Bronagh Gallagher

Irish actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bronagh Gallagher (born 1972) is an Irish singer and actress from Northern Ireland. She had her first acting role in the 1989 television movie Dear Sarah. She became known internationally known after her appearance in the 1991 film The Commitments.

Born1972 (age 5354)
OccupationsSinger and actress
Yearsactive1989–present
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Bronagh Gallagher
Bronagh Gallagher in 2010
Born1972 (age 5354)
OccupationsSinger and actress
Years active1989–present
Websitewww.bronaghgallagher.com
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Early life and education

Bronagh Gallagher was born in 1972[1] in Derry, Northern Ireland, to working class Catholic parents.[2] Her sister, Louise, is a film producer.[2]

During her teenage years, she got involved in drama and music activities through school and joined a local amateur dramatics group called the Oakgrove Theatre Company.[citation needed] In 1989–90 she was a backing singer in a local band called The Listener.[citation needed]

Career

Gallagher was first a hairdresser.[3]

Music

Her first album, Precious Soul, was released in 2004 on the Salty Dog Records label and was produced by John Reynolds. The album features collaborations with Brian Eno on the songs "He Don't Love You" and "Hooks". Gallagher wrote most of the music on the album, played the drums and sang lead vocals.[citation needed]

She released a second album, Bronagh Gallagher, in 2012, and a third album, Gather Your Greatness, in 2016.[4][5][6]

Acting

Gallagher's big break came when she starred as Bernie in The Commitments (1991), followed by a supporting role in the BBC drama You, Me & Marley (1992).[citation needed] She had small parts in Pulp Fiction (1994) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Other film appearances include Mary Reilly (1996), Divorcing Jack (1998), Thunderpants (2002), Skagerrak (2003), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Grabbers (2012).[citation needed]

Gallagher has appeared on stage in Théâtre de Complicité touring production of The Street of Crocodiles and The National Theatre's production War Horse as Rose Narracott.[citation needed]

In 2009, Gallagher starred alongside a well-known cast on the MySpace/Vertigo Films production Faintheart and starred in the BBC Three comedy TV series Pramface in 2012.[7]

On television, she played the mother of young Nick in the BBC drama Nick Nickleby. She played Trisha Meehan in The Field of Blood and Ada Mason in Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 10 episode, "The Mystery of the Blue Train".[citation needed]

In 2019, she began her role as Carol, the sister of amateur boxer Ashley in the Sky Original series Brassic.[citation needed]

Recognition

An image of Gallagher, in character as Bernie McGloughlin in the film The Commitments, was featured on an Irish postage stamp as part of the Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary series issued by An Post.[8] The image includes her The Commitments co-stars Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy and Andrew Strong as Deco Cuffe.[8]

In 2020, she was listed at number 33 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors.[1]

Pledge

In September 2025, she signed an open pledge with Film Workers for Palestine pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions "that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."[9]

Acting credits

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Dear Sarah Anne Conlon TV film
1991 The Commitments Bernie McGloughlin
1992 You, Me and Marley Frances
1994 Pulp Fiction Trudi
1995 Ruffian Hearts Dervla TV film
1996 Mary Reilly Annie
1998 Painted Angels Eileen
Divorcing Jack Taxi Driver
1999 This Year's Love Carol
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Captain Maoi Madakor
2000 The Most Fertile Man in Ireland Millicent
Wild About Harry Miss Boyle
2002 Sinners Kitty TV film
Thunderpants Mrs. Smash
2003 Skagerrak Sophie
Holy Cross Sarah Norton TV film
Spin the Bottle Teresa
2005 Tara Road Polly
2006 Tristan & Isolde Bragnae
Middletown Tessie
2007 Botched Sonya
Agnes Agnes Jones TV film
Clean the House Cleaner TV film
2008 Faintheart Maggie
Last Chance Harvey Oonagh
2009 Malice in Wonderland Hattie
Sherlock Holmes Palm Reader
2010 The Big I Am Di Baines
Tamara Drewe Eustacia
2011 Albert Nobbs Cathleen Page
Arthur Christmas Elf Voice role
Where Are They Now? Woman Short
2012 Grabbers Una Maher
After the Triumph of Your Birth Woman of the Theater
2013 Made in Belfast Undertaker
Orbit Ever After Mother Short
The Food Guide to Love Rachel
2014 Shooting for Socrates Irene
Justlikeabitch Mary Short
2017 Return to Montauk Irene
Brexit Shorts: Your Ma's a Hard Brexit Short
2018 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Charlotte Stimple
2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Micawber
A Bump Along the Way Pamela
2023 Dance First Nora Barnacle Post-production
2024 Bird Cameo
2024 The End Post-production
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Screenplay Frances Episode: "You, Me & Marley"
The Bill Nicola Purdy 2 episodes
1993 Over the Rainbow Michelle Series regular, 8 episodes
1995 Performance Minnie Powell Episode: "Shadow of a Gunman"
1996 Screen Two Sandra Williamson Episode: "The Precious Brood"
1999 Shockers Alice Walker Episode: "Deja Vu"
2000 Cry Wolf Bambi Episode: Series 1, Episode 5
The Fitz Teddy Series regular, 6 episodes
2001 On a Life's Edge Zoe TV short
2004 The Clinic Lisa Episode: Series 2, Episode 8
2005 Agatha Christie's Poirot Ada Mason Episode: "The Mystery of the Blue Train"
2007 Holby City Gilly Conran Episode: "Paranoid Android"
The Bill Tina Wilson Episode: "Dicing with Danger"
The Street Mary Jennerson Episode: "Twin"
The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various characters Recurring role, 6 episodes
2010 Accused Siobhan Episode: "Helen's Story"
2011–2013 The Field of Blood Trisha Meehan 4 episodes
2012 New Tricks Mara Donaldson Episode: "Dead Poets"
2012–2014 Pramface Sandra Prince Series regular, 17 episodes
2013 Shameless Ronnie Episode: "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang"
2015 Moone Boy Pat O'Dwyer Episode: "The Plunder Years"
You, Me and the Apocalypse Larrson Miniseries, 7 episodes
2017 Count Arthur Strong Birdie Recurring role, 6 episodes
2018 Genius Berthe Weill Episode: "Picasso: Chapter Two"
2019–2025 Brassic Carol Dennings Main cast
2020 Belgravia[10] Speer Miniseries
2022 Derry Girls As Herself Guest appearance
2026 How to Get to Heaven from Belfast Booker 4 episodes[11]
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Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

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