Wikipedia

Victoria Smurfit

Victoria Smurfit (born 31 March 1974) is an Irish actress. She is known for playing Orla O'Connell in the BBC television series Ballykissangel, Detective Chief Inspector Roisin Connor in the ITV police procedural Trial & Retribution and Cruella de Vil in Once Upon a Time for which she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress in 13th IFTA Film & Drama Awards in 2016. Most recently she played Maud O’Hara in ‘Rivals’ on Disney Plus.

Victoria Smurfit
Smurfit in 2016
Born (1974-03-31) 31 March 1974 (age 50)
Dublin, Ireland
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Douglas Baxter
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2015)​
Children3
RelativesMichael Smurfit (uncle)

Early life

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Victoria Smurfit is part of the Smurfit family which, through Smurfit Kappa, is one of the richest in Ireland. The family, headed by Victoria's uncle Michael Smurfit, sponsors a number of sporting events including the Smurfit European Open and the Champion Hurdle. The family is also associated with Smurfit Business School in University College Dublin (UCD). Smurfit studied for an A-level in theatre studies and subsequently went onto the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[1]

Career

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Smurfit gained fame for her role as Orla O'Connell in the BBC television series Ballykissangel from 1998 to 1999. She played Nina in the 2003 film Bulletproof Monk. From 2003 to 2009, Smurfit portrayed the lead role of Detective Chief Inspector Roisin Connor in the ITV police procedural Trial & Retribution.[2] She also guest starred in the BBC Radio 4 series Baldi. In 2011 Smurfit appeared in the Agatha Christie's Marple television episode "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side".

In 2013, Smurfit co-starred as Lady Jayne Wetherby in the NBC television period drama Dracula.[3] In 2014, she began playing the recurring guest role of Cruella de Vil in ABC's Once Upon a Time.[4][5]

In the run-up to shooting for her role in Homecoming, she described the film as a "mean girls for grown-ups". She played Nikki, the "head mean girl".[6] In 2021 she played Pippa in Deadly Cuts and in 2022 played Olivia Foyle in "Bloodlands". In 2024 she played Maud O’Hara in Disney Plus’s ‘Rivals’, based on the Jilly Cooper novel of the same name, which was renewed for a second season in December 2024.

Personal life

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Smurfit married advertising executive Douglas Baxter on 29 July 2000 in Surrey, England, and gave birth to their first child, daughter Evie Dorothy Baxter in Dublin, Ireland, on 2 November 2004. A second daughter, Ridley Belle Baxter was born in May 2007.[7] Their third child, a boy, was born in November 2008 and named Flynn Alexander Baxter.[8] In 2012 the family relocated to Santa Monica, California, US.[9] In February 2015 it was announced that Smurfit and her husband had filed for divorce.[10][11]

