Agnes O'Casey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Agnes Eustacia Kenig[1] 1995 or 1996 (age 30–31)[1] Finsbury Park, London, England |
| Education | The Lir Academy |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Relatives | Seán O'Casey (great-grandfather) |
Agnes Eustacia Kenig (born 1995/1996), known professionally as Agnes O'Casey, is an English actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC One drama Ridley Road (2021) and the Apple TV series Star City (2026). Her films include The Miracle Club, Lies We Tell (both 2023) and Small Things like These (2024). She was named a 2024 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.[2]
Early life
O'Casey is from Finsbury Park, London, the elder of two daughters of hospitality and retail workers.[3] Through her paternal grandmother Shivaun O'Casey,[4] the Irish playwright Seán O'Casey was her great-grandfather.[5] Her paternal grandfather was the actor Laurence Kenig, who had Lithuanian-Jewish heritage.[6][1]
O'Casey has dyslexia and attended a Steiner School. Her family moved to Newton Abbot, Devon when she was 11. She studied art history and English literature at Edinburgh University for a year[1] before being accepted to The Lir Academy in Dublin, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in acting in 2020.[7][8]
Career
After appearing in the music video for "Holy Show" by the Pillow Queens in 2020 and the Druid Theatre Company production of The Seagull in 2021, O'Casey made her television debut in the 1960s-set BBC One drama Ridley Road, starring as the lead character Vivien Epstein.[9] This was followed by a supporting role as Emilie in the Starz adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons the next year.
In 2023, O'Casey made her feature film debut in Thaddeus O'Sullivan's comedy-drama The Miracle Club and Lisa Mulcahy's period drama Lies We Tell with David Wilmot.[10] O'Casey received IFTA nominations for both performances in the supporting actress and lead actress categories respectively. She was attached to the film Longbourn.
In 2024 she made her British stage debut as she originated the role of Liz Gold in the acclaimed theatrical adaptation of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré, adapted by David Eldridge and directed by Jeremy Herrin. O’Casey played opposite Rory Keenan and John Ramm. The production was performed at the Minerva Theatre at Chichester Festival Theatre as part of the 2024 season. The production went on to move to the West End at @sohoplace in 2025. Theatre critics dubbed Agnes' performance "a striking breath of fresh air".[11]
In 2026, O'Casey is starring in the Apple TV Soviet space race drama Star City as Irina Morozova, a member of the KGB's surveillance department. [12]
She has an upcoming role in the BBC adaptation of John Le Carré's Legacy of Spies.[13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Miracle Club | Dolly | |
| 2023 | Lies We Tell | Maud | [14] |
| 2024 | Small Things Like These | Sarah Furlong |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ridley Road | Vivien Epstein | Main role, miniseries |
| 2022 | Dangerous Liaisons | Emilie | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light | Meg Douglas | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Black Doves | Dani | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 2026 | Star City | Irina Morozova | Main role |
| TBA | Legacy of Spies | Liz Gold |
Music videos
- "Holy Show" (2020), Pillow Queens
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Seagull | Lily | Druid Theatre Company |
| 2024 | The Spy Who Came in from The Cold | Liz Gold | Chichester Festival Theatre |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Lead Actress – Film | Lies We Tell | Won | |
| Supporting Actress – Film | The Miracle Club | Nominated |
References
- Brown, Helen (2 October 2021). "Ridley Road star Agnes O'Casey: 'I didn't think I'd need to practise the Nazi salute...'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- Gant, Charles (26 June 2024). "Stars of Tomorrow 2024: Agnes O'Casey (actor)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- Ganatra, Shilpa (7 August 2021). "And now for the stars: O'Casey's great-granddaughter takes to the stage". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- Clarke, Donald (28 June 2026). "Actor Agnes O'Casey: 'I have a very clear sense of my grandfather's spirit and mind'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- Power, Ed (4 October 2021). "Agnes O'Casey looks like she is going to be a star". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- Clarke, Donald (7 October 2023). "Agnes O'Casey: 'It's just been so easy to hate women, no matter the period. And that is terrifying'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- "Agnes O'Casey". United Agents. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- "Acting Profiles / Alumni 2020: Agnes O'Casey". The Lir. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- Nolan, Paul (8 October 2021). "Ridley Road star Agnes O'Casey: "There's so much to do, I couldn't really believe it"". Hotpress. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- Clarke, Donald (13 October 2023). "Lies We Tell: Agnes O'Casey steals the show in Uncle Silas remake". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- Baker, Cerys (30 November 2025). "Review: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Soho Place". Everything Theatre UK.
- "Apple". Apple TV.
- Ritman, Alex (13 April 2026). "Dan Stevens, Felix Kammerer and Agnes O'Casey Join 'Legacy of Spies' as BBC/MGM+ John le Carré Series Starts Production". Variety. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- Tabarra, Mona (27 October 2021). "'Uncle Silas' starring Agnes O'Casey kicks off Ireland shoot for Embankment (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 8 November 2021.