Rebecca O'Mara (born 15 March 1977) is an Irish actress. The Dublin-born actress grew up by the sea in Sandycove and is the voice actor for Caitlin in the children's television series Thomas & Friends.
Early life O'Mara attended Holy Child Killiney before completing a degree in Drama and Theatre at Trinity College Dublin. On graduating, she moved to London and worked in film production for some years. In 2004, she began her acting training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Career She has also worked extensively in theatre in the UK and Ireland since graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). She played Minnie Larkins in The History of Mr Polly, Mrs. O Keefe in the 2014 Ken Loach film Jimmy's Hall and has guest starred in various television programmes including Line of Duty and Doctors, but is probably best known for her role as scene of crime officer, Frankie Hynes, in TV3's Red Rock. In 2018, at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway, she starred in Druid Theatre's production of Furniture, a "wickedly insightful comedy" from Sonya Kelly. In March 2019, she won the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the performance.
Personal life She is married to Irish composer Ciaran Hope and is the younger sister of actor, Jason O'Mara.
Filmography
Television YearTitleCharacterProductionNotes2007DoctorsCleo TuckerBBC OneEpisode: "Background Noise"2013–2015Thomas & FriendsCaitlin and a Slip CoachHIT EntertainmentEpisodes: "Calm Down Caitlin", "Not So Slow Coaches", "Duck and the Slip Coaches", "Last Train for Christmas", "The Truth About Toby", "Best Engine Ever"2016Line of DutyRachel O' ConnorBBCEpisode #3.12016Line of DutyRachel O' ConnorBBCEpisode #3.22017Red RockFrankie HynesTV3Episode #4.292017Red RockFrankie HynesTV3Episode #4.30 - Season Finale2019BumpColetteBlue Ink Films in association with RTÉFull Season 2020 Doctors Bethany Hastings BBC One Episode: "Peccata Mundi" 2023 Smother Sheahan RTÉ Season 3 episodes 1,2 & 6 2024 Der Irland-Krimi Edna Joye Beta Film Season 5 2025 Hidden Assets Alice Heaslip RTÉ Season 3
Film YearTitleCharacterNotes2007The History of Mr. PollyMinnie LarkinsTV movie2010LaikaLaikia (voice)Short2013Thomas & Friends: King of the RailwayCaitlin2014Jimmy's HallNora O' KeefeDirector: Ken Loach2016Thomas & Friends: The Great RaceCaitlin 2020 Herself GrainneDirector: Phyllida Lloyd2023The Toxic AvengerShelly GoozeDirector: Macon Blair 2024 Morning After CarmelDirector: Dorothy Duffy Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Jody WelchDirector: Tim Burton 2025 Anniversary EnumeratorDirector: Jan Komasa
Theatre YearTitleCharacterProductionDirector200606/07/05ArcolaHamish Pirie2007Salt Meets WoundVariousTheatre 503Paul Robinson2007MinskMinskBush Theatre at LatitudeJosie Rourke2008Deep Blue SeaAnnTheatre Royal Bath/ West EndEdward Hall2008Far From the Madding CrowdBathshebaEnglish Touring Theatre (ETT)Kate Saxon2009The Yalta GameAnnaGate Theatre, Dublin & Edinburgh International Theatre FestivalsPatrick Mason2010Danton's DeathLucilleRoyal National Theatre, LondonMichael Grandage2011MomentRuth PigeonThe Bush TheatreDavid Horan2012HayfeverSorel BlissGate Theatre, DublinPatrick Mason2013Mrs Warren's ProfessionVivie WarrenGate Theatre, DublinPatrick Mason2014Pride and PrejudiceCaroline BingleyGate Theatre, DublinAlan Stanford2014The VortexClara HibbertGate Theatre, DublinAnnabelle Comyn2014AristocratsAliceAbbey Theatre, DublinPatrick Mason2014Wuthering HeightsIsabella LintonGate Theatre, DublinMichael Barker Cavan2015Chekhov's First PlaySashaDublin Theatre FestivalBush Moukarzel/Ben Kidd2016OthelloDesdemonaAbbey Theatre, DublinJoe Dowling2016Helen and ILynnDruid Theatre, DublinAnnabelle Comyn2017Private LivesAmandaGate Theatre, DublinPatrick Mason2018Describe the NightYevgeniaHampstead Theatre, LondonLisa Spirling 2018FurnitureDeeGate Theatre, DublinCathal Cleary2021All the AngelsSusannahSmock Alley Theatre & The Everyman TheatreLynn Parker2022The Last ReturnUmbrella WomanGate Theatre & Druid Theatre Company Production, DublinSara Joyce2023The Quare FellowLifer & GovernorAbbey Theatre, DublinTom Creed2024Children of the SunLisaAbbey Theatre, DublinLynne Parker
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 2019Irish Times Theatre Awards Best Supporting ActressFurniture
References
External links
My cultural life: Rebecca O'Mara [The Sunday Independent 2017-05-01] Get To Know Irish Actress Rebecca O’Mara [The Gloss Magazine 2017-07-17] Something For The Weekend: Rebecca O'Mara's Cultural Picks [RTÉ 2017-05-15] Back on the rails [The Sunday Times 2017-02-26]