Niamh Cusack facts for kids

Niamh Cusack (pronounced NEEV; born on October 20, 1959) is a talented Irish actress. She comes from a family of famous actors and has performed in many important plays and TV shows.

Niamh has worked with well-known groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. Many people know her from her role as Dr. Kate Rowan in the British TV series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1995. She has also appeared in many other films and TV shows.

Early Life and Family Connections

Niamh Cusack grew up in a family of actors. Her father was the famous Irish actor Cyril Cusack. She has two sisters, Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack, who are also actresses. Her half-sister, Catherine Cusack, is an actress too.

Niamh also has two brothers. Paul Cusack is a TV producer, and Pádraig Cusack produces plays for the Royal National Theatre. Niamh is married to actor Finbar Lynch, and they have a son named Calam Lynch, who is also an actor.

Niamh's Journey to Acting

Niamh Cusack grew up in Dublin and learned both Irish and English. Before she became an actress, she trained to be a professional flute player. She even won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

She worked as a musician with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Later, she decided to try acting and got into the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Niamh left acting school early because she was offered her first acting job. This was at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Niamh's Acting Career

Niamh Cusack has had a long and successful acting career. She has performed in many plays and appeared in popular TV shows and films.

On Stage: Theatre Roles

In 1985, Niamh played Irina in a play called Three Sisters. She then acted as Desdemona in Othello with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She even starred opposite Sean Bean in Romeo and Juliet in 1986.

Throughout the 1990s, Niamh was a regular on the London stage. She played Nora Clitheroe in The Plough and the Stars and Rosalind in As You Like It. In 2003, she played Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

In 2004, Niamh joined the Royal National Theatre. She played Serafina Pekkala in the play His Dark Materials. She returned to the National Theatre in 2007 for The Enchantment. In 2009, she starred with her husband, Finbar Lynch, in Dancing at Lughnasa.

In 2012, Niamh Cusack played Siobhan in the first-ever stage version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This play was very popular and was even shown live in cinemas. She was nominated for an award for this role. The show later moved to the Apollo Theatre in London, and Niamh continued her role.

In 2017, she played Lenú in the play My Brilliant Friend. She also returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2018 to play Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. In 2022, she played Gertrude in Hamlet alongside her husband, Finbar Lynch.

On Screen: Film and TV Roles

In 1989, Niamh appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot. She became very well-known for her role as Dr. Kate Rowan in the TV series Heartbeat. Her character sadly died in the show because Niamh was pregnant and decided to leave.

She also played Christine Fletcher in the medical series Always and Everyone. Niamh even played Beatrix Potter in The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. She has appeared in other popular shows like Agatha Christie's Marple, Midsomer Murders, and A Touch of Frost.

More recently, Niamh starred as Maggie O'Connell in Death in Paradise in 2021. In 2023, she played Claire Mills in the second series of The Tower.

On Radio: Voice Acting

Niamh Cusack has also performed on the radio. In 2013, she was nominated for an award for her role in The Man with Wings on BBC Radio 4. She also played Molly Bloom in a new radio version of James Joyce's famous book Ulysses.

Niamh's Personal Life

Niamh Cusack is married to actor Finbar Lynch. They first met in 1990 while working on a play together in Dublin. They have one son, Calam Lynch, who is also an actor. Niamh is also a keen athlete and has run the London Marathon to raise money for charity.

Film and Television Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Niamh Cusack has been recognized for her acting with several nominations and awards:

• Nominated for a BBC Audio Drama Award in 2013 for The Man with Wings.
• Nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award in 2012 for her role in ... of the Western World.
• Nominated for an IFTA in 2004 for Best Actress in a TV Drama for Too Good to be True.
• She has won an Irish Life Award and an Irish Post Award.
• Nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Awards in 2021/22 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Faith Healer.