Siobhán McKenna
Biography: Siobhán McKenna (1923-1986) was an acclaimed Irish actress known for her captivating stage and screen performances. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McKenna developed a passion for acting from a young age and went on to become one of Ireland's most celebrated thespians. After graduating from University College Dublin, McKenna began her professional acting career on the Irish stage, earning critical acclaim for her powerful interpretations of classic roles such as Pegeen Mike in J.M. Synge's "The Playboy of the Western World" and Nora Clitheroe in Sean O'Casey's "The Plough and the Stars." Her talent and natural stage presence soon caught the attention of film directors, and she transitioned to the silver screen, delivering memorable performances in movies like "Ryan's Daughter" and "The Playboy of the Western World." Throughout her career, McKenna was recognized with numerous accolades, including three Irish Film and Television Awards and a BAFTA. She was also honored with a prestigious CBE in 1977 for her contributions to the arts. Beyond her acting work, McKenna was deeply committed to preserving and promoting Irish culture and was an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice causes.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: May 24, 1923
Deathday: November 16, 1986
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Known For
Cradle of Genius
1960-11-11
Cradle of Genius
Overview: Longtime playwrights and performers of the Abbey Theatre share colourful reminiscences of the national institution founded by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory in 1904. Oscar Nominee: Best Documentary Short
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-11-11
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Doctor Zhivago
1965-12-22
Doctor Zhivago
Overview: The life of a Russian physician and poet who, although married to another, falls in love with a political activist's wife and experiences hardship during World War I and then the October Revolution.
Genres: Drama Romance War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-12-22
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King of Kings
1961-10-11
King of Kings
Overview: Who is Jesus, and why does he impact all he meets? He is respected and reviled, emulated and accused, beloved, betrayed, and finally crucified. Yet that terrible fate would not be the end of the story.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-10-11
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Of Human Bondage
1964-09-23
Of Human Bondage
Overview: Medical student Philip falls in love with Mildred, a waitress. Although she is a flirt, they have a love affair. But when Philip is told about her constant infidelity, they break up. Mildred quits her job and becomes a prostitute. But Philip is still in love with her.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-09-23
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Philadelphia, Here I Come
1975-06-01
Philadelphia, Here I Come
Overview: Friel contrasts Gar's cloistered emotional life with his gregarious social persona by portraying him as two distinct characters, a public self (Donal McCann) and a private self (Des Cave).
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1975-06-01
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The Lost People
1949-08-22
The Lost People
Overview: Set in a German theatre after the Second World War, two British soldiers are holding a disparate and hostile band of refugees in this theatre, prior to returning them to their homelands. The soldiers have difficulty dealing with the rivalries between Serb and Croat, resistance fighter and collaborator, Pole and Russian, etc. The threat of plague briefly unites them, but eventually even this wears off and the refugees unite in their hostility to the British.
Genres: War Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-08-22
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Angels in the Annexe
1984-12-24
Angels in the Annexe
Overview: Mr Brittain is determined that this year the school will do a really different Christmas show. Unfortunately Miss Jarvis has always organised the nativity play, and this is her last year before retirement. She is unlikely to change her ways without a battle.
Genres: TV Movie Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1984-12-24
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Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady
1979-04-21
Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected: The Landlady
Overview: The unnamed Landlady (Siobhan McKenna) is the titular main villainess from "The Landlady", episode 1.05 of Tales of The Unexpected (airdate April 21, 1979), based on the Roald Dahl short story of the same name. The episode begins with Billy Weaver (The main protagonist), arriving in Bath as part of a work trip. While there, he looks for accomdation, and sees a bed and breakfast sign in the window of a house. The unnamed woman then invites him in, claiming that a hotel he had been planning to stay at was booked out. Although finding the landlady's overly friendly demeanour off-putting, Billy decides to spend the night.
Genres: Drama Horror Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-04-21
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Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean
1965-01-01
Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean
Overview: In this promotional short for the feature film Doctor Zhivago (1965), director David Lean explains why he chose the performers for the leading roles in the movie.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-01-01
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The Journal of Bridget Hitler
1981-02-06
The Journal of Bridget Hitler
Overview: An Irishwoman married to a German in pre-First World War Liverpool prepares to meet her brother-in-law – a young man named Adolf Hitler. Years later she is interviewed on television about her life. Part of the BBC2 Playhouse strand.
Genres: TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-02-06
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W. B. Yeats: A Tribute
1950-08-13
W. B. Yeats: A Tribute
Overview: Yeats poems set to visuals of Sligo, Dublin and London. One of the series of non-fction films produced by the National Film Institute.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-08-13
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Fortune in Diamonds
1951-03-07
Fortune in Diamonds
Overview: As the Boer War ends a South African soldier hides a cache of diamonds he finds on a body. He returns to the town he left three years earlier where his girl has married a disgraced English officer. Needing funds to get back to pick up the diamonds the Boer enlists the help of a fellow soldier as well as the Englishman and a local hotel keeper. This ill-assorted bunch set off into the bush intent on finding their fortune.
Genres: Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-03-07
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Daughter of Darkness
1948-01-21
Daughter of Darkness
Overview: In Ballyconnen, Emmy Baudine is a beautiful but disturbed young woman who works for the local priest. When the carnival comes to town, she encounters a handsome young boxer called Dan and lays his face open with her fingernails when he expects sexual favors from her. Hurriedly packed off by Father Corcoran to Yorkshire, Emmy is taken in by a farming family and manages to suppress the strange feelings of fascination and repulsion that she experiences in the presence of the opposite sex. Until, that is, the carnival comes to town and brings with it the vengeful Dan...
Genres: Thriller Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-01-21
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The Playboy of the Western World
1962-12-31
The Playboy of the Western World
Overview: A quiet little village, and especially a pretty young woman, falls under the spell of a charming, somewhat roguish stranger who suddenly appears one day.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1962-12-31
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Memed My Hawk
1984-05-10
Memed My Hawk
Overview: In 1920s Turkey, a young peasant is smitten with a beautiful young girl, who has been promised in marriage to the fat, dullard cousin of the province's powerful and corrupt governor. When an assassination attempt is made against the official, the young man flees his village and joins up with a group of outlaws fighting against the wealthy and powerful landowners who control the lives of the locals and make life miserable for them. The outlaws' successes prompt the governor to call in the Turkish army to capture or kill them.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1984-05-10
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Hungry Hill
1947-01-07
Hungry Hill
Overview: Life becomes a tragedy for the wife of an Irish heir to a 19th-century family feud and fortune.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-01-07
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The Winslow Boy
1958-11-13
The Winslow Boy
Overview: In pre-WW1 England, a youngster is expelled from a naval academy over a petty theft, but his parents raise a political furor by demanding a trial.
Genres: Comedy Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-11-13
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Circasia
1976-04-08
Circasia
Overview: Happenings in a small Irish traveling circus.
Genres: Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-04-08
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