowell in the film version ofUlysses (1967), Flanagan established herself as one of the foremost interpreters ofJames Joyce. She made her Broadway debut inBrian Friel'sLovers (1968), then appeared inThe Incomparable Max (1971) and such Joycean theatrical projects asUlysses in Nighttown (as Molly Bloom) andJames Joyce's Women (1977; toured through 1979), a one-woman show written by Flanagan and directed for the stage byBurgess Meredith. It was subsequently filmed in 1983, with Flanagan both producing and playing all six main female roles (Joyce's wife, Nora Barnacle, as well as fictional characters Molly Bloom, Gerty McDowell, etc.). In 2018 she returned to Broadway inJez Butterworth'sThe Ferryman, directed bySam Mendes.[9][10]
A familiar presence in American television, Flanagan has appeared in severalmade-for-TV movies includingThe Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) starringElizabeth Montgomery,Mary White (1977),The Ewok Adventure (1984) andA Winner Never Quits (1986). She won anEmmy Award for her performance as Clothilde in the 1976 network miniseriesRich Man, Poor Man. Her weekly series stints have included Aunt Molly Culhane inHow the West Was Won (1977), which earned her a secondEmmy Award nomination. She did multiple appearances onMurder, She Wrote, one of them as Freida, a secretary aidingJessica Fletcher in finding a murderer on the episodeSteal me a Story (1987). She later went on to appear in theMurder, She Wrote filmThe Celtic Riddle (2003) as Margaret Byrne. She played Lt. Guyla Cook inHard Copy (1987), and Kathleen Meacham, wife of a police chief played byJohn Mahoney inH.E.L.P. (1990).
She made guest appearances in three of theStar Trek series:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in episode "Dax", playing Enina Tandro;Star Trek: The Next Generation in episode"Inheritance", in which she playedJuliana Soong (Data's "mother"); andStar Trek: Enterprise in episode "Fallen Hero", playing theVulcan Ambassador V'Lar.[11]
Flanagan guest-starred in several episodes ofLost asEloise Hawking. She appeared in such films asThe Others oppositeNicole Kidman,The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood as the eldest Teensy, andWaking Ned. She appeared in television series and stage productions including theEmmy-nominated miniseriesRevelations, starringBill Pullman andNatascha McElhone, and inTransamerica, starringFelicity Huffman. From 2006 to 2008, she played Rose Caffee, the matriarch of an Irish-AmericanRhode Island family on theShowtime dramaBrotherhood.
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Flanagan appeared withHelen Mirren inSome Mother's Son, written and directed byTerry George, as the militantly supportive mother of aProvisional Irish Republican Army hunger striker in 1981. Subsequently, she spoke at a memorial hosted bySinn Féin at the Citywest Hotel inDublin forIrish republicans and their kin who were killed during the latest episode ofthe Troubles in Northern Ireland.[12] Flanagan made €3000 worth of donations to the party at the time.[13]
Flanagan and her late husband Garrett O'Connor, an Irish nationalist from Dublin,[14] were known to host parties at theirHollywood Hills home for people in the Irish community. In July 2009, she joined Sinn Féin presidentGerry Adams for a series of lectures across the US supporting Irish unity. In October 2011, she announced her support for Sinn Féin politicianMartin McGuinness in his unsuccessful bid in Ireland's 2011presidential election.[15]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released. |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Ulysses | Gerty MacDowell | |
| 1969 | Sinful Davey | Penelope | |
| 1976 | In the Region of Ice | The Sister | Short film |
| 1980 | Mr. Patman | Abadaba | |
| 1982 | Voyager from the Unknown | Molly Brown | |
| 1984 | Reflections | Mrs. Charlotte Lawless | |
| 1985 | James Joyce's Women | Harriet Shaw Weaver | |
| 1986 | Youngblood | Miss McGill | |
| A State of Emergency | Diane Carmody | ||
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid | Flo | |
| 1992 | Mad at the Moon | Mrs. Hill | |
| 1993 | Money for Nothing | Mrs. Coyle | |
| 1994 | The Pornographer | ||
| 1996 | Some Mother's Son | Annie Higgins | |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Additional Voices | |
| Waking Ned | Annie O'Shea | Nominated–Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| Paperlily | |||
| 1999 | Deceit | ||
| With or Without You | Irene | ||
| 2001 | The Others | Mrs. Bertha Mills | Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated–Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
