Brenda Fricker, best known for her role as the “Dove Lady” in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, died on Thursday in Dublin, Ireland, at the age of 81, the BBC reported, citing her agent Phil Belfield. Fricker is the first Irish actress to win an Oscar. This award was brought to her by her role in the film “My Left Foot” released in 1989.
Agent Belfield paid tribute to Fricker, saying he was “honored” to work with her. He did not name the cause of death.
“We will never see another like her again; with her departure, the world has become poorer. It was an honor to know her, love her and work with her. She will forever remain in my heart and in the hearts of many film and television fans around the world,” he said.
US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh expressed condolences over Fricker's death. He called Fricker “a giant of Irish cinema” and praised her “unforgettable” performance in My Left Foot.
“From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Irish stories to the world and inspired generations of people on both sides of the Atlantic. She left behind an outstanding legacy. My deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and everyone who loved her,” Walsh wrote.
Fricker was born on February 17, 1945 in Dublin to the family of foreign language teacher Beena Murphy and The Irish Times journalist Desmond Frederick Fricker. Before becoming an actress, she wanted to devote herself to journalism and worked at The Irish Times as an assistant to the newspaper's art editor, writes Variety.
Fricker first appeared on screen at the age of 19, playing a small uncredited role in the 1964 drama The Burden of Human Passion. During the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in British films and television series, mostly in supporting roles.
The actress became widely known for the TV series Casualty, a BBC medical drama about the emergency department of the fictional Holby City Hospital. Fricker played nurse Megan Roach in the first 65 episodes of the project. She later returned to the role as a guest actress in 1998 and 2007. In 2010, Fricker reappeared in four episodes – her character's storyline ended in suicide.
In the biographical drama My Left Foot, which tells the story of Irish writer and artist Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy, Fricker played his mother Bridget Fagan Brown. Her heroine gave birth to 22 children, nine of whom died in infancy.
For her role as Bridget Fricker, she received an Oscar in the category “Best Supporting Actress” at the 1990 ceremony. During her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to the selfless woman whose image she portrayed on screen.
Two years later, the actress appeared in the film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. She gave a memorable performance as the homeless “Dove Lady” whom Macaulay Culkin's character Kevin McCallister encounters in Central Park.
