Fiona O'Shaughnessy is an Irish film, stage, and television actress. She has appeared in Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999), Goldfish Memory (2003), Alexander (2004), Until Death & Nightwatching (2007), Malice in Wonderland (2009), Outcast (2010), Utopia (2013-2015), Nina Forever (2015), The Living and The Dead (2017), Gretel & Hansel (2020), and Halo in 2022.

Early life

O'Shaughnessy was born in Galway, Ireland, her father was an information technology consultant, and her mother is a seamstress. Her family emigrated to Reading in England, when she was 9. She returned to Galway a decade later where she pursued a career in theatre, and at the age of 24 she moved to Dublin. She dated Irish comedian David McSavage for a period of time in 2012.

Career

Stage

O'Shaughnessy's first notable stage role was playing Salome for the Gate Theatre in Dublin. Other stage work has included The Shaughraun for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, which transferred to the West End's Albery Theatre in 2005. In 2006 she appeared in the UK premiere of Blackwater Angel by Jim Nolan at the Finborough Theatre, London. Other work for the Gate Theatre includes Arms and the Man, Oliver, The Importance of Being Earnest, Pride and Prejudice, Blythe Spirit, Present Laughter (which toured in Charleston, South Carolina), See You Next Tuesday, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She played Cate in the Irish debut of Sarah Kane's play Blasted. Other theatre work includes playing Hilde Wangle in Lady from the Sea and Petra Stockman in Enemy of the People at the Arcola Theatre, London, and Amy in 'The Night Alive' at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Film and television

Her film roles include Clara in Goldfish Memory, The Halo Effect, and The Stronger. From 2013, she starred in a main role as Jessica Hyde in the television series Utopia (2013-2015), in a cast which included Adeel Akhtar, Neil Maskell, Alistair Petrie and James Fox. In 2015, she starred alongside David Troughton in the comedy romantic horror film Nina Forever, for which she received a nomination for best supporting actress at the 2017 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. In 2020, she played Mother in the witch horror Gretel & Hansel, and appeared as Maisy Joyce in the 2021 film The Forgiven, with Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain and Matt Smith. In 2022, she starred as Laera in the fantasy sci-fi series Halo.

Filmography

Series

Film

Television

Audio