Brenda Fricker, the Irish actress who became the first woman from Ireland to win an Academy Award for acting, has died at 81, according to multiple reports. Fricker won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in the 1989 film “My Left Foot,” directed by Jim Sheridan. The film, which centres on Christy Brown, depicts how his cerebral palsy leaves him with muscular control over one foot. Reports note that “My Left Foot” received major acclaim and that it also won the best actor Oscar for Daniel Day-Lewis.
Several outlets describe Fricker as beginning her career in British television, including work on “Coronation Street” and “Casualty,” before moving into high-profile Hollywood roles. Her agent, Phil Belfield, said in a statement to the BBC that her death leaves a significant void and that she will be remembered by film and TV audiences worldwide. Other coverage characterizes her achievement as paving the way for Irish talent in international film.
