Orlagh Cassidy (born August 17, 1968) is an Irish-American actress and audiobook narrator, known for her work on stage, television, and film. She made her Broadway debut in the 1991 production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good at the Nederlander Theatre. Subsequent Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams' Garden District (1995), Noël Coward's Present Laughter (1996), and Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (2009). Additionally, Cassidy starred as Maimie Flanagan in the 2006 revival of John B. Keane's The Field at the Irish Repertory Theatre, earning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play nomination.Irish Repertory Theatre. “The Field (2005–2006 Season).” Irish Repertory Theatre. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://irishrep.org/show/2005-2006-season/the-field/ .
On television, Cassidy is best known for her portrayal of Doris Wolfe on the long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1999–2009).SheKnows. “Orlagh Cassidy.” Guiding Light Actors. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://soaps.sheknows.com/guiding-light/actors/orlagh-cassidy/ . She has had recurring roles on various primetime dramas, including Another World (1992–1993), The Sinner (2017), and Chicago Med (2025).“Orlagh Cassidy.” TV Guide. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/orlagh-cassidy/3030500750/ . Her film credits include Caryn Waechter's The Sisterhood of Night (2014) Josephine Decker's Shirley (2020), and Kogonada's After Yang (2021).
Also a prolific voice actress, Cassidy has narrated more than 160 audiobooks,“Orlagh Cassidy.” Purchase College. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5746-orlagh-cassidy-90 . earning 25 Earphones Awards, as well as 2 Audie Award nominations.Matter, Jordan. “Spotlight on Narrator Orlagh Cassidy.” AudioFile Magazine. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/narrators/orlagh-cassidy/ . Notable titles include Dune by Frank Herbert, The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and Trust by Hernán Díaz, winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.Audible. “Audiobooks Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy.” Audible. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Orlagh+Cassidy .
Early life and education Cassidy was born on August 17, 1968, in Washington, D. C. to Bryan Cassidy, an architect, and Dr. Marie Mullaney Cassidy, a biochemist. Both of her parents were Dublin-born Irish immigrants.Prosky, Ida. “Oral History — Bryan Cassidy.” Capitol Hill History Project. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.capitolhillhistory.org/interviews/bryan-cassidy
Cassidy received her BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase, where she was known as the “Queen of Dialects.” During her studies, Cassidy earned a 1989 Princess Grace Award to study at the National Theatre of Great Britain.Princess Grace Foundation-USA. “Princess Grace Award Winners.” Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://pgfusa.org/princess-grace-award-winners/ .
Career Cassidy began her professional acting career at age fourteen, working at the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., where she performed the prologue in Troilus and Cressida. During the spring semester of her senior year of high school, Cassidy appeared as Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and, upon graduating, became an apprentice company member. During this season, she performed in eight shows a week for ten months in classics by Molière, William Shakespeare, and Anton Chekhov, appearing as Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Anya in The Cherry Orchard.“Orlagh Cassidy.” The Actors Center. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://theactorscenter.org/bio/orlagh-cassidy/
Shortly after graduating from drama school, Cassidy made her Broadway debut in Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good in 1991, understudying roles for Cherry Jones, Amelia Campbell, and J. Smith-Cameron. Her subsequent Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams' Garden District (1995), Noël Coward's Present Laughter (1996), and Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (2009).
Her various Off-Broadway credits include star turns in Eric Coble's Bright Ideas at MCC Theater (2003), Jonas Hassen Khemiri's The Hundred We Are at The Cell Theatre (2015), Penelope Skinner's The Ruins of Civilization at Manhattan Theatre Club (2016), William Shakespeare's Hamlet at The Public Theater (2016), Graham Moore's Acolyte at 59E59 Theaters (2017).“Orlagh Cassidy.” BroadwayWorld. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Orlagh-Cassidy/
A long-time company member of the Irish Repertory Theatre, her various credits include John B. Keane's The Field (2006), Brian Friel's Aristocrats (2009) and Dancing at Lughnasa (2012, 2024), Christine Evans Can't Complain (2011), and Anthony E. Palermo's It's a Wonderful Life (2017).“Orlagh Cassidy.” AboutTheArtists. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/285346-orlagh-cassidy .
In early 2020 Cassidy portrayed Nancy Pelosi in the world premiere of Bill McMahon's The Adult in the Room, at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.
In 2023 Cassidy made her professional playwriting debut, writing and performing in the one-woman-show It's in The Play at The Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway, programmed as part of the Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival.the cell theatre. “Past Productions.” the cell theatre. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.thecelltheatre.org/pastproductions The production was subsequently awarded Origin's Femme First Award.“1st Irish Fest Hands Out Awards.” Irish Echo, February 14, 2023. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.irishecho.com/2023/2/1st-irish-fest-hands-out-awards .
