"I think it's so much harder now to have a career as an actor. I'm so grateful that I grew up in Ireland when I did and got my start on the stage. I think it’s very difficult today."
Fionnghuala Manon "Fionnula" Flanagan (born 10 December 1941 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish actress. Born and raised in Dublin, the daughter of Rosanna (née McGuirk) and Terence Niall Flanagan. She grew up speaking both Irish and English fluently. Although her parents were not Irish speakers, they wanted Fionnula and her four siblings to learn the Irish language. She was educated in Switzerland and England. She trained extensively at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and travelled throughout Europe before settling in Los Angeles, California in early 1968.
Award-nominated and well-regarded by critics, she has also made many appearances in cult television like Lost and Defiance.
Film
- The Legend of Lizzie Borden as Bridget
- In the Region of Ice as Sister Irene
- Caravan Of Courage: An Ewok Adventure as Catarine Towani
- Youngblood (1986) as Miss McGill
- The Guard as Eileen Boyle
- Waking Ned Devine as Annie
- The Invention of Lying as Martha Bellison
- Tears of the Sun as Sister Grace
- James Joyce's Women as Harriet Shaw Weaver
- Song of the Sea as Granny and Macha (animated film; voice)
- Late Afternoon as Emily (animated short; voice)
- The Others (2001) as Mrs. Bertha Mills.
- Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood as the older Teensy Whitman
- Tears of the Sun as Sister Grace
- Transamerica as Elizabeth Schupak
- Four Brothers as Evelyn Mercer
Television
- Columbo, episode "Murder, a Self-Portrait", as Louise
- Beauty and the Beast (1987) as Jessica Webb (2 episodes)
- Murder, She Wrote, multiple episodes
- Defiance as Nicky Riordan
- Lost as Eloise Hawking
- Brotherhood as Rose Caffee
- How The West Was Won as Molly Culhane
- Star Trek: The Next Generation as Juliana Tainer
- Star Trek: Enterprise as Vulcan Ambassador V'Lar.
- Strike as Oonagh Kennedy (1 episode)
