- Irish actress Brenda Fricker, celebrated for her roles in films such as Home Alone 2: Lost In New York and her Oscar-winning performance in My Left Foot , has died peacefully at the age of 81 after a period of ill health.
- Her death was confirmed by her agent, Phil Belfield, who paid tribute to the Dublin-born actress, describing her as a 'legend' whose versatility was renowned and whose presence will be greatly missed.
- Fricker earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1989 for her compelling portrayal of Bridget Fagan Brown in My Left Foot , a film chronicling the life of Christy Brown, who had cerebral palsy.
- She was also widely recognised for her memorable role as the Pigeon Lady in the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost In New York and was a member of the original cast of the BBC medical drama Casualty.
- Her extensive career included appearances in Veronica Guerin, the television adaptation of Graham Norton's novel Holding, and the Channel 5 drama series The Catch , and she was recently honoured with the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
IN FULL
Home Alone and My Left Foot star Brenda Fricker dies aged 81