Oscar‑winning actress Brenda Fricker dies at 81

Irish actress Brenda Fricker died at age 81 in Dublin after a prolonged period of ill health, her agent Phil Belfield confirmed. Fricker was the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, receiving the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1990 for her role as Bridget Brown’s mother in Jim Sheridan’s film *My Left Foot*. Her career spanned more than six decades, including a long‑running part as nurse Megan Roach on the BBC series *Casualty* and the beloved “Pigeon Lady” in *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*. The Irish prime minister Micheál Martin and fellow actors paid tribute, noting her impact on Irish cinema and the international film community. Fricker’s work, from early stage roles in Dublin to Hollywood productions, left a lasting legacy in both Irish and world cinema.