# Bronagh Gallagher

Bronagh Gallagher (born 26 April 1972) is an Irish singer and actress from Northern Ireland. She had her first acting role in the 1989 television movie Dear Sarah. In 2020, she was listed at number 33 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors.

## Early life

During her teenage years, she got involved in drama and music activities through school and joined a local amateur dramatics group called the Oakgrove Theatre Company. At one time she was a backing singer in a local band called The Listener (1989–90). The band practised in a garage that belonged to Kevin McLaughlin, the drummer. Laurence Harkin, aka L, was the lead singer and guitarist.

## Career

A former hairdresser, Gallagher's big break came when she starred as Bernie in The Commitments (1991), followed by a supporting role in the BBC drama You, Me & Marley (1992). She had small parts in Pulp Fiction (1994) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Other film appearances include Mary Reilly (1996), Divorcing Jack (1998), Thunderpants (2002), Skagerrak (2003), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Grabbers (2012).
Gallagher has appeared onstage in Théâtre de Complicité touring production of The Street of Crocodiles and The National Theatre's production War Horse as Rose Narracott.
Gallagher's first album Precious Soul was released in 2004 on the Salty Dog Records label and was produced by John Reynolds. The album features collaborations with Brian Eno on the songs "He Don't Love You" and "Hooks". Gallagher wrote most of the music on the album, played the drums and sang lead vocals.
Gallagher released a second album Bronagh Gallagher in 2012 and a third album Gather Your Greatness in 2016.
In 2009, Gallagher starred alongside a well-known cast on the MySpace/Vertigo Films production Faintheart and starred in the BBC Three comedy TV series Pramface in 2012.
On television, she played the mother of young Nick in the BBC drama Nick Nickleby. She played Trisha Meehan in The Field of Blood and Ada Mason in Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 10 episode "The Mystery of the Blue Train".
An image of Gallagher, in character as Bernie McGloughlin in the film The Commitments, was featured on an Irish postage stamp as part of the Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary series issued by An Post. The image includes her The Commitments co-stars Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy and Robert Arkins as Jimmy Rabbitte.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Dear Sarah | Anne Conlon | TV film |
| 1991 | The Commitments | Bernie McGloughlin | |
| 1992 | You, Me and Marley | Frances | |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | Trudi | |
| 1995 | Ruffian Hearts | Dervla | TV film |
| 1996 | Mary Reilly | Annie | |
| 1998 | Painted Angels | Eileen | |
| 1998 | Divorcing Jack | Taxi Driver | |
| 1999 | This Year's Love | Carol | |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Captain Maoi Madakor | |
| 2000 | The Most Fertile Man in Ireland | Millicent | |
| 2000 | Wild About Harry | Miss Boyle | |
| 2002 | Sinners | Kitty | TV film |
| 2002 | Thunderpants | Mrs. Smash | |
| 2003 | Skagerrak | Sophie | |
| 2003 | Holy Cross | Sarah Norton | TV film |
| 2003 | Spin the Bottle | Teresa | |
| 2005 | Tara Road | Polly | |
| 2006 | Tristan & Isolde | Bragnae | |
| 2006 | Middletown | Tessie | |
| 2007 | Botched | Sonya | |
| 2007 | Agnes | Agnes Jones | TV film |
| 2007 | Clean the House | Cleaner | TV film |
| 2008 | Faintheart | Maggie | |
| 2008 | Last Chance Harvey | Oonagh | |
| 2009 | Malice in Wonderland | Hattie | |
| 2009 | Sherlock Holmes | Palm Reader | |
| 2010 | The Big I Am | Di Baines | |
| 2010 | Tamara Drewe | Eustacia | |
| 2011 | Albert Nobbs | Cathleen Page | |
| 2011 | Arthur Christmas | Elf | Voice role |
| 2011 | Where Are They Now? | Woman | Short |
| 2012 | Grabbers | Una Maher | |
| 2012 | After the Triumph of Your Birth | Woman of the Theater | |
| 2013 | Made in Belfast | Undertaker | |
| 2013 | Orbit Ever After | Mother | Short |
| 2013 | The Food Guide to Love | Rachel | |
| 2014 | Shooting for Socrates | Irene | |
| 2014 | Justlikeabitch | Mary | Short |
| 2017 | Return to Montauk | Irene | |
| 2017 | Brexit Shorts: Your Ma's a Hard Brexit | | Short |
| 2018 | The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Charlotte Stimple | |
| 2019 | The Personal History of David Copperfield | Mrs. Micawber | |
| 2019 | A Bump Along the Way | Pamela | |
| 2023 | Dance First | Nora Barnacle | Post-production |
| 2024 | The End | | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Screenplay | Frances | Episode: "You, Me & Marley" |
| 1992 | The Bill | Nicola Purdy | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Over the Rainbow | Michelle | Series regular, 8 episodes |
| 1995 | Performance | Minnie Powell | Episode: "Shadow of a Gunman" |
| 1996 | Screen Two | Sandra Williamson | Episode: "The Precious Brood" |
| 1999 | Shockers | Alice Walker | Episode: "Deja Vu" |
| 2000 | Cry Wolf | Bambi | Episode: Series 1, Episode 5 |
| 2000 | The Fitz | Teddy | Series regular, 6 episodes |
| 2001 | On a Life's Edge | Zoe | TV short |
| 2004 | The Clinic | Lisa | Episode: Series 2, Episode 8 |
| 2005 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Ada Mason | Episode: "The Mystery of the Blue Train" |
| 2007 | Holby City | Gilly Conran | Episode: "Paranoid Android" |
| 2007 | The Bill | Tina Wilson | Episode: "Dicing with Danger" |
| 2007 | The Street | Mary Jennerson | Episode: "Twin" |
| 2007 | The Peter Serafinowicz Show | Various characters | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Accused | Siobhan | Episode: "Helen's Story" |
| 2011–2013 | The Field of Blood | Trisha Meehan | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | New Tricks | Mara Donaldson | Episode: "Dead Poets" |
| 2012–2014 | Pramface | Sandra Prince | Series regular, 17 episodes |
| 2013 | Shameless | Ronnie | Episode: "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" |
| 2015 | Moone Boy | Pat O'Dwyer | Episode: "The Plunder Years" |
| 2015 | You, Me and the Apocalypse | Larrson | Miniseries, 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Count Arthur Strong | Birdie | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Genius | Berthe Weill | Episode: "Picasso: Chapter Two" |
| 2019–present | Brassic | Carol Dennings | Main cast |
| 2020 | Belgravia | Speer | Miniseries |
| 2022 | Derry Girls | As Herself | Guest appearance |