| 2002 | Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood | Aimee Malissa "Teensy" Whitman | |
| 2003 | Tears of the Sun | Sister Grace | |
| 2004 | One of the Oldest Con Games | Mary Kuhlmann | Short film |
| Sexual Life | Grandmother | ||
| Blessed | J. Lloyd Samuel | ||
| Man About Dog | Olivia | ||
| 2005 | Transamerica | Elizabeth Schupak | Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress – Film |
| Four Brothers | Evelyn Mercer | ||
| 2006 | The Payback | Galina | |
| 2007 | Slipstream | Bette Lustig | |
| 2008 | Yes Man | Tillie | |
| 2009 | The Invention of Lying | Martha Bellison | |
| A Christmas Carol | Mrs. Dilber | ||
| 2011 | The Guard | Eileen Boyle | Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress – Film |
| Kill the Irishman | Grace O'Keefe | ||
| Coming & Going | Irma | ||
| Pass the Salt, Please | Woman | Short film | |
| 2013 | Angels Sing | Ma | |
| Tasting Menu | Comptessa | ||
| Life's a Breeze | Nan | ||
| 2014 | Fearless | Margret | Short film |
| Song of the Sea | Granny /Macha | Voices; English andIrish-language versions | |
| 2015 | Come Simi | Aunt Maxine | |
| 2016 | Trash Fire | Violet | |
| Havenhurst | Eleanor Mudgett | ||
| Little Secret | Barbara | ||
| 2017 | Late Afternoon | Emily | Voice; Short film |
| 2018 | Birthmarked | Mrs. Tridek | |
| 2019 | Sing Me Back Home[fr] | Marie | |
| Supervized | Madera Moonlight | ||
| Radioflash | Maw | ||
| 2021 | Zone 414 | Jane's maintenance provider | |
| 2022 | The Man from Rome | Cruz Bruner | |
| 2023 | Sight | Sister Marie | |
| The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | Grandma'am | ||
| 2024 | Mr. K | Ruth Monchien | |
| Four Mothers | Alma | ||
| 2025 | Brown Bread | Betty | Short film |
| TBA | The Body Is Water † | TBA | Post-production[16] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Deirdre | Deirdre | Television film |
| Knock on Any Door | Jenny | Episode: "The Machine Minder" | |
| 1966 | Insurrection | Nora Connolly | Episode: "Nothing in Heaven or Earth" |
| Broome Stages | Maud | 3 episodes | |
| The Wednesday Play | Eileen | Episode: "Why Aren't You Famous?" | |
| 1967 | Mona | Episode: "A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant" | |
| Callan | Rena Clarke | Episode: "Goodbye, Nobby Clarke" | |
| 1968 | Cradle Song | Joanna | Television film |
| Cold Comfort Farm | Mary Smiling | Episode: "Folk" | |
| 1969 | Some Women | Dianne Richards | Television film |
| 1972 | Bonanza | Meg Dundee | Episode: "Heritage of Anger" |
| Mannix | Gloria Paget | Episode: "The Crimson Halo" | |
| Gunsmoke | Sarah Morgan | Episode: "The Drummer" | |
| 1972–1976 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Barbara Brendan / Maggie | 3 episodes |
| 1973 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Felicia | Television film |
| The New Perry Mason | Nancy Addison | Episode: "The Case of the Horoscope Homicide" | |
| 1974 | The Rookies | Judy Karcher | Episode: "Trial by Doubt" |
| Shaft | Louise Quayle | Episode: "The Murder Machine" | |
| Hec Ramsey | Nellie O'Shea | Episode: "Only Birds and Fools" | |
| The Godchild | Virginia | Television film | |
| 1975 | The Legend of Lizzie Borden | Bridget Sullivan | Television film |
| From Sea to Shining Sea | Mary Kennedy | Episode: "The Unwanted" | |
| Movin' On | Laura Brown | Episode: "Love, Death and Laura Brown" | |
| Police Story | Arlene Hansen | Episode: "Company Man" | |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Ellen Simms | Episode: "Requiem for Murder" |
| Rich Man, Poor Man | Clothilde | Episode: "Part II: Chapters 3 and 4" Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | |
| Medical Center | Karen Atkins | Episode: "Child of Conflict" | |
| Kojak | Molly Braddock | Episode: "A Summer Madness" | |
| The Bionic Woman | Tammy | Episode: "Road to Nashville" | |
| Serpico | Rita Maloney | Episode: "Every Man Must Pay His Dues" | |
| Nightmare in Badham County | Dulcie | Television film | |
| 1977 | Hunter | Episode: "The Chand is Burning" | |
| Mary White | Sallie White | Television film | |
| 1978–1979 | How the West Was Won | Molly Culhane | Main cast (seasons 2–3) Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1979 | Young Love, First Love | Audrey Gibson | Television film |
| 1980 | Here's Boomer | Bronnie Craddock | Episode: "The Vigil" |
| 1981 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Sabrina Parker | Episode: "Roadhouse" |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Warden Clayton | Episode: "Is There a Doctor in the Big House?" | |