Personal life Cassidy married Nico Sidoti on September 9, 1995. Together they had two sons. Sidoti died in December 2024 from stomach cancer."Orlagh Cassidy". UU Montclair. Accessed October 7, 2025." Obituary of Nico Sidoti". Greenwich Village Funeral Home. Accessed October 7, 2025. .
Credits
Film +YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2001Passing StonesShelia“Orlagh Cassidy.” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/orlagh_cassidy2004The Pornographer: A Love StoryGail2007Spinning into ButterCNN Reporter2008Definitely, MaybeNurse2008Calling it QuitsMarcy2014St VincentSpeech Therapist2014Still AliceDoctor2014The Sisterhood of NightLinda Warren2018Beach HouseCatherine2019Catching UpConnie Dobbs2020ShirleyCaroline2021After YangLilian202140-LoveMrs. Stephan2022MasterCommunications Director2022The Pale Blue EyeMrs. Fry2024Oh, CanadaSarah Fife
Television +YearTitleRoleNotesRef.1992-1993Another WorldSloane Wallace3 episodes 1993GhostwriterOfficer Cole2 episodes 1996Murder One Gigi FasanellaEpisode: "Chapter Twenty-Two"1998TrinityCo-workerEpisode: "In Loco Parentis"1999-2009Guiding LightDoris WolfeMain role, 163 episodes2001Sex and the CityPark Avenue WomanEpisode: "Defining Moments"2001-2022Law & Order: Special Victims Unit D.A. Cassandra Drakos4 episodes2003-2024Law & OrderDetective Shelia Ray4 episodes2011Mildred PierceWoman2 episodes2011A Gifted ManJoanneEpisode: "In Case of All Hell Breaking Loose"2012Blue BloodsAnne CarterEpisode: "Some Kind of Hero"2013ElementaryMarisEpisode: "The Marchioness"2014UnforgettableShelly MillerEpisode: "The Island"2014GothamMrs. LawsonEpisode: "The Mask"2015The Mysteries of LauraPamela BakerEpisode: "The Mystery of the Corner Store Crossfire"2015VeepSally DavenportEpisode: "Election Night"2015The Good WifeHeidiEpisode: "Restraint"2016BillionsManagerEpisode: "The Conversation"2017HomelandRachel Croft2 episodes2017The SinnerElsa Belmont3 episodes2017Madam SecretaryRegina Boroumand2 episodes2018Random Acts of FlynessWifeEpisode: "What are your thoughts on raising free black children?"2018The Loudest VoiceStephanie RainsEpisode: "1995"2018InstinctMargotEpisode: "Ancient History"2019Venice: The SeriesHollandMain role, 8 episodes2020BullLisbeth MoselyEpisode: "Behind the Ivy"2021City on a HillFolsomEpisode: "Pax Bostonia"2023NightingaleLiz Thompson10 episodesPodcast seriesGen-Z Media. “Nightingale Cast.” Gen-Z Media. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://gzmshows.com/shows/listing/nightingale/cast/ .2025Chicago MedMiranda Lewis3 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Playwright VenueRef. 1983 Troilus and Cressida Chorus William Shakespeare Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1985 A Midsummer Night's Dream Peaseblossom William Shakespeare Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1985 Othello Chorus William Shakespeare Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1986 The Cherry Orchard Anya Anton Chekhov Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1986 The Merry Wives of Windsor Anne Page William Shakespeare Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. 1991 Our Country's Good Liz/Mary/Dabby u/s Timberlake Wertenbaker Nederlander Theatre, Broadway 1994 Richard III Lady Anne William Shakespeare Hartford Stage 1995 Of Mice and Men Curly's Wife John Steinbeck Philadelphia Drama Guild 1995 Garden District Catharine Holly u/s Tennessee Williams Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway 1996–1997 Present Laughter Joanna Lyppiatt Noël Coward Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway 2003 Bright Ideas Denise Eric Coble MCC Theater, Off-Broadway 2006 The Field Maimie Flanagan John B. Keane Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway 2009 Aristocrats Alice Brian Friel Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway 2009–2010 God of Carnage Annette/Veronica u/s Yasmina Reza Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway 2011 God of Carnage Annette/Veronica u/s Yasmina Reza Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum 2011–2012 Dancing at Lughnasa Kate Mundy Brian Friel Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway 2014 When We Were Young And Unafraid Agnes u/s Sarah Treem Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway 2016 The Hundred We Are 2 Jonas Hassen Khemiri The Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway 2016 The Ruins of Civilization Joy Penelope Skinner Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway 2016 Hamlet Gertrude William Shakespeare The Public Theater, Off-Broadway 2017 Acolyte Ayn Rand Graham Moore 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway 2017 It's A Wonderful Life Various Anthony E. Palermo Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway 2020 The Adult in the Room Nancy Pelosi Bill McMahon Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago 2023 It's in The Play Various Orlagh Cassidy The Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway 2024 Dancing at Lughnasa Kate Mundy Brian Friel Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway
Awards 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play nomination 1989 Princess Grace Award
References
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