Renowned Irish actress Brenda Fricker has passed away. She was 81. The actress was an Academy Award winner.
Around the world, and in Armenia, she is best known and beloved for her heartfelt and iconic role as the "Pigeon Lady" in the Christmas comedy Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where she saves the main character, Kevin, at the end of the film. According to her agent, the actress died on July 16 at her home in Dublin, following a long period of health issues. News of her passing was received with great sorrow in Ireland, where she was hailed as a "national treasure."
Brenda Fricker was the first Irish actress to win an Oscar. She received the award in 1990 for her portrayal of Bridget Fagan Brown, the mother of Christy Brown, in the film My Left Foot.
While many remember her for her film work, Fricker was also known for her long-standing television career. She was an original cast member of the hit BBC medical drama Casualty, playing nurse Megan Roach starting in 1986.
In 2025, the actress published her autobiography, She Died Young: A Life in Fragments, in which she spoke openly about her difficult childhood, her struggles with mental health, and the complexities of her life.
Earlier this year, shortly before her passing, she was awarded the "Freedom of the City of Dublin," one of the Irish capital's highest civic honors, in recognition of her major contributions to the arts.
