Séainín Brennan
Born
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Alma materUniversity of Ulster, College of Europe, Guildford School of Acting
OccupationActress
Known forHidden (2011), The Fall (2013–2016), Come Home (2018), Hache (2019)
SpouseBen Fetherston (m. 2015)

Séainín Brennan is a Northern Irish actress. She is known for various lead roles in TV, theatre and film. Brennan starred opposite Philip Glenister as Frances in Ronan Bennett’s political conspiracy thriller Hidden (2011), a role which saw her awarded Belfast Telegraph’s Woman of the Year in the Arts.[1] She next appeared on screen for the BBC as grieving mother and battered wife Liz Tyler in Allan Cubitt’s critically acclaimed psychological thriller The Fall (2013–2016) opposite Jamie Dornan.[2] Brennan starred opposite John Hannah as Sophie in the suspense drama Girona (2015) and later that same year played Dr. Jaqui Finch in Dare to be Wild (2015), a film based on Mary Reynold’s win at the Chelsea Flower Show.[3][4][5] She appeared as Janet in Come Home (2018) and starred as Anna McVeigh in the Netflix original drama Hache (2019).[6] In November 2022, it was announced that Brennan had been cast in This Town, the major new drama from Steven Knight.[7] Brennan is recognized as one of the most notable stage actresses from Northern Ireland.[8]

Early life and education

Brennan was born in Belfast to Tom Brennan and Maura Brennan (née Rafferty). She grew up on the Malone Road in South Belfast and was 8 when she starred in her first play. As a child actress, she starred in various musicals, plays, television adverts and then as a television presenter.[9] She attended Methodist College Belfast and then the University of Ulster where she graduated with a BA Honours degree in European studies.[10] Brennan earned a scholarship to attend the College of Europe in Bruges, where she graduated with a Master's degree in European Political Administration. After graduating from the College of Europe,[11] Brennan started working as an intern at the Secretariat-General of the European Commission.[8][9][10] Then, she became a political advisor at European Strategy, a Brussel’s based consultancy firm. Brennan is a polyglot. She speaks Spanish, French, and Italian.[1][8][9][10][11]

Acting career

In 2007, Brennan gained significant recognition for her role as Regine Engstrand in the world premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts,[12] a new version by Frank McGuinness, directed by Robert Bowman at Bristol Old Vic.[13][14]That same year, she also starred as Helen in the Irish premiere of Owen McCafferty’s Scenes from the Big Picture, directed by Conall Morrison for Primecut Productions.[15]

In 2009, Brennan played Rebecca Loos in the world premiere of Macbecks at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.[11] The raucous musical saga was directed by David Bolger for MCD and LongRoad Productions and later transferred to the Cork Opera House that same year.[16] She also starred as Seaneen Molloy in the BBC Radio 4 drama Do's and Don'ts for the Mentally Interesting, directed by Fiona Kelcher in 2009. This Louise Ramsden adaptation is based on the blog The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive and is an account of learning to live with bipolar disorder.[17]

The year 2010, saw Brennan tread the boards of The Gate Theatre in Arthur Miller’s masterpiece Death of a Salesman, directed by David Esbjornson with Harris Yulin playing Willy Loman.[18]

The year 2011, saw her swap theatre for screen and Brennan was cast in her first television role. She played Frances in the BBC thriller Hidden, a role which propelled her into the spotlight.[1][8][9][10][11]

In 2013–2016, she starred as Liz Tyler in The Fall (2013–2016) alongside Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson. The Fall was originally broadcast on the BBC and RTÉ before being picked up by Amazon Prime and Netflix.[1][2][19][20]

In 2014, Brennan voiced the documentary True North – Children’s Hospice for the BBC. The film follows families caring for children with complex medical needs with the support of the Northern Ireland Children's hospice.[21]

The year 2015 saw Brennan star in two substantial film roles. The first was Paul McGuigan’s Girona, which saw her play the role of Sophie opposite John Hannah.[3] The second was as Dr Jaqui Finch in Dare to be Wild, directed by Vivienne De Courcy.[4][5]

Brennan returned to the stage in 2016 starring as Elizabeth Corr in Belfast Rising[8][9][10][22] at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast before playing Claudia in the musical comedy Ché Guevara’s Night Off at the Waterfront Concert Hall in Belfast that same year.[10][23] Later in 2016, Brennan played Winifred Carney for the BBC in Voices 16 Rising.[24]

In 2017, she took on the lead role of Tania in the world premiere of Marie Jones’ hit comedy Sinners at the Lyric Theatre, directed by Mick Gordon.[25] Then in 2018, Brennan appeared as Janet in Come Home for the BBC.[26] She went on to play Carmen in Hugh Stoddart’s sombre Gibraltar Strait for the Brassneck Theatre Company at The Mac Belfast, later in 2018.[8]

In 2019, she starred as the American Consul’s wife Anna McVeigh in the Netflix original drama Hache alongside Javier Rey and Adriana Ugarte.[27] Set in the 1960’s, the series involved a bilingual script in both English and Spanish and was filmed in Barcelona. Hache drew inspiration from true events, unfolding against the backdrop of the heroin trafficking business amidst a world of violence and allure. With its premiere in 2019, Hache captivated audiences across more than 190 countries and gained global recognition as the next noteworthy addition to Netflix's acclaimed crime drama collection and the best Spanish series of all time, often compared to the critically acclaimed Narcos.[6][8][11][27]

