Maria McDermottroe (; born ) is an Irish actress, known for her work across screen and stage. She portrayed Molly Ivors in John Huston's 1987 film The Dead, based on the James Joyce novella of the same name, and Bridey Hannon in Alan Parker's 1999 film Angela's Ashes, based on Frank McCourt's best-selling memoir of the same name. Her other film credits include The Boxer, Trojan Eddie, Bogwoman, Saltwater, Veronica Guerin, The Blackwater Lightship, and The Winter Lake.
On television, McDermottroe is best known for playing Venetia Crosby on the long-running RTÉ drama serial Glenroe (1995-2000), and Mrs. Gilhooley on the RTÉ comedy series Killinaskully (2004-2009), for which she was nominated for the Golden Nymph Award for Best Actress at the 2009 Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Her numerous guest appearances include roles on ScreenPlay, Family, The Governor, Proof, Foreign Exchange, Mattie, Taken Down, Smother, and Nova Jones.
A veteran of the theatre, McDermottroe has appeared in over 50 professional stage productions, including 16 productions with the National Theatre of Ireland. Her stage career began with Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir at the Gate Theatre in the 1970s. It was there that she became the first Irish woman to appear nude on stage for her portrayal of Jill Mason in the Irish premiere of Equus by Peter Shaffer.
Life and career McDermottroe was born in Sligo town in the 1950s, one of four children (including writer/director Conor) of Eddie and Nora McDermottroe. Her first theatre role was in a production of The Merchant of Venice featuring Micheál Mac Liammóir and Hilton Edwards. She married John Costigan, future Executive Director of Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, in 1979, having first met in 1977. They have two children including writer Nora Costigan and actress Gina Costigan. They live in Dún Laoghaire.
Her character in Glenroe was introduced in 1995, as Venetia, the matriarch of the Crosby family. Venetia later divorced and married divorcé Dick Moran. In Pat Shortt's rural sitcom, Killinaskully, McDermottroe portrayed Mrs. Gilhooley, known for repeatedly not being "in the habit of repeating" herself, She played crime figure John Gilligan's wife in 2003's Veronica Guerin, a film in which her daughter Gina Costigan portrayed the wife of criminal figure John Traynor. In 2010, McDermottroe's performance in an Eska Riada production of Frank McGuinness's one-woman play Baglady in the Focus Theatre, was described by Jesse Weaver of Irish Theatre Magazine as a "measured, taught, and ultimately arresting ... portrait of an identity nearly dissolving itself".
In 2017, she played Carmel in Isobel Mahon's Boom?. Her film credits include John Huston's The Dead, John Erman's The Blackwater Lightship, and The Winter Lake. She was named "Best Actress", at the 2023 Milan Gold March Awards, for her role in The Carer.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role NotesRef.1979Silver Apples of the MoonMoiraRTÉ TV Movie1987The DeadMolly Ivors1990Dear SarahMrs. Moore1991Crossed LinesKatieShort film1994Widows' PeakPenitent1996 Trojan Eddie Rosy1997 Bogwoman Annie1997The BoxerBetty1998This Is My FatherMrs. Maney1999Angela's AshesBirdie Hannon2000SaltwaterHeadmistress2001The BombmakerMiss O'Mara2001Give Up Yer Aul SinsPeig CunninghamAnimated short2003Veronica GuerinGeraldine Gilligan2004The Blackwater LightshipMadge Kehoe2005Bumble's BurdenMaShort film2006Secret of the CaveMrs. MacIntyre2008Situations VacantMother2009Swansong: Story of Occi ByrneSister Benedict2016In ViewMonica2017Halal DaddyLorraine2019Saving GraceGraceShort film2020The Winter LakeTessie2020Post LoveCathyShort film2022HavenCarmelShort film2023The Martini ShotEthel2024The CarerMoira McNamaraShort film
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.1985Fortycoats & Co.The LilterEpisode: “Fortycoats and the Monster Mystery”1989–1990ScreenPlayAngela2 episodes1994FamilyNiamhEpisode: "Charlo"1995The GovernorJune Fisher2 episodes1995–2000GlenroeVenetiaMain role2002Give Up Yer Aul SinsPeig CunninghamMain role2004ProofMrs. ErskineEpisode: "#1.2"2004Foreign ExchangeMrs. MurphyEpisode: "Hostel"2004–2008KillinaskullyMrs. GilhooleyMain role2011MattieMary Elizabeth Carr2 episodes2018Taken DownIrene2 episodes2022SmotherImelda3 episodes2022–2023Nova JonesGranny Nova2 episodes2023Drama on NewstalkMariaEpisode: "Changing Coasts""Changing Coasts." Documentary and Drama on Newstalk. Newstalk, May 2, 2023. Podcast, 44:13. https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/drama-on-newstalk/changing-coasts.
