Eilish O'Carroll (born 5 November 1952) is an Irish actress, writer, comedian and cast-member of the popular BBC sitcom, Mrs. Brown's Boys, where she plays the title character's best friend and neighbour, Winnie McGoogan. She also played Dr Flynn in the stage version of the show. Eilish is the sister of Mrs. Brown's Boys star and creator, Brendan O'Carroll.
Eilish O'Carroll | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 November 1952 Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupations |
|
| Television | Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011–present) All Round to Mrs. Brown's (2017–2020) |
| Partner | Marian O'Sullivan |
| Children | 2 |
| Mother | Maureen McHugh |
| Relatives | Brendan O'Carroll (brother) Danny O'Carroll (nephew) Fiona O'Carroll (niece) |
Career
editO'Carroll has been a cast member of Mrs. Brown's Boys since its incarnation. Eilish played the role of Winnie McGoogan since the show's debut in 2011. She reprised her role in the 2014 film Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie and the 2017 chat show All Round to Mrs. Brown's.
In 2013, O'Carroll wrote and starred in an autobiographical one-woman stage show entitled 'Live Love Laugh'. She debuted the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for which she received positive reviews.[1] She subsequently toured Live Love Laugh throughout the UK and Ireland up until 2018.[2]
It was announced that O'Carroll would be a contestant on the third series of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars in 2019.[3]
Personal life
editShe married her husband in 1971, with whom she had two sons, Stuart and Lee.[4]
In 2003, O'Carroll began a relationship with a woman. She has stated she was homophobic until she came out in her forties.[5] She now resides in Cork with her partner, Marian O'Sullivan.[6][7]
In 2015, she was extremely outspoken in favour of the Together for Yes campaign during the referendum to amend the Irish constitution via the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland.[8]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie | Winnie McGoogan | |
| 2020 | Tina Times Two | Dance Teacher | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2008 | Mrs. Brown's Boys: The Original Series | Hillary Nicholson / Winnie McGoogan | Episodes 1–5 |
| 2011–present | Mrs. Brown's Boys | Winnie McGoogan | Series 1–4, plus Christmas & New Year Specials; 50 episodes |
| 2016 | The Boring Diary of Frances Noone | Granny Noone | Television short |
| 2017–2020 | All Round to Mrs. Brown's | Winnie McGoogan | Series 1–4; 17 episodes |
| 2019 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself - Contestant | Series 3; episodes 1–3 (weeks 1–3) |
| 2021 | The Madame Blanc Mysteries | Niamh | Series 1; episode 5 |
| 2022 | The Hit List | Herself - Contestant | Series 5; episode 12: "Christmas Special" (with Fiona O'Carroll) |
| 2024 | The Dry | Old Lady | Series 2; episode 1: "Birthday" |
| 2025 | Love of the Irish | MJ | Television film |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mrs. Brown's Last Wedding | Winnie McGoogan |
| 2002, 2011–2012, 2017 | Good Mourning Mrs. Brown | |
| 2002, 2012, 2014 | Mrs. Brown Rides Again | |
| 2007, 2013, 2018 | For the Love of Mrs. Brown | |
| 2009, 2015 | How Now Mrs. Brown Cow | |
| 2013–2018 | Live Love Laugh | Herself |
References
edit- ^ "Eilish O'Carroll: Live Love Laugh, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh". Telegraph. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "'Excited, petrified, terrified' - Eilish O'Carroll and Darren Kennedy join Dancing with the Stars line-up". Irish Independent. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Biography". Eilish O'Carroll. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "'I was a homophobe until I came out during my forties'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Bondings: Meet Mrs Brown's girls". Independent.ie. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Ageing with attitude: Nothing stops you but your own thinking". Irish Examiner. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Mrs. Brown's Boys' Eilish O'Carroll Supports 'Together For Yes' Campaign". evoke.ie. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.