Raised in Dublin, Ireland

Spent childhood summers in County Kerry

As a teenager, was seriously injured in car accident

Contracted tuberculosis in her teens

Still a teenager, suffered the loss of kidney

Ventured into acting while employed as a journalist for The Irish Times

Worked extensively on the Irish stage before moving to London

Acted with the National Theater in plays including "The Plough and the Stars" and "Lavender Blue", with the Royal Court Theater in "Within Two Shadows" and "A Pagan's Place" and with the Royal Shakespeare Company in works including "TV Times" and "The Irish Play"

Film debut in small role in "Sinful Davey"

Had regular role in the British TV series "Quartermass"

Acted in the Irish short film, "The Woman Who Married Clark Gable", opposite Bob Hoskins

Played Megan Roach on the popular BBC hospital drama series, "Casualty"

Breakthrough screen role as Mrs. Brown in "My Left Foot"; received Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress

Co-starred with Richard Harris in "The Field"

US television dramatic debut on the PBS "American Playhouse" presentation, "Lethal Innocence"

Had featured role in the Australian-produced miniseries "Brides of Christ"; aired in 1993 in USA

First American film, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York"

Cast as the mother of Mike Myer's character in the comedy "So I Married an Axe Murderer"

Appeared with Albert Finney in "A Man of No Importance"

Co-stared in the NBC miniseries "A Woman of Independent Means", starring Sally Field

Appeared as a secretary in "A Time to Kill"

Acted in the feature film "Moll Flanders"

Had co-starring role in the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation "Durango" (CBS)

Co-starred in a second "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production, "Cupid and Cate" (CBS)

Had featured role in "The War Bride"

Co-starred with Janet McTeer and Olympia Dukakis in "The Intended," directed by Kristian Levering

Cast opposite Cate Blanchett in "Veronica Guerin"

Featured in the made for TV movie "Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss"

Portrayed 'Big Mama' in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at the Geffen Playhouse