Brenda Fricker, who earned an Academy Award for her portrayal in the 1989 film “My Left Foot,” died at the age of 81. She passed away Thursday night in Dublin after experiencing a period of ill health, according to her agent, Phil Belfield.
Fricker made history in 1990 by becoming the first Irish woman to secure an Academy Award for best supporting actress. She played the role of Bridget Fagan Brown, the determined mother of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy who had control over only his left foot. Daniel Day-Lewis, who starred as Christy Brown, won the award for best actor.
Phil Belfield expressed his admiration, stating, “We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her.” He added that working with Fricker was an honor, highlighting her lasting impact on film and television audiences globally.
Brenda Fricker’s notable career included over 90 film and television appearances between 1964 and 2024. She gained recognition for roles such as the homeless woman in the 1992 film “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” where she befriended Macaulay Culkin’s character. Her extensive work also included participation in the original cast of the BBC medical drama “Casualty” and a role alongside Cate Blanchett in “Veronica Guerin,” which explored the story of an Irish journalist tragically murdered in 1996.
Born in Dublin in 1945, Fricker was honored earlier this year with the city’s highest accolade, the Freedom of the City. In her autobiography, “She Died Young: A Life in Fragments,” Fricker shares both joyful childhood experiences with her sister Grania and her personal battles with sexual violence and mental health challenges that resulted in multiple institutionalizations. Published in September 2025, the book appeared on the Irish Sunday Times bestseller list.
Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, acknowledged her contribution to the arts, stating, “She truly was among the greatest exports this country has ever produced and an ambassador for Irish talent on the world stage.”
Harris emphasized her uniqueness, remarking, “Quite simply, we will never see the like of her ever again.”