Dervla Kirwan

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5 Mar 2024

Dervla Kirwan

Dervla Kirwan, born on October 24, 1971, is an Irish actress known for her versatile performances. She has been recognized with several awards, including two IFTA Awards for her roles in the film "Ondine" (2009) and the RTÉ thriller series "Smother" (2021–2023).
Kirwan kicked off her career with notable roles in BBC series such as "Goodnight Sweetheart" (1993–1996) and "Ballykissangel" (1996–1998), the latter of which earned her a National Television Award. She continued to showcase her talent with appearances in other BBC productions like "Hearts and Bones" (2000–2001), "55 Degrees North" (2004–2005), "True Dare Kiss" (2007), "Material Girl," and "The Silence" (both 2010). Additionally, she made a guest appearance in the Doctor Who Christmas special titled "The Next Doctor" (2008).

Dervla Kirwan was born in Churchtown, Dublin, Ireland, to parents Peter Kirwan, an insurance broker, and Maureen O'Driscoll, a language teacher. She is the youngest of three daughters. Kirwan attended Loreto Beaufort in Rathfarnham, Dublin, a Catholic school for girls, until the age of 16, when her acting career began to take off, prompting her departure. She then completed her secondary education at Sandymount High School in Dublin.
In a revealing episode of Who Do You Think You Are? aired in 2010, Kirwan discovered fascinating details about her ancestry. Her great-grandmother, Margaret Collins-O'Driscoll, was the sister of Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins. Moreover, her maternal grandfather, Finian O'Driscoll, was Collins's nephew and served with the Irish Republican Army for three years.
On her paternal side, Kirwan's grandfather, Henry Kahn, was a Polish Jewish immigrant who married her Catholic grandmother, Teresa O'Shea, in Ireland. Kahn's encounter with anti-Semitism led to a wrongful imprisonment following a trial overseen by Frederick Falkiner, a judge whose actions were later deemed a miscarriage of justice. This trial likely inspired a passage in James Joyce's Ulysses.

Dervla Kirwan has had a prolific and diverse television career spanning several decades. Her early roles included appearances in TV series such as Troubles in 1988 and The Lilac Bus in 1990, based on Maeve Binchy's novel, alongside Stephanie Beacham.
Her breakthrough came with her role in the 1991 BBC Scotland production of A Time To Dance, where she portrayed Bernadette Kennedy. Following this, Kirwan had notable roles in popular series like Casualty and the first three seasons of Goodnight Sweetheart alongside Nicholas Lyndhurst.
One of her most memorable roles was as Assumpta Fitzgerald in the hit series Ballykissangel, where she appeared in 23 episodes from 1996 to 1998. She also reprised this role for special episodes of The Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kirwan continued to appear in various BBC productions, including The Greatest Store in the World and Hearts and Bones. She also starred in the Sky TV series The Bombmaker and the crime drama 55 Degrees North.
In 2007, Kirwan joined the cast of the BBC drama True Dare Kiss, followed by her memorable portrayal of Miss Mercy Hartigan in the Doctor Who Christmas special "The Next Doctor" in 2008.
In subsequent years, Kirwan appeared in a range of TV dramas, including Moving On, Law & Order: UK, Material Girl, and Agatha Christie's Marple. She also starred in the BBC drama series The Silence in 2010 and worked on Injustice, a psychological thriller on ITV, in 2011.
Her later roles include appearances in Blackout, Strike Back: Retribution, Strangers, Silent Witness, and The Stranger. In 2020, she began work on the Irish thriller series Smother for RTÉ Television, which premiered in 2021.
Throughout her career, Kirwan has showcased her versatility as an actress, tackling a wide range of characters across various genres and formats.

Dervla Kirwan has demonstrated her talent and versatility not only on screen but also on stage throughout her career.
At the age of sixteen, Kirwan moved to London and gained acclaim for her performance as Linda in A Handful of Stars at the Bush Theatre in 1988. She continued to impress in theatrical productions, including revivals of Billy Roche's Wexford Trilogy in 1992 and April De Angelis's Hush at the Royal Court Theatre in 1992.
In 2001, Kirwan appeared in Dangerous Corner alongside Rupert Penry-Jones, whom she later married. She also starred in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Bristol Old Vic in 2003 alongside Penry-Jones.

Her stage credits also include performances at the National Theatre, such as Aristocrats in 2005 and Exiles in 2006. She appeared in Harold Pinter's Betrayal at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007.
In 2012, Kirwan received positive reviews for her portrayal of Sonya in Uncle Vanya at the Chichester Festival Theatre. She continued to impress critics in 2013 with her role as Valerie in The Weir at the Donmar Warehouse, which later transferred to the West End.
Kirwan returned to the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2014 for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, receiving warm reviews for her performance as Frankie.
Her stage work also includes a notable performance as Goneril in King Lear at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017, directed by Jonathan Munby and starring Ian McKellen as Lear.
Overall, Kirwan's stage career has been marked by a series of acclaimed performances across a diverse range of productions, showcasing her talent as a versatile and accomplished actress in the theatrical world.