Niamh Cusack facts for kids

Niamh Cusack (born 20 October 1959) is a famous Irish actress. She comes from a family of actors and has performed in many plays with well-known theatre groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Cusack is widely known for playing Dr. Kate Rowan in the British TV show Heartbeat from 1992 to 1995. She has also appeared in many other TV shows and movies. These include the medical drama Always and Everyone, the animated series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends, and the film Testament of Youth.

She has also guest-starred in popular shows like Agatha Christie's Marple, Midsomer Murders, A Touch of Frost, and Death in Paradise. For her acting, Cusack was nominated for an IFTA Award.

Early Life and Family

Niamh Cusack was born in Dalkey, a town in County Dublin, Ireland. Her parents, Cyril Cusack and Maureen Cusack, were both actors. Acting runs in her family, as her sisters Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack, and her half-sister Catherine Cusack, are also actresses. Her brother, Pádraig Cusack, is a producer for the Royal National Theatre in Great Britain.

Cusack grew up speaking both Irish and English. Before she became an actress, she was a talented musician. She played the flute and even won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. After working as a musician for a while, she decided to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Acting Career

Cusack's career includes many roles in theatre, television, and film. She is known for being a very versatile actress, able to play many different kinds of characters.

On the Stage

Cusack began her theatre career in 1985. One of her first major roles was playing Desdemona in Shakespeare's play Othello with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). A year later, she played Juliet in the RSC's production of Romeo and Juliet.

Throughout her career, she has appeared in many famous plays. In 2004, she was part of the Royal National Theatre's stage version of the popular book series His Dark Materials, where she played the witch Serafina Pekkala.

In 2012, she played the role of Siobhan in the first-ever stage production of the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The show was a huge success and won many awards. More recently, she played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth in 2018 and appeared in the stage version of the novel My Brilliant Friend.

On Film and Television

Many people know Niamh Cusack from her role as Dr. Kate Rowan in the TV series Heartbeat. The show was set in the 1960s and was very popular. She also provided the voice for Beatrix Potter in the animated series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends.

She has appeared in many other TV shows, including:

• Jeeves and Wooster
• Agatha Christie's Poirot
• Agatha Christie's Marple
• Midsomer Murders
• A Touch of Frost
• Death in Paradise
• The Tower

Her film roles include appearances in The Closer You Get (2000), Testament of Youth (2014), and In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2023).

Personal Life

Niamh Cusack is married to actor Finbar Lynch. They have a son, Calam Lynch, who is also an actor. Cusack enjoys running and has completed the London Marathon to raise money for charity.

Selected Roles

Here is a list of some of Niamh Cusack's most well-known roles in film, television, and theatre.

Filmography

Theatre Credits

• Othello (1985) as Desdemona
• Romeo and Juliet (1986) as Juliet
• The Plough and the Stars (1991) as Nora Clitheroe
• As You Like It (1996) as Rosalind
• His Dark Materials (2003) as Serafina Pekkala
• Dancing at Lughnasa (2009) as Maggie
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2012) as Siobhan
• Macbeth (2018) as Lady Macbeth
• My Brilliant Friend (2019) as Lenú
• Faith Healer (2022) as Grace
• Hamlet (2022) as Gertrude