Brenda Fricker, Oscar-winning My Left Foot star and Home Alone 2 actor, to be laid to rest in Dublin today

Brenda Fricker, the Oscar-winning Irish actor best known for My Left Foot and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, will be laid to rest in Dublin on Thursday, as family, friends and admirers bid farewell to one of Ireland’s most celebrated performers. Fricker died last month at the age of 81.

According to funeral notices, the service will take place at St Catherine’s Church on Meath Street in Dublin before a private burial, as per Independent. Her family said she died under the care of Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross and will be remembered by relatives, close friends and admirers from around the world.

A trailblazer for Irish cinema

Fricker made history in 1990 when she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Christy Brown’s mother in My Left Foot, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis. The performance remains one of the defining moments in Irish cinema.

Across a career spanning more than six decades, she appeared in acclaimed films including The Field, Veronica Guerin and Albert Nobbs. However, for millions around the world, Fricker remains instantly recognisable as the warm-hearted Pigeon Lady who befriends Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Daniel Day-Lewis was among the first to call

Following news of Fricker’s passing, filmmaker Jim Sheridan revealed that one of the first people to contact him was Daniel Day-Lewis, who co-starred with Fricker in My Left Foot.

Sheridan described Fricker as “a force of nature,” recalling her remarkable talent, strong personality and extraordinary presence both on and off screen.

Irish actor Fionnula Flanagan also paid tribute, calling Fricker’s Oscar victory “a pivotal moment for Irish cinema” and praising her role in helping put Irish filmmaking on the global map.

An enduring legacy

Beyond awards and accolades, Fricker built a reputation for portraying deeply human, emotionally layered characters that resonated across generations. Whether as Christy Brown’s fiercely protective mother or the lonely but compassionate Pigeon Lady, her performances combined vulnerability with quiet strength.

As Dublin prepares to bid farewell to one of its finest actors, Fricker leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers, actors and audiences worldwide.