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Niamh Cusack

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Niamh Cusack
Born (1959-10-20) 20 October 1959 (age 65)
Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
SpouseFinbar Lynch
ChildrenCalam Lynch
Parent(s)Cyril Cusack
Maureen Kiely
RelativesCalam Lynch (son)
Sinéad Cusack (sister)
Sorcha Cusack (sister)
Pádraig Cusack (brother)
Catherine Cusack (half-sister)
Richard Boyd Barrett (nephew)
Max Irons (nephew)

Niamh Cusack (/ˈniːv/ NEEV; born 20 October 1959) is an Irish actress. Born into a family with deep roots in the performing arts, she has performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and other prominent theatre ensembles.

Cusack is best known for her television role as Dr. Kate Rowan in the British series Heartbeat (1992–1995). Her further screen credits include the medical drama Always and Everyone (1999–2002), the animated series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992–1995), and films such as The Closer You Get (2000), Testament of Youth (2014), and The Ghoul (2016). Notable television appearances encompass episodes of Agatha Christie's Marple ("4:50 from Paddington", 2004), Midsomer Murders (2008), A Touch of Frost (2010), Death in Paradise (2021), and The Tower (2023), alongside performances in dramas like In Love with Alma Cogan (2011), Departure (2015), and The Virtues (2019).

Cusack received a nomination for an IFTA Award for her role in the television film Too Good to be True (2003).

Early life

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Niamh Cusack was born on 20 October 1959[1] in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland. She is the daughter of Irish actor Cyril Cusack [2] and a member of the prominent Cusack acting dynasty. Among her siblings are sisters Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack,[1] as well as half-sister Catherine Cusack.[3] Her brothers include Paul Cusack, a television producer,[2] and Pádraig Cusack,[1] a producer for the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain.

Education

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Niamh Cusack received a bilingual education in Dublin, fluent in both Irish (Gaeilge) and English. Initially pursuing a career in music, she trained as a professional flautist and earned a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London.[2] Following this, she worked as a freelance musician with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.[3] She later transitioned to acting, securing a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to undertake formal training in the discipline.[3]

Acting career

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Theatre

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Niamh Cusack began her stage career in 1985, playing Irina in Kasparov Wrede’s production of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, followed by portraying Desdemona opposite Ben Kingsley in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production of Othello.[4] In 1986, she starred as Juliet opposite Sean Bean's Romeo in the RSC’s Romeo and Juliet.[5]

Throughout the 1990s, Cusack performed in prominent London productions, including Nora Clitheroe in Sam Mendes's acclaimed staging of Seán O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars at the Young Vic,[4] Rosalind in As You Like It at the Barbican Centre,[4] Flora Crewe in Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink at the Aldwych Theatre,[4] and a role in Jean Genet's The Maids at the Donmar Warehouse.[4] In 2003, she played Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice at the Chichester Festival Theatre, directed by Gale Edwards.[4]

In 2004, she joined the National Theatre's adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials as Serafina Pekkala, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin, Ben Wishaw, and Patricia Hodge. In 2007, She returned to the National Theatre in 2007 for The Enchantment[6][7] and starred in Mark O'Rowe's Crestfall at Theatre503.[8] In 2009, she portrayed Maggie in the Old Vic's revival of Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa alongside her husband, Finbar Lynch.[4] In 2010, she played Catherine Dickens in Andersen's English, a play by Sebastian Barry.[9]

In 2011, she appeared in The Painter by Rebecca Lenkiewicz,[10] opposite Toby Jones and followed it with the role of Edith Davenport in Cause Célèbre by Terence Rattigan and The Widow Quin in The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge, both at the Old Vic.[11]

In August 2012, Niamh Cusack rejoined the National Theatre to create the role of Siobhan in the world première of the stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott. The show premièred on 2 August 2012. It also starred Luke Treadaway as Christopher, Nicola Walker as his mother Judy, Paul Ritter as his father Ed and Una Stubbs as Mrs. Alexander.[4] The production, which ran until late October 2012, was broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on 6 September 2012 through the National Theatre Live program. Cusack was nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award in 2012 in the Best Supporting Actress in a Play category for her role in The Playboy of the Western World at the Old Vic. The nominations for the 2013 Olivier Awards, which recognise excellence in professional productions staged in London, were announced on 26 March 2013; The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time secured the most nominations with eight, including Best New Play, Best Director (Elliott), Best Actor (Treadaway),[12] Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and other categories including Best Set Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Choreographer.[13] The show transferred to the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, London on 1 March 2013 with Cusack reprising her role of Siobhan.[4] Cusack returned to the London stage in 2016 as Paulina in The Winter's Tale at the Globe and Owen McCafferty's Unfaithful at Found 111 in the West End.[4]

