Maria McDermottroe

Maria McDermottroe (; born ) is an Irish actress, known for her work across screen and stage. She portrayed Molly Ivors in John Huston's 1987 film The Dead, based on the James Joyce novella of the same name, and Bridey Hannon in Alan Parker's 1999 film Angela's Ashes, based on Frank McCourt's best-selling memoir of the same name. Her other film credits include The Boxer, Trojan Eddie, Bogwoman, Saltwater, Veronica Guerin, The Blackwater Lightship, and The Winter Lake.

On television, McDermottroe is best known for playing Venetia Crosby on the long-running RTÉ drama serial Glenroe (1995-2000), and Mrs. Gilhooley on the RTÉ comedy series Killinaskully (2004-2009), for which she was nominated for the Golden Nymph Award for Best Actress at the 2009 Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Her numerous guest appearances include roles on ScreenPlay, Family, The Governor, Proof, Foreign Exchange, Mattie, Taken Down, Smother, and Nova Jones.

A veteran of the theatre, McDermottroe has appeared in over 50 professional stage productions, including 16 productions with the National Theatre of Ireland. Her stage career began with Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir at the Gate Theatre in the 1970s. It was there that she became the first Irish woman to appear nude on stage for her portrayal of Jill Mason in the Irish premiere of Equus by Peter Shaffer.

Life and career McDermottroe was born in Sligo town in the 1950s, one of four children (including writer/director Conor) Her first theatre role was in a production of The Merchant of Venice featuring Micheál Mac Liammóir and Hilton Edwards. She married John Costigan, future Executive Director of Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, in 1979, having first met in 1977. They have two children including writer Nora Costigan and actress Gina Costigan. They live in Dún Laoghaire.

Her character in Glenroe was introduced in 1995, as Venetia, the matriarch of the Crosby family. Venetia later divorced and married divorcé Dick Moran. In Pat Shortt's rural sitcom, Killinaskully, McDermottroe portrayed Mrs. Gilhooley, known for repeatedly not being "in the habit of repeating" herself, She played crime figure John Gilligan's wife in 2003's Veronica Guerin, a film in which her daughter Gina Costigan portrayed the wife of criminal figure John Traynor.

In 2017, she played Carmel in Isobel Mahon's Boom?. Her film credits include John Huston's The Dead, John Erman's The Blackwater Lightship, and The Winter Lake. She was named "Best Actress", at the 2023 Milan Gold March Awards, for her role in The Carer. 1987 The Dead Molly Ivors 1991 Crossed Lines Katie Short film 1994 Widows' Peak Penitent 1996 Trojan Eddie Rosy 1997 Bogwoman Annie 1997 The Boxer Betty 1998 This Is My Father Mrs. Maney 1999 Angela's Ashes Birdie Hannon 2001 The Bombmaker Miss O'Mara 2001 Give Up Yer Aul Sins Peig Cunningham Animated short 2003 Veronica Guerin Geraldine Gilligan 2005 Bumble's Burden Ma Short film 2006 Secret of the Cave Mrs. MacIntyre 2008 Situations Vacant Mother 2009 Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne Sister Benedict 2016 In View Monica 2017 Halal Daddy Lorraine 2020 The Winter Lake Tessie 2020 Post Love Cathy Short film 2022 Haven Carmel Short film 2023 The Martini Shot Ethel Television

Theatre Year Title Role Playwright VenueRef. 1971 Hall of Healing Patient Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre The Shadow of a Gunman Mrs. Henderson Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre 1977 The Devil's Disciple Essie George Bernard Shaw Gate Theatre The Merchant of Venice Jessica William Shakespeare Gate Theatre 1978 Equus Jill Mason Peter Shaffer Gate Theatre Proxopera Ensemble Benedict Kiely & Peter Luke Gate Theatre 1988 St. Stephen's Green: Or, The Generous Lovers Marina William Philips Abbey Theatre 1991 The Threepenny Opera Vixen Frank McGuiness / Bertolt Brecht Gate Theatre 2011 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Tennessee Williams Town Hall Theatre Baglady Baglady Frank McGuiness Focus Theatre 2014 A Skull in Connemara Maryjohnny Rafferty Martin McDonagh Gaiety Theatre 2015 The Field Mrs. McCabe John B. Keane Gaiety Theatre 2017 The Chastitute Aunt Jane John B. Keane Gaiety Theatre Boom Carmel Isobel Mahon Gaiety Theatre 2022 Dublin International Film Festival Best Female Actor Post Love 2023 Toronto International Women's Film Festival Best Actress Haven 2024 Northeast Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Beaufort International Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Cobb International Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Milan Gold Awards Best Actress (March) The Carer