Bronagh Gallagher (born 1972) is an Irish singer and actress from Northern Ireland. She had her first acting role in the 1989 television movie Dear Sarah. She became known internationally known after her appearance in the 1991 film The Commitments.
Early life and education Bronagh Gallagher was born in 1972 in Derry, Northern Ireland, to working class Catholic parents. Her sister, Louise, is a film producer.
During her teenage years, she got involved in drama and music activities through school and joined a local amateur dramatics group called the Oakgrove Theatre Company. In 1989–90 she was a backing singer in a local band called The Listener.
Career Gallagher was first a hairdresser."Whatever Happened to the Commitments", telegraph.co.uk; accessed 4 June 2017
Music Her first album, Precious Soul, was released in 2004 on the Salty Dog Records label and was produced by John Reynolds. The album features collaborations with Brian Eno on the songs "He Don't Love You" and "Hooks". Gallagher wrote most of the music on the album, played the drums and sang lead vocals.
She released a second album, Bronagh Gallagher, in 2012, and a third album, Gather Your Greatness, in 2016. Acting Gallagher's big break came when she starred as Bernie in The Commitments (1991), followed by a supporting role in the BBC drama You, Me & Marley (1992), which is part of the BBC anthology series, ScreenPlay. She had small parts in Pulp Fiction (1994) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Other film appearances include Mary Reilly (1996), Divorcing Jack (1998), Thunderpants (2002), Skagerrak (2003), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Grabbers (2012).
Gallagher has appeared on stage in Théâtre de Complicité touring production of The Street of Crocodiles and The National Theatre's production War Horse as Rose Narracott.
In 2009, Gallagher starred alongside a well-known cast on the MySpace/Vertigo Films production Faintheart and starred in the BBC Three comedy TV series Pramface in 2012.
On television, she played the mother of young Nick in the BBC drama Nick Nickleby. She played Trisha Meehan in The Field of Blood and Ada Mason in Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 10 episode, "The Mystery of the Blue Train".
In 2019, she began her role as Carol, the sister of amateur boxer Ashley in the Sky Original series Brassic.
Recognition An image of Gallagher, in character as Bernie McGloughlin in the film The Commitments, was featured on an Irish postage stamp as part of the Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary series issued by An Post. The image includes her The Commitments co-stars Angeline Ball as Imelda Quirke, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Natalie Murphy and Andrew Strong as Deco Cuffe.
In 2020, she was listed at number 33 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.
Pledge In September 2025, she signed an open pledge with Film Workers for Palestine pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions "that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Dear Sarah Anne Conlon TV film 1991 The Commitments Bernie McGloughlin 1992 You, Me and Marley Frances 1994 Pulp Fiction Trudi 1995 Ruffian Hearts Dervla TV film 1996 Mary Reilly Annie1998 Painted Angels Eileen Divorcing Jack Taxi Driver 1999 This Year's Love Carol Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Captain Maoi Madakor2000 The Most Fertile Man in Ireland Millicent Wild About Harry Miss Boyle2002 Sinners Kitty TV film Thunderpants Mrs. Smash 2003 Skagerrak Sophie Holy Cross Sarah Norton TV film Spin the Bottle Teresa 2005 Tara Road Polly2006 Tristan & Isolde Bragnae Middletown Tessie2007 Botched Sonya Agnes Agnes Jones TV film Clean the House Cleaner TV film2008 Faintheart Maggie Last Chance Harvey Oonagh 2009 Malice in Wonderland Hattie Sherlock Holmes Palm Reader 2010 The Big I Am Di Baines Tamara Drewe Eustacia 2011 Albert Nobbs Cathleen Page Arthur Christmas Elf Voice role Where Are They Now? Woman Short2012 Grabbers Una Maher After the Triumph of Your Birth Woman of the Theater2013 Made in Belfast Undertaker Orbit Ever After Mother Short The Food Guide to Love Rachel2014 Shooting for Socrates Irene Justlikeabitch Mary Short2017 Return to Montauk Irene Brexit Shorts: Your Ma's a Hard Brexit Short 2018 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Charlotte Stimple2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Micawber A Bump Along the Way Pamela 2023 Dance First Nora Barnacle2024BirdCameo 2024 The End
Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 Screenplay Frances Episode: "You, Me & Marley" The Bill Nicola Purdy 2 episodes 1993 Over the Rainbow Michelle Series regular, 8 episodes 1995 Performance Minnie Powell Episode: "Shadow of a Gunman" 1996 Screen Two Sandra Williamson Episode: "The Precious Brood" 1999 Shockers Alice Walker Episode: "Deja Vu"2000 Cry Wolf Bambi Episode: Series 1, Episode 5 The Fitz Teddy Series regular, 6 episodes 2001 On a Life's Edge Zoe TV short 2004 The Clinic Lisa Episode: Series 2, Episode 8 2005 Agatha Christie's Poirot Ada Mason Episode: "The Mystery of the Blue Train"2007 Holby City Gilly Conran Episode: "Paranoid Android" The Bill Tina Wilson Episode: "Dicing with Danger" The Street Mary Jennerson Episode: "Twin" The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various characters Recurring role, 6 episodes 2010 Accused Siobhan Episode: "Helen's Story" 2011–2013 The Field of Blood Trisha Meehan 4 episodes 2012 New Tricks Mara Donaldson Episode: "Dead Poets" 2012–2014 Pramface Sandra Prince Series regular, 17 episodes 2013 Shameless Ronnie Episode: "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang"2015 Moone Boy Pat O'Dwyer Episode: "The Plunder Years" You, Me and the Apocalypse Larrson Miniseries, 7 episodes 2017 Count Arthur Strong Birdie Recurring role, 6 episodes 2018 Genius Berthe Weill Episode: "Picasso: Chapter Two" 2019–2025 Brassic Carol Dennings Main cast 2020 Belgravia Speer Miniseries 2022 Derry Girls As Herself Guest appearance2026How to Get to Heaven from BelfastBooker4 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Theatre 1991 The Patriot Game Second Soldier Abbey Theatre, Dublin1992 A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant Agnes Smith Abbey Theatre, Dublin The Iceman Cometh Pearl Abbey Theatre, Dublin 1994 Peer Gynt Ingrid/Green-Clad Woman Barbican Centre, London 1996 Portia Coughlan Stacia Diyle Abbey Theatre, Dublin & Royal Court Theatre, London 1997 The Caucasian Chalk Circle Mother Georgia Royal National Theatre, London 1999 The Street of Crocodiles Adela Queen's Theatre, London2000 Dublin Carol Mary Royal Court Theatre, London Light Adla Almeida Theatre, London2009 War Horse Rose Narracott New London Theatre, London Every Good Boy Deserve Favour Teacher Royal National Theatre, London 2011 The Faith Machine Tatiana Royal Court Theatre, London 2014 Seven Mukhtaran Mai Great Hall of Parliament, Belfast & The Guildhall, Derry 2017 Girl from the North Country Mrs. Burke The Old Vic, London & Noël Coward Theatre, London
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result2003 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Television Drama Sinners Best Actress in a Film Spin the Bottle 2004 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels Best Actress Holy Cross Bodil Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Skagerrak Robert Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2008 Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series The Street 2012 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Television The Field of Blood 2013 IFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Film Grabbers 2020 Best Actress in Leading Role - Film A Bump Along the Way
References
External links Bronagh Gallagher in Concert at The Ardhowen Theatre, donniephair.com; accessed 5 August 2017.