## Stage roles

| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
| 1991 | The Patriot Game | Second Soldier | Abbey Theatre, Dublin |
| 1992 | A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant | Agnes Smith | Abbey Theatre, Dublin |
| 1992 | The Iceman Cometh | Pearl | Abbey Theatre, Dublin |
| 1994 | Peer Gynt | Ingrid/Green-Clad Woman | Barbican Centre, London |
| 1996 | Portia Coughlan | Stacia Diyle | Abbey Theatre, Dublin & Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 1997 | The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Mother Georgia | Royal National Theatre, London |
| 1999 | The Street of Crocodiles | Adela | Queen's Theatre, London |
| 2000 | Dublin Carol | Mary | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2000 | Light | Adla | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2009 | War Horse | Rose Narracott | New London Theatre, London |
| 2009 | Every Good Boy Deserve Favour | Teacher | Royal National Theatre, London |
| 2011 | The Faith Machine | Tatiana | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2014 | Seven | Mukhtaran Mai | Great Hall of Parliament, Belfast & The Guildhall, Derry |
| 2017 | Girl from the North Country | Mrs. Burke | The Old Vic, London & Noël Coward Theatre, London |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2003 | IFTA Awards | Best Actress in a Television Drama | Sinners | Nominated |
| 2003 | IFTA Awards | Best Actress in a Film | Spin the Bottle | Nominated |
| 2004 | Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels | Best Actress | Holy Cross | Won |
| 2004 | Bodil Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Skagerrak | Nominated |
| 2004 | Robert Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Skagerrak | Nominated |
| 2008 | Golden Nymph Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | The Street | Nominated |
| 2012 | IFTA Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Television | The Field of Blood | Nominated |
| 2013 | IFTA Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Film | Grabbers | Nominated |
| 2020 | IFTA Awards | Best Actress in Leading Role - Film | A Bump Along the Way | Nominated |