Sinéad Keenan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sinéad Keenan
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Keenan holding an action figure of her Doctor Who character at a fan event in 2012.
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| Born | 27 December 1977 Dublin, Ireland
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| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Chris McGill
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 2 |
Sinéad Keenan (born December 27, 1977) is an Irish actress who has appeared in many television shows, movies, and plays. She is famous for playing the werewolf Nina Pickering in the BBC Three show Being Human.
Keenan is also known for her role as Farrah Phelan in the Irish TV series Fair City. Since 2023, she has starred as the detective DCI Jessica James in the popular ITV drama Unforgotten.
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Early Life and School
Sinéad Keenan was born and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. She is the oldest of three children. Her younger brother, Rory, and younger sister, Gráinne, are also actors.
She went to University College Dublin and earned a degree in sociology and history. When she was a child, Keenan wanted to be a lawyer because she loved the TV show Matlock. However, she later realized she didn't want to be a lawyer, but wanted to act like one.
Acting Career
Keenan has had a successful career on screen and on stage. She has performed in movies, television shows, and plays.
Television Roles
Keenan's first big TV role was playing Farrah Phelan in the Irish soap opera Fair City in 1999. After a year, she left the show to try different roles.
She later appeared in many popular British TV shows. She had guest roles in Murder City, Taggart, and Doctors.
From 2009 to 2011, Keenan played one of her most famous characters, Nina Pickering, in the supernatural show Being Human. Her character was a werewolf, and she became a main part of the cast in the third series.
She also appeared in the Doctor Who special, "The End of Time", as the character Addams. Her other TV appearances include Agatha Christie's Poirot and Silent Witness.
In 2017, she starred as Melanie Jones in the drama Little Boy Blue. Her performance was so good that she won an award for it. In 2023, she took on the lead role of DCI Jessica James in the crime drama Unforgotten.
Stage and Film Career
Besides television, Keenan has a strong background in theatre. She has been a member of the famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). In 2006, she played Hermia in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Her first movie role was in 1999 in the film Sunburn, where she acted alongside Cillian Murphy. She also appeared in the movies On the Nose with Robbie Coltrane and Conspiracy of Silence.
Personal Life
In 2012, Keenan married Chris McGill, a film and television director. They have two sons together.
Awards
Keenan's acting has been recognized with awards and nominations.
- In 2018, she won the Actor (Female) award from the Royal Television Society for her role in Little Boy Blue.
- In the same year, she was nominated for Best Actress at the BAFTA TV Awards for the same role.
Selected Work
Here are some of Sinéad Keenan's most well-known roles.
Television
- Fair City (1999) as Farrah Phelan
- Moving Wallpaper (2008) as Kelly Hawkins
- Being Human (2009–2011) as Nina Pickering
- Doctor Who (2009–2010) as Addams
- Little Boy Blue (2017) as Melanie Jones
- Three Families (2021) as Theresa Ryan
- Unforgotten (2023–present) as DCI Jessica James
Film
- Sunburn (1999) as Margaret
- On The Nose (2001) as Sinead Delaney
- Conspiracy of Silence (2003) as Majella