In 2017, she was cast in the leading role of Lenú in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of the multi-award-winning tetralogy of books My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante at the Rose Theatre which transferred to the Olivier Theatre of the Royal National Theatre in 2019.[4] In between the transfer in 2018, Cusack returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company in another leading role as Lady Macbeth opposite Christopher Eccleston which transferred to London's Barbican Theatre.[4] In the first stage adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel The Remains of the Day by Barney Norris, Cusack was cast as Miss Kenton, the role previously made famous on screen by Emma Thompson. During this busy period of theatre work, Cusack returned to the small screen as Janine in the acclaimed 4-part series The Virtues directed by Shane Meadows.

In April 2020, Cusack was scheduled to make her long-awaited debut at the Abbey Theatre in Brian Friel's Faith Healer opposite Aidan Gillen and directed by Joe Dowling.[14] Due to COVID-19, the production was postponed to 2022. For her performance, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Support Role at the Irish Times Theatre Awards. In 2022, she starred as Gertrude in Hamlet by Bristol Old Vic along with her real-life husband Finbar Lynch.[15] Most recently in 2023, she led the cast in the first major revival of Polly Stenham's That Face at London's Orange Tree Theatre.[4]

Film and television

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In 1989 Cusack took the part of an actress, Valerie Saintclair, in the ninth episode of the first series of Agatha Christie's Poirot entitled The King of Clubs.[16] Cusack came to the wider public's attention when she starred as Dr. Kate Rowan in the popular 1990s television drama series Heartbeat (1992–1995),[2] set in the 1960s in the North Riding of Yorkshire.[2] Her character died from leukaemia in series 5 leaving her policeman husband Nick, played by Nick Berry, a widower. She had decided to leave the show after becoming pregnant.[2] Cusack was nominated in the category of Best Actress in a TV Drama in 2004 at the 2nd Irish Film & Television Awards for her performance in the Cartlon Television TV film Too Good to Be True.[17]

She played Christine Fletcher in Always and Everyone (1999–2002), a British accident and emergency medical series alongside Martin Shaw; Grace Haslett in the miniseries State of Mind,[16] alongside Andrew Lincoln; Julie Flynn in the one-off drama Rhinoceros alongside Robson Green and the small but important role of Beatrix Potter in the TV series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992–1995).[16] She played Wodehouse's Bobbie Wickham in the ITV series Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993). She played a character in an Agatha Christie's Marple series[16] ("4:50 from Paddington", 2004),[16] and has starred in episodes of Midsomer Murders (2008) and A Touch of Frost (2010),[16] alongside David Jason. She starred in the film The Closer You Get (2000),[16] alongside Seán McGinley. She appeared in Testament of Youth (2014), Departure (2015),[16] Chick Lit (2016),[16] and in the British psychological crime horror The Ghoul (2016).[16]

In 2021, she starred as Maggie O'Connellin two episodes of Death in Paradise (2021).[16] In 2023, she starred as Claire Mills in series two of The Tower, alongside Tamzin Outhwaite.[18]

Radio

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In January 2013, she was nominated for a BBC Audio Drama Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for The Man with Wings by Rachel Joyce, produced by Gordon House, Goldhawk Essential Productions for Radio 4. Cusack played Molly Bloom in James Joyce's Ulysses for BBC Radio 4 which aired a new 9-part adaptation dramatised by Robin Brooks, produced and directed by Jeremy Mortimer. The series began on Bloomsday (16 June) 2012.[19]

Personal life

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Cusack is married to the actor Finbar Lynch.[1] They met when rehearsing in Dublin in the theatre production of Three Sisters in 1990.[2] They have one son, actor Calam Lynch.[1] Cusack is a keen athlete and has run the London Marathon for the charity St Joseph's Hospice in 2003.[20]