Brennan starred in A Quarrell with Myself in 2021 under the direction of Paula McFetridge for Kabosh Theatre Company. Later in 2021, she starred as Katharine Mary in the radio drama Bog Girls by Louise Farr, directed by Michael Shannon for BBC Radio 4.[28] Then, she starred in Oestrogen City, an original short story specially commissioned by BBC Radio 4 from the writer by Rosemary Jenkinson.[29]

In 2022, she starred as Rose Dugdale in the documentary The Heiress and the General for BBC Radio 4.[30] An explosive account of the robbery at Russborough House in Wicklow in 1974, The Heiress And The General won best documentary at the IMRO Radio Awards.[31] It was also announced in 2022, that Brennan had been cast in This Town, the major new drama from Steven Knight, directed by Paul Whittington.[7][32]

In 2023, Brennan starred as Mary in the five part sci-fi radio drama Bitter Pill by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney for BBC Radio 4. Bitter Pill is an audio drama series following Mary’s trauma after a dreadful car crash and her journey through a clinical drug trial that hopes to cure her PTSD.[33]

Awards

YearAwardNote
2011Belfast Telegraph Woman of the YearArts category

Personal life

Brennan has been married to long-term boyfriend Ben Fetherston since September 2015.[34][35]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Just wild about Seainin Brennan". September 26, 2013 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  2. 1 2 "Séainín Brennan joins Belfast drama 'The Fall' | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie.
  3. 1 2 "Shorts Round-Up | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie.
  4. 1 2 Balasundaram, Nemesha. "The Fall actress Séainín Brennan cast in Wild". The Irish Post.
  5. 1 2 "The Fall's Séainín Brennan cast in Wild". July 26, 2013 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. 1 2 "Irish Actress Seainin Brennan Joins Cast of New Original Netflix Series 'Hache' | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie.
  7. 1 2 Griffin, Nathan (November 25, 2022). "Irish actor Seainin Brennan cast in Steven Knight's original new drama series This Town for the BBC".
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roy, David (March 18, 2019). "Netflix crime series role is 'icing on the cake' for Belfast actor Séainín Brennan". The Irish News.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Seainin Brennan: Acting is my life now". May 14, 2012 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/actress-seainin-brennan-life-is-so-much-easier-in-belfast-the-people-who-i-love-now-live-close-to-me/35701446.html
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Coleman, Maureen (March 2, 2019). "Belfast actress lands role in new Netflix drama". BelfastLive.
  12. ↑ https://www.irishplayography.com/play.aspx?playid=32820
  13. ↑ "Theatre review: Ghosts at Bristol Old Vic". British Theatre Guide.
  14. ↑ Billington, Michael (February 1, 2007). "Ghosts" – via The Guardian.
  15. ↑ McFadden, Grania (September 14, 2007). "Picture this cast".
  16. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/7828737.stm
  17. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Drama on 4, Do's and Don'ts for the Mentally Interesting". BBC Radio 4.
  18. ↑ "Harris Yulin Is Salesman's Willy Loman in Ireland; David Esbjornson Directs | Playbill".
  19. ↑ "Séainín Brennan joins BBC's 'The Fall'". Digital Spy. April 17, 2012.
  20. ↑ Scott, Sarah (December 4, 2014). "The Fall star Seainin Brennan feels 'so lucky' to be on hit show". Irish Mirror.
  21. ↑ "BBC One – True North, Series 2, Children's Hospice". BBC.
  22. ↑ "Belfast Rising". Belfast International Arts Festival. August 30, 2016.
  23. ↑ Belfast, Love (May 23, 2016). "Brassneck's New Show : 'Ché Guevara's Night off". LoveBelfast.
  24. ↑ Coleman, Maureen (April 20, 2016). "The Fall star Seainin Brennan to play Easter Rising activist in BBC1 documentary". BelfastLive.
  25. ↑ Hailes, Anne (May 20, 2017). "Review: New Marie Jones play Sinners is funny, disturbing and imaginative". The Irish News.
  26. ↑ "BBC One – Come Home, Series 1, Episode 2". BBC.
  27. 1 2 "NI actress Seáinín Brennan cast in Netflix series | Television – Cool FM".
  28. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Short Works, Bog Girls". BBC Four.
  29. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Short Works, Oestrogen City". BBC Radio 4.
  30. ↑ "BBC Radio Ulster – Assume Nothing, The Heiress and The General, The Heiress and The General Episode 1 A Knock on the Door". BBC Radio 4.
  31. ↑ "2022 Winners Audio". IMRO.
  32. ↑ "Belfast actress Séainín Brennan to star in new BBC drama | Television – Cool FM".
  33. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Limelight, Bitter Pill, Bitter Pill – 1 Fight or Flight". BBC Radio 4.
  34. ↑ "Fairy tale wedding as The Fall actress Seainin Brennan ties knot in Dromoland Castle". October 23, 2015 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  35. ↑ "301 Moved Permanently". www.irishnews.com.
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