Theatre Year Title Role Playwright VenueRef. 1971 Hall of Healing Patient Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre The Shadow of a Gunman Mrs. Henderson Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre1977 The Devil's Disciple Essie George Bernard Shaw Gate Theatre The Merchant of Venice Jessica William Shakespeare Gate Theatre Equus Jill Mason Peter Shaffer Gate Theatre Major Barbara Jenny Hill George Bernard Shaw Gate Theatre1978 Equus Jill Mason Peter Shaffer Gate Theatre Bedroom Farce Kate Alan Ayckbourn Gate Theatre Proxopera Ensemble Benedict Kiely & Peter Luke Gate Theatre 1979 Crooked in the Car Seat Irene Murphy Brian Lynch Dublin Theatre Festival1980 Cop-Out Nell David Hayes Dublin Theatre Festival Zoz Mrs. Connie Curran/Girl Joe O'Donnell Dublin Theatre Festival The Chastitute Heather/Trudy/Julia John B. Keane Cork Opera House1981 Kill Therese Fitzackerly Hugh Leonard Dublin Theatre Festival1984 Hedda Gabler Thea Elvstead Henrik Ibsen Gate Theatre1988 St. Stephen's Green: Or, The Generous Lovers Marina William Philips Abbey Theatre1988 Carthaginians Sarah Frank McGuiness Abbey Theatre1991 The Threepenny Opera Vixen Frank McGuiness / Bertolt Brecht Gate Theatre1992 Carthaginians Maela Frank McGuinness Druid Theatre Company Dancing at Lughnasa Kate Brian Friel Abbey Theatre 1993 Dancing at Lughnasa Kate Brian Friel Abbey Theatre (International Tour) Dancing at Lughnasa Kate Brian Friel Abbey Theatre (National Tour) 1994 The Bird Sanctuary Tina Frank McGuiness Abbey Theatre The Broken Jug Martha Reck Heinrich von Kleist / John Banville Abbey Theatre Seachange Woman John Banville Project Arts Centre The Risen People Mrs. Hennessey James Plunkett Gaiety Theatre1995 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Lizzy Sweeney Brian Friel Abbey Theatre1996 The Invisible Mending Company Cissy Philip Davison Abbey Theatre1999 Moll Moll John B. Keane Gaiety Theatre Kevin's Bed Pauline Bernard Farrell Abbey Theatre2002 For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again Nana Michel Tremblay Abbey Theatre2003 The Late Henry Moss Conchalla Sam Shepard Abbey Theatre2004 Portia CoughlanMarianne Scully Marina Carr Abbey Theatre2006 True West Mother Sam Shepard Abbey Theatre 2010 Boss Grady's Boys Mrs. Molloy Sebastian Barry Gaiety Theatre 2011 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Tennessee Williams Town Hall Theatre Baglady Baglady Frank McGuiness Focus Theatre2012Payback! Kitty Maria McDermottroe / Marion O'Dwyer Fishamble: The New Play Company2014 A Skull in Connemara Maryjohnny Rafferty Martin McDonagh Gaiety Theatre2015 The Field Mrs. McCabe John B. Keane Gaiety Theatre2017 The Chastitute Aunt Jane John B. Keane Gaiety Theatre 2017 Boom Carmel Isobel Mahon Dunamaise Arts Centre Boom Carmel Isobel Mahon Gaiety Theatre 2018 A Skull in Connemara Maryjohnny Rafferty Martin McDonagh Town Hall Theatre A Skull in Connemara Maryjohnny Rafferty Martin McDonagh Olympia Theatre2019 The Valley of the Squinting Windows Marse Prendergast Brinsley MacNamara / Michael Scott Mullingar Arts Centre
Awards YearAssociation CategoryWorkResult Ref. 2009 Golden Nymph Awards Best Actress Killinaskully 2022 Dublin International Film Festival Best Female Actor Post Love2023 Toronto International Women's Film Festival Best Actress Haven 2024 Northeast Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Beaufort International Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Cobb International Film Festival Best Ensemble The Martini Shot 2024 Milan Gold Awards Best Actress (March) The Carer
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