Marie Kean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marie Kean
in her one-woman show, Dublin, 1971
Born	(1918-06-27)27 June 1918 Rush, Ireland
Died	30 December 1993(1993-12-30) (aged 75) Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Actress

Marie Kean (born June 27, 1918, died December 29, 1993) was a famous Irish actress. She acted in plays, movies, and TV shows for over 40 years! Many people thought she was one of Ireland's best actresses. The Stage newspaper said she was an amazing actress with deep feelings.

Marie Kean's Life and Career

Marie Kean grew up in a village called Rush in County Dublin, Ireland. She went to Loreto College in Dublin. Marie learned how to act at the Gaiety School of Acting. She also worked with the famous Abbey Theatre acting group until 1961.

Becoming Famous on Radio

Marie became very famous in Ireland for her role as Mrs. Kennedy. She played a kind mother figure in a radio show called The Kennedys of Castleross. This show was on Radio Éireann and Marie acted in it for all 18 years it was on air!

Awards and TV Roles

In 1968, Marie won a special award called a Jacob's Award. She won it for her acting as Winnie in a TV show. This show was a play by Samuel Beckett called Happy Days. Marie had also acted in this play on stage. She later said it was her favorite role to play. She also played Mrs. Conn Brickley in a TV show called Irish RM.

Acting on Stage

Marie Kean acted in many plays. She performed in plays by famous Irish writers like Synge, O'Casey, and Friel. In 1969, she played the main character, Maggie Polpin, in a new play. It was called Big Maggie by John B. Keane. She performed it for the first time at the Cork Opera House. In 1978, she won an award in New York for her acting in this play.

Memorable Movie Roles

Marie Kean also acted in several movies. One of her most remembered movie roles was as Barry's clever mother. This was in Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon. She also played a shopkeeper in David Lean's movie Ryan's Daughter. Her last movie was The Dead in 1987. In this movie, she played Mrs. Malins.

Marie Kean passed away in Donnybrook, Dublin when she was 75 years old. Her husband, William Mulvey, had passed away before her in 1977.

Marie Kean's Filmography