Gabrielle Reidy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabrielle Reidy
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| Born | 23 July 1960 |
| Died | 13 October 2014 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–2012 |
| Known for | The Plough and the Stars |
| Spouse(s) | Gary Lilburn |
| Children | 1 |
Gabrielle Reidy (born 23 July 1960 – died 13 October 2014) was a talented Irish actress. She performed in many plays at the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin for over 40 years. Gabrielle also acted in many films and television shows in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
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Early Life and Learning
Gabrielle Reidy was born on 23 July 1960. She grew up in a town called Malahide in County Dublin, Ireland. Her father was a pilot, first for the Royal Air Force and later for Aer Lingus, an Irish airline. Gabrielle had two older sisters.
She went to Trinity College Dublin to study modern languages. At that time, Ireland did not have special courses for acting. While at college, Gabrielle joined the student acting group. She performed in plays like Footfalls and Hippolytus.
Acting Career Highlights
Gabrielle Reidy had a very busy acting career. She appeared in 23 films, 31 television series, and 25 theatre shows.
First Roles and Abbey Theatre
Gabrielle started acting at a young age. Her first role was in 1971 when she was just 11 years old. She performed in the play The Shadow of a Gunman by Seán O'Casey at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. This theatre was a very important place for her career. She worked with famous directors like Joe Dowling and Tómas Mac Anna there.
In 1979, she acted in another play at the Abbey Theatre called The Death of Humpty Dumpty. Later, in 1989, Gabrielle wrote and starred in her own play. It was based on a book called Fragments of Isabella. This play was about a woman's experiences surviving the Holocaust.
Moving to London and Film Roles
In 1989, Gabrielle moved to London to continue her acting career. She performed in many well-known plays. In 1995, she was in The Trojan Women at the Royal National Theatre. She also acted in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe.
One of her notable stage roles was alongside actor Daniel Radcliffe in the play Equus. On the big screen, Gabrielle played the mother of the main character, Greit, in the film Girl with a Pearl Earring. The film starred Scarlett Johansson.
Later Theatre and Television Work
Gabrielle returned to the Abbey Theatre in 2010. She starred in a new production of Seán O'Casey's play The Plough and the Stars. In 2012, she toured Ireland with this play. In 2011, she also acted in the play Winterlong at the Soho Theatre in London. She even played Hermione in Shakespeare's famous play The Winter's Tale.
On Irish television, Gabrielle appeared in the series The Clinic. She also played Monica Hall in a show called Never The Same Again: Monica Hall. In the UK, she was in many popular TV shows. These included Doctors, Waking The Dead, Holby City, Scott & Bailey, and The Bill. Her acting was so good that she was once nominated for an IFTN award.
Personal Life
Gabrielle Reidy met her husband, actor Gary Lilburn, in 1995. They were performing in a play called Desire Under the Elms together. Gary was from Limerick, Ireland. Gabrielle and Gary had one son. Gabrielle was also a member of Amnesty International, an organization that works for human rights.
Sadly, Gabrielle was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. She passed away from the illness on 13 October 2014, at her home in London. She was 54 years old. On the day she died, the Abbey Theatre held a special moment to remember her, with everyone standing to honor her memory.
