Fiona Shaw Bio
Fiona Shaw is an Irish actress and theatre director who has had a prolific career spanning over three decades. Born on July 10, 1958, in County Cork, Ireland, Shaw was the youngest of four siblings.
Her father was an ophthalmic surgeon and her mother was a physicist. She grew up in a highly academic environment and was educated at Scoil Mhuire in Cork.
Shaw began her acting career:
in the late 1970s, appearing in various stage productions in Ireland. She made her professional debut in 1984 with the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing the role of Celia in As You Like It.
In the years that followed, she continued to work with the RSC, taking on roles in productions such as The Taming of the Shrew, The Good Person of Szechwan, and Electra.
Shaw made her film debut:
In 1988, Shaw made her film debut in the British drama The Unbearable Lightness of Being, playing the role of Sabina. This was followed by roles in films such as London Kills Me, Super Mario Bros., and Jane Eyre.
In 1993, she gained widespread recognition for her role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter film series, a role she would continue to play in six of the eight films.
Shaw has also had a successful career in television, appearing in series such as True Blood, Gormenghast, and Killing Eve. She has been nominated for numerous awards for her performances, including a BAFTA for her role in the 1991 film Three Men and a Little Lady.
As an actress:
In addition to her work as an actress, Shaw is also a highly regarded theatre director. She has directed productions of plays such as Medea, Happy Days, and The Waste Land. In 2013, she directed a highly acclaimed production of The Rape of Lucretia at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Shaw has been recognized for her contributions to the arts with numerous awards and honors. In 1997, she was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to drama. She was also made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2001.
She was awarded:
In 2005, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the National University of Ireland, and in 2013 she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Throughout her career, Shaw has remained dedicated to her craft, constantly pushing herself to explore new roles and take on new challenges. With her talent, versatility, and dedication, she has become one of the most respected and admired actresses of her generation.