Filmography

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Film
Year Film Role Notes
1988 Paris by Night Jenny Swanton dir. David Hare
1990 Fools of Fortune Josephine dir. Pat O'Connor
1992 The Playboys Brigid Maguire
2000 The Closer You Get Kate dir. Aileen Ritchie
2007 Matterhorn Marie Short film
2009 Five Minutes of Heaven Alistair's Mum – 1975 dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel
2010 The Kid 1980 school nurse
Hereafter Marcus' foster mother dir. Clint Eastwood
2011 In Love with Alma Cogan Sandra dir. Tony Britten
2012 The Best of Men Sister Edwards dir. Tim Whitby
2014 Testament of Youth Sister Jones dir. James Kent
2015 Departure Sally
2016 ChickLit Claire dir. Tony Britten
The Ghoul Fisher dir. Gareth Tunley
2020 Returning Mum dir. Lucy Bridger
2023 Unwelcome Niamh dir. Jon Wright
In the Land of Saints and Sinners Rita dir. Robert Lorenz
2024 We Live in Time Sylvia
Four Mothers Maura
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1988 A Shadow on the Sun TV film
Screen Two Denise Slipper Episode: "Lucky Sunil"
1989 Agatha Christie's Poirot Valerie Saintclair Episode: "The King of Clubs"
1991 Jeeves and Wooster Roberta 'Bobbie' Wickham Episode: "Wooster with a Wife (or, Jeeves the Matchmaker)"
Chalkface Melanie 7 episodes
1992 Angels Ellen TV film
1992–1995 Heartbeat Dr. Kate Rowan 49 episodes
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends Beatrix Potter 9 episodes
1997 Living Proof – Cause of Death Mary McGuire TV series documentary
1998 Colour Blind Bridget Paterson Mini-Series
1999 Rhinoceros Julie Flynn TV film
1999–2002 Always and Everyone Christine Fletcher 37 episodes
2000 Little Bird Ellen Hall TV film
2003 State of Mind Dr. Grace Hazlett TV film
Loving You Chloe TV film
Too Good to Be True Tina TV film – IFTA Awards: Best Actress in Film or TV (Nom)[17]
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Emma Crackenthorpe Episode: "4.50 from Paddington"
2005 The Last Detective Gill Episode: "Friends Reunited"
2007 Fallen Angel Vanessa Byfield Episode: "The Judgement of Strangers"
2008 Midsomer Murders Penny Galsworthy Episode: "Days of Misrule"
2010 A Touch of Frost Sally Berland 2 episodes
Lewis Dr. Ellen Jacoby Episode: "Falling Darkness"
2012 Henry IV, Part II Lady Northumberland TV film
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Siobhan TV film for National Theatre Live
2014 New Tricks Joanne Gibson Episode: "In Vino Veritas"
2016 Rebellion Nelly Cosgrave 4 episodes
Silent Witness Sylvie Blake 2 episodes
2018 Macbeth Lady Macbeth Royal Shakespeare Company
2019 The Virtues Janine 2 episodes, directed by Shane Meadows[3]
2020 Father Brown Roisin Crayford Episode: "The Numbers of the Beast"
2021 Death in Paradise Maggie O'Connell 2 episodes[3]
2021 Brassic Clodagh 1 episode
2023 The Tower Claire Mills Series two[18]
Archie Alma Hitchcock Episode #1.2
2024 Big Mood Gillian 2 episodes

Selected theatre credits

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Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Edworthy, Sarah (15 May 2009). "My Perfect Weekend: Niamh Cusack". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The big interview: Actress Niamh Cusack". Yorkshirepost.co.uk. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Matt Spivey (5 January 2022). "ITV Heartbeat: Niamh Cusack's life with actor husband she met on set and Disney star son". mylondon.news.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "Niamh Cusack – past productions". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b William Shakespeare (26 October 2011). "Romeo and Juliet". Archived from the original on 26 December 2011.
  6. ^ a b Susan Elkin (2 August 2007). "The Enchantment". The Stage. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  7. ^ Serena Davies (3 August 2009). "The Enchantment: Erotic love's cruel power". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  8. ^ a b Lyn Gardner (1 December 2007). "Crestfall". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  9. ^ Michael Billington (9 April 2010). "Andersen's English". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  10. ^ Natasha Tripney (7 January 2011). "The Painter". The Stage. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  11. ^ a b Michael Billington (30 March 2011). "Cause Célèbre". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  12. ^ Clark, Nick (26 March 2013). "Olivier Awards 2013: Stars of the Silver Screen Helen Mirren, James McAvoy and Rupert Everett in Competition for top theatre gongs". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Nominations by Show 2013". Olivier Awards. 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  14. ^ "'There are a lot of ghosts in Dublin for me' – Niamh Cusack gets ready for her Abbey debut". Irish Independent. 28 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Billy Howle Joined By Niamh Cusack and Mirren Mack in HAMLET at Bristol Old Vic; Full Cast Announced". Broadway World.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Niamh Cusack Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Winners of the 2nd Annual Irish Film & Television Awards". ifta.ie. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Tamzin Outhwaite, Niamh Cusack and Ella Smith have joined the cast for the second series of The Tower". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. ^ "James Joyce's Ulysses". BBC Radio. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Niamh Cusack – London Marathon 2003". alamyimages.fr. 13 April 2003.
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