Brenda Fricker, Irish actor who won Oscar for ‘My Left Foot,’ dies at 81

Irish actor Brenda Fricker, known for her Oscar-winning role in 'My Left Foot' and her appearance in 'Home Alone 2', has died at age 81. Her career spanned over 90 film and television projects across several decades.
Why it matters
Fricker was a celebrated figure in international cinema, and her passing marks the loss of a significant talent in the acting community.
The Irish character actor died Thursday night in Dublin after a period of ill health, her agent, Phil Belfield said in a statement.
Ms. Fricker won the Academy Award in 1990 for best supporting actress for her portrayal of the determined mother of Christy Brown, a writer and painter who was born with cerebral palsy and could control only his left foot. Daniel Day-Lewis, who played Brown, won the award for best actor.
“She was just an amazing actress, amazing character, forceful personality, great writer,” the movie’s director, Jim Sheridan, told Irish national broadcaster RTE. “She could be obsessive — in everything she did — life, work, love. But no real malice or anything, she was just a very strong personality and a good laugh.”
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