Seamus O'Hara (born 25 June 1990)[1] is a Northern Irish actor.

Seamus O'Hara
Born (1990-06-25) 25 June 1990 (age 34)
Ballymena, Northern Ireland[1]
OccupationActor
Years active2012–present
Known forAn Irish Goodbye
SpouseMary Ellen O'Hara
Children2

Early life

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Born in Waveney Hospital, Ballymena, he grew up in Co. Antrim. His father Stephen was a teacher and restaurateur in Cushendall.[1] He attended school at St Ciaran's Primary School in Cushendun.[2] He was also educated at Garron Tower and Queen's University Belfast where he read English and Drama. He played juvenile hurling up to minor level with the Glens of Antrim combined team, St Patrick's, and played for Cushendun's Robert Emmets GAC.[1]

Career

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He began his acting career with a role in the BBC NI student drama 6Degrees.[3] His television credits include Game of Thrones as well as Hope Street and Line of Duty.[4][5] His film credits include The Northman and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.[6]

He had a leading role as Turlough in the 2022 short film An Irish Goodbye, alongside alongside James Martin, as two estranged brothers brought together by their mother’s death.[7] The film which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2023 Academy Awards.[8][9] It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Short Film at the 2023 British Academy Film Awards.[10][11]

In February 2023, he had a lead role in the play Silent Trade at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. He also had a role in 2023 Liam Neeson film In the Land of Saints and Sinners.[4]

He has a role in the second series of BBC One Northern Ireland police drama Blue Lights.[12]

Personal life

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In 2023, he lived near Newry with wife Mary Ellen and children, Henry and Eileen.[1] He is a hurling coach at Killeavey GAC.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2017 Zoo Soldier at Zoo Gate
2022 Mandrake Thomas
An Irish Goodbye Turlough Short film
The Northman Audunn the Irish
2023 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Presto
In the Land of Saints and Sinners Seamus McKenna

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2012–2015 6Degrees Gary Meadows Series 1–3
2016 My Mother and Other Strangers Davey Hanlon 4 episodes
2017 Line of Duty Arresting officer Episode: "In the Shadow of the Truth"
2018 Agatha and the Truth of Murder PC Spencer Television film
2019 Game of Thrones Fergus Episodes: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and "The Long Night"
2022 Hope Street Eddie McNulty Episode #1.7
2023 Shadow and Bone Sergent Haslov Episode: "No Shelter But Me"
2024 Blue Lights Lee Thompson 6 episodes
TBA House of Guinness Patrick Cochrane In production

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "BAFTA winner Seamus O'Hara still has a bit of hurling in him". The Saffrongael. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  2. ^ Tunney, Liam (23 March 2023). "Oscar-winning An Irish Goodbye actor Seamus O'Hara returns to school in Cushendun". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  3. ^ Coleman, Maureen (14 April 2024). "Co Antrim Blue Lights star: 'I've no interest in televisual tropes about Catholics and Protestants'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bell, Gail (20 February 2023). "Seamus O'Hara, star of Bafta-winner An Irish Goodbye, on powerful new play Silent Trade". Irish News. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  5. ^ Roy, David (19 June 2023). "High profile Irish actors who have condemned lack of political leadership at Stormont". Itish News. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  6. ^ Campbell, Lee (28 March 2023). "How 'An Irish Goodbye' charmed Hollywood and triumphed at the Oscars". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^ "A Donegal star at the Oscars!". Donegal Live. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  8. ^ Tunney, Liam (23 August 2023). "Antrim actor 'finding strength in being Northern Irish' following 'strange hostility' to nationality". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Nominees for the 95th Academy Awards". Variety.com. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Baftas: An Irish Goodbye wins best short film award". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  11. ^ "An Irish Goodbye Oscar winners aim to 'bask in success' with cinema tour". RTE News. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  12. ^ Roy, David (16 February 2024). "Blue Lights: new cast and loyalist-centric plot revealed for second series of BBC's hit Belfast cop show". Irish News. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  13. ^ "From razzle of the Oscars to the dazzle of Newry St Patrick's Day Parade". Newry.ie. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
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