She wrote an opinion blog for The Dubliner, which often featured anecdotes from her personal life,[12] and is a patron of the children's charity World Vision Ireland.[13] Victoria Smurfit tied the knot with her partner Steve Jacobs at the end of 2023.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1995 The Run of the Country Annagh [14]
1996 The Leading Man Annabel [15]
1997 Romance and Rejection Helen [16]
2000 The Beach Weathergirl [17]
The Wedding Tackle Clodagh [18]
2002 The Last Great Wilderness Claire [19]
About a Boy Suzie [20]
2003 Bulletproof Monk Nina Strucker [21]
2011 Honeymoon for One Hilary Television film [22]
A Proper Send-Off Natalia Short film [23]
2014 Amnesia: Who Are You? Monica [24]
Among Ravens Emma [25]
Bait Bex [26]
2016 Best Fake Friends Nikki [27]
2017 The Lears Diana [28]
The Secret Market Dr. Amy McCarthy Short film [29]
2021 Deadly Cuts Pippa [30]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1997 Ivanhoe Lady Rowena Miniseries; 6 episodes [31]
1998 Berkeley Square Hannah Randall Series regular; 10 episodes [32]
1998–1999 Ballykissangel Orla O'Connell Series regular; 24 episodes [33]
2000 North Square Helen Fernyhough Series regular; 10 episodes [34]
2000–2001 Cold Feet Jane Fitzpatrick Recurring role; 3 episodes [35]
2003–2009 Trial & Retribution DCI Róisín Connor Series regular; 24 episodes [36]
2004 The Alan Clark Diaries Clark's Mistress Episode: "Into the Wilderness" [37]
2006 The Shell Seekers Olivia Keeling Miniseries; 2 episodes [38]
2009 The Clinic Dr. Edel Swift Recurring role; 5 episodes [39]
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Ella Blunt Episode: "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side" [40]
2012 Missing Sloane Episode: "Ice Queen" [41]
2013–2014 Dracula Lady Jayne Wetherby Series regular; 10 episodes [42]
2014 The Mentalist Monica Giraldi Episode: "Blue Bird" [43]
Rush Isabel Thoreau Episode: "Don't Ask Me Why" [44]
2014–2018 Once Upon a Time Cruella De Vil Series regular; 15 episodes [45]
2018 Marcella Maya Whitman Recurring role; 7 episodes [46]
2019 Strike Back: Revolution Lauren Gillespie Recurring role; 2 episodes [47]
2021 Around the World in 80 Days Lady Clemency Rowbotham Episode: "Episode 5" [48]
2022 The Man Who Fell to Earth Penny Morgan Recurring role; 3 episodes [49]
Bloodlands Olivia Foyle Series regular; 6 episodes [50]
2024 Rivals Maud O’Hara Series regular; 8 episodes [51]

Awards and nominations

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Year Title Role Awards Result
2014 Amnesia: Who Are You? Monica IFS Award Best Actress Won
2016 Once Upon A Time Cruella de Vil 13th IFTA Film & Drama Awards Best Actress in Supporting Role in Drama Nominated
2018 The Lears Diana 15th Irish Film & Television Academy Awards Best Actress in Supporting Role in Film Won