| 1982 | Benson | Rose Sullivan | Episode: "Sweet Irish Rose" |
| 1983 | Voyagers! | Molly Brown | Episode: "Voyagers of the Titanic" |
| Through Naked Eyes | Dr. Frances Muller | Television film | |
| 1984 | Fame | Dr. Pettibon | Episode: "Sheer Will" |
| Scorned and Swindled | Margaret | Television film | |
| Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure | Catarine Towani | Television film | |
| Riptide | Melissa Belancourt | Episode: "Peter Pan Is Alive and Well" | |
| 1984–1988 | Simon & Simon | Dr. Rita Price / Dr. Barbara Bryson / Lydia / Becky | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Arlene Crenshaw | Episode: "The Clinic" |
| 1986 | A Winner Never Quits | Mrs. Wyshner | Television film |
| 1987 | Hard Copy | Lt. Guyla Cook | 4 episodes |
| 1987–1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Freida Schmidt / Fiona Delaney Griffith / Eileen O'Bannon | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | Hunter | Maureen Delaney | Episode: "Shillelagh" |
| Columbo | Louise | Episode: "Murder: A Self Portrait" | |
| 1990 | H.E.L.P. | Kathleen Meacham | Main cast |
| Beauty and the Beast | Jessica Webb | 2 episodes | |
| Father Dowling Mysteries | Mother Margaret | Episode: "The Undercover Nun Mystery" | |
| 1991 | Death Dreams | Dr. Margaret Newberger | Television film |
| Final Verdict | Pearl Morton | Television film | |
| 1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Mrs. Hooper | Episode: "A Rose is a Rose" |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Enina Tandro | Episode: "Dax" |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Dr. Juliana Tainer | Episode: "Inheritance" | |
| 1994 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Heart | Episode: "The Circus" |
| White Mile | Gena Karas | Television film | |
| 1995 | Legend | Julia Grant | Episode: "Legend on His President's Secret Service" |
| 919 Fifth Avenue | Brydie | Television film | |
| 1998 | Nothing Sacred | Helen Reyneaux | Episode: "The Coldest Night of the Year" |
| Kings in Grass Castles | Bridget Durack | 2 episodes | |
| To Have & to Hold | Fiona McGrail | Main cast | |
| 1998–1999 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | Narrator / The Older Woman | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | Chicago Hope | Judge Robin O'Hara | Episode: "Big Hand for the Little Lady" |
| A Secret Affair | Drucilla Fitzgerald | Television film | |
| 2000 | For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story | Sally Lewis | Television film |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Vulcan Ambassador V'Lar | Episode: "Fallen Hero" |
| 2003 | Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle | Margaret Byrne | Television film |
| 2003–2018 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sheila Baxter / Madeline 'Maddie' Thomas | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Nip/Tuck | Sister Rita-Claire | Episode: "Agatha Ripp" |
| Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks | Grandma O'Mallard | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2005 | Revelations | Mother Francine | 4 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Brotherhood | Rose Caffee | Main cast Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated–Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Television Nominated–Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2007 | Paddywhackery | Peig Sayers | Main cast Nominated–Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Television |
| 2007–2010 | Lost | Eloise Hawking | 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Three Wise Women | Beth | Television film |
| 2013 | Defiance | Nicolette "Nicky" Riordan | 8 episodes |
| 2014 | HitRecord on TV | Aunt Abigail | Episode: "RE: Money" |
| 2014–2016 | Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street | Miss Hudspith | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | American Gods | Essie's Grandmother / Old Essie Macgowan | Episode: "A Prayer for Mad Sweeney" |
| Kat & Alfie: Redwater | Agnes Byrne | Main cast | |
| 2018 | Origin | Mia Anderson | Episode: "Funeral Blues" |
| 2022 | Strike | Oonagh Kennedy | Episode: "Troubled Blood: Part 1" |
| 2023 | Smother | Caro Noonan | 6 episodes |
| Sisters | Dymphna | Episode: "This Too Shall Pass" | |
| The Santa Stories | Narrator | Episode: "The Note" | |
| 2024 | Bodkin | Mother Bernadette | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Small Town, Big Story | Wendy's Mother | Voice; Episode: "The White Ridge" |
