Orla Brady facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orla Brady
Brady at the 2020 Dublin International Film Festival
Born	(1961-03-28) 28 March 1961 (age 64) Dublin, Ireland
Education	École Philippe Gaulier
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1991–present
Spouse(s)	Nick Brandt ​ (m. 2002)​

Orla Brady (born 28 March 1961) is a famous Irish actress from Dublin. She has acted in theatre, television shows, and movies. In 2020, The Irish Times newspaper named her one of Ireland's best film actors.

Early Life and Schooling

Orla Brady was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was one of four children. She grew up in the town of Bray, County Wicklow, until she was seven. For her education, she went to a convent school run by the Ursulines in Cabinteely, Dublin.

When she was 25, Brady moved to Paris to study acting. She trained at a famous school called École Philippe Gaulier. She also studied at another school with the world-famous mime artist Marcel Marceau. Brady said that during this time, she did "a lot of clowning around, buffoonery and fencing," which helped her develop her own acting style.

Acting Career

Brady's career took off in the 1990s. She has played many different characters in popular TV shows and movies.

Theatre Beginnings

Brady started her career performing in plays. After studying in Paris, she returned to Dublin and acted in plays at the famous Gate Theatre. She later moved to London and performed in the West End, which is London's main theatre district. She also acted at the Royal National Theatre in England.

Television Roles

Brady is well-known for her roles in many television series. She has appeared in shows popular in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Some of her most famous TV roles include:

• Siobhan Dillon in the British drama Mistresses (2008–2010).
• Lydia in the action series Into the Badlands (2015–2019).
• Laris in the science fiction show Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023).

She has also had important parts in other shows like Fringe, Doctor Who (as Tasha Lem in the 2013 Christmas special), and American Horror Story: 1984. In 2025, she appeared in the series Bosch: Legacy.

Movie Roles

Brady has also acted in several movies. In 1999, she starred in A Love Divided, which earned her an award. She later appeared in The Foreigner (2017) alongside famous actors Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. Another notable film is Rose Plays Julie (2019).

Awards and Recognition

For her role in the movie A Love Divided, Brady won the Best Actress award at the 1999 Monte Carlo International Film and Television Festival. She has also been nominated for Best Actress several times by the Irish Film and Television Academy.

In 2020, The Irish Times included her on its list of the 50 greatest Irish film actors, placing her at number 43.

Personal Life

In 2001, Brady moved to Los Angeles. There, she met English photographer Nick Brandt. They got married in 2002 in Kenya.

Brady has said that when she was younger, she felt there were not many opportunities for women in Ireland. However, she later saw that the country had changed. She said, "Oh, this is a different Ireland and it accepts me now." Brady was raised in a Catholic family but has identified as an atheist since 2002.

Selected Filmography

Orla Brady in 2015

Here are some of Orla Brady's most well-known roles in film and television.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Orla Brady para niños