References

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  1. ^ Irish Times Magazine, page 10, 10 January 2009
  2. ^ "14 years on, but Ballykissangel fans still stop Victoria Smurfit in the street". evoke.ie. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. ^ Hall, Eva (4 February 2013). "Victoria Smurfit To Sink Teeth Into Jonathan Rhys Meyers' Dracula". IFTN. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Once Upon a Time: Victoria Smurfit Talks Cruella de Ville, and Season 4". collider.com. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Once Upon a Time: Victoria Smurfit set to return as Cruella". ew.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. ^ Butler, Laura. "Putting divorce aside, actress Victoria Smurfit lines up role after role". Evoke.ie. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. ^ Lyons, Eoin (9 September 2005). "Couple mix comfort with designer good looks". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  8. ^ "'Cannes-do' Irish go networking - Independent.ie". Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Exclusive Victoria Smurfit interview: 'It's me, three kids, two dogs and a cup of tea now'". Independent.ie. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Victoria Smurfit & husband Doug Baxter split after 15 years of marriage". evoke.ie. 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Victoria Smurfit". 13 January 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2023 – via open.spotify.com.
  12. ^ Smurfit, Victoria. "(sampling of column entries by Smurfit, March to June 2008)". The Dubliner. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008.
  13. ^ "World Vision Ireland". Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  14. ^ Howe, Desson (28 September 1995). "COUNTRY' COVERS A BIT O' GROUND". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  15. ^ "The Leading Man - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Romance and Rejection". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  17. ^ Savage, Anton (12 October 2024). "In conversation with Victoria Smurfit". The Anton Savage Show. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  18. ^ Elley, Derek (14 August 2000). "The Wedding Tackle". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  19. ^ Elley, Derek (2 September 2002). "The Last Great Wilderness". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  20. ^ Camp, Alexa (8 May 2002). "Review: About a Boy". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Film: Victoria loves being bad". Belfast Telegraph. 20 April 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  22. ^ Holmes, Linda (13 August 2011). "Press Tour Confessions: The Melted Brain That Watched 'Honeymoon For One'". NPR. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Video Series: A Proper Send-Off, Directed by Eva Longoria - Eva Longoria - Glamour Reel Moments". YouTube. Glamour. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  24. ^ Ryan, Alexandra (30 May 2014). "Victoria Smurfit wins Best Actress at film festival". Goss.ie. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  25. ^ Ford, Rebecca (5 June 2014). "Indie 'Among Ravens' Picked Up by Gravitas Ventures for North America". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  26. ^ Felperin, Leslie (3 September 2015). "Bait review – smarter-than-usual Brit squeaker". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  27. ^ Strickler, Jeff (23 September 2016). "Movie spot: 'Best Fake Friends'". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  28. ^ McNary, Dave (16 January 2019). "Film News Roundup: Bruce Dern's 'The Lears' Bought by Vertical for February Release". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  29. ^ Cassidy, Megan (6 June 2017). "WATCH: Victoria Smurfit Stars In Upcoming Irish Short Film 'The Secret Market'". LMFM. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  30. ^ Clarke, Donald (8 October 2021). "Deadly Cuts: A blast from Irish cinema's past". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  31. ^ "'Ivanhoe' Becomes Television Miniseries". Los Angeles Times. 3 August 1996. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Miniseries – Berkeley Square". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  33. ^ Nolan, Larissa (2 December 2018). "Victoria Smurfit: From BallyK to a fairytale villain in a land far, far way, I'm still enchanted by Ireland". The Times. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  34. ^ Lockyear, Daphne (9 February 2007). "Victoria Smurfit". TES. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  35. ^ Toner, John (18 September 2022). "Bloodlands: Jimmy Nesbitt delighted at reunion with Cold Feet star Victoria Smurfit". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  36. ^ Wollalston, Sam (18 January 2008). "Last night's TV: Trial & Retribution". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Victoria in Alan Clark's Diaries". Irish Independent. 14 December 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  38. ^ Lowry, Brian (29 April 2008). "The Shell Seekers". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  39. ^ O'Neill, Bronwyn (30 June 2024). "Where are they now? The cast of RTÉ's The Clinic 15 years later". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  40. ^ Wiegand, David (22 May 2010). "TV review: Christie ill served by this Marple". SFGate. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  41. ^ McBride, Caitlin (8 April 2013). "Victoria Smurfit and the Hollywood dream". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  42. ^ Rorke, Robert (24 October 2013). "Jonathan Rhys Meyers injects fresh blood into 'Dracula'". New York Post. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  43. ^ White, Peter (27 November 2018). "Fired Up Films & eOne Developing Boxing Drama With 'Once Upon A Time's Victoria Smurfit & Micki Pistorius Crime Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  44. ^ Ng, Philiana (5 June 2014). "Harry Hamlin, Rachel Nichols Join USA's 'Rush' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  45. ^ Egan, Barry (11 February 2024). "Victoria Smurfit on making Once Upon a Time: 'I loved Cruella.... she said everything you'd love to in life'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  46. ^ Nolan, Emma (26 March 2018). "Marcella season 2 cast: Who stars in Marcella series 2?". Daily Express. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  47. ^ Ellwood, Greg (29 March 2019). "Strike Back: Silent War 7×05 recap". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  48. ^ Wynarczyk, Natasha (23 December 2021). "Exclusive: Around the World in 80 Days actress says filming BBC show was 'anything but glamorous'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  49. ^ Hibbs, James (15 June 2022). "How to watch The Man Who Fell to Earth in the UK". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  50. ^ Cochrane, Amy (23 September 2022). "Bloodlands star Victoria Smurfit praises 'stunningly beautiful' NI filming location". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  51. ^ "Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner star in adaptation of racy Jilly Cooper novel". Irish Independent. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
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