Pauline McLynn was born on July 11, 1962, in Sligo, Ireland. She is an author and actress known for playing Libby Croker in the UK version of Shameless, and Mrs Doyle in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
Early Life[]
Pauline was born in Sligo but grew up in Galway. She studied History of Art and Modern English at Trinity College, Dublin, but was more heavily involved in Trinity's Dublin University Players, the college's drama society. She graduated with an MA.
Career[]
Acting Career[]
Although Pauline was in her early thirties when playing Mrs Doyle, makeup was used to make her look far older to fit the character's profile. She received a British Comedy Award for her performance in 1996. The award was presented to her by Tony Blair.
Other televized appearances have been in sketches on Bremner, Bird and Fortune, and numerous panel shows, including Just a Minute, Have I Got News For You, and If I Ruled the World. In 1999, she appeared in the film adaption of Angela's Ashes. She has also appeared in Jennifer Saunders' Jam & Jerusalem. In the late 90s she was recruited to play Mrs Doyle for a UK advert for online tax returns by the Inland Revenue and became infamous for the phrase 'Go Online.'
Pauline also got an unusual opportunity during her only appearance on They Think It's All Over, the BBC1 TV show. Fellow guest panellist Gabby Yorath requested that she be allowed to take part in the Feel the Sportsman Round. Yorath was granted her request, and Pauline was offered the chance to don the blindfolds herself and take part with her team captain Rory McGrath. She was only the third woman to do so at the time.
Pauline was critically acclaimed for her performance in the 2005 film Gypo, receiving an Irish Film and Television Award nomination for Best Actress.
Pauline can be seen in Shameless, with the series showing on British broadcaster Channel 4. In January 2011 it was announced that she had lef the show, reportedly after a "difficult year." Pauline now plays the role of Alice's mother in the Comedy Central show Threesome.
Pauline has also featured on Metro Radio, a radio station in the North East. Pauline did the Mrs Doyle voiceover on an advert for a local estate agent and letting agents in Newcastle Clarke Holland.
Pauline plays Mary Whyte in the BBC's 2013 sitcom Father Figure.
In 2014, she joined the cast of EastEnders.
Writing Career[]
Pauline is the author of seven novels. These include Missing You Already, Bright Lights and Promises, Summer in the City, The Woman on the Bus, Right on Time, Better than a Rest and Something for the Weekend.
Personal Life[]
Pauline is married to theatrical agent Richard Cook. She is a patron of the children's charity World Vision Ireland and is vice-president of Friends of Innisfree Housing Association. Pauline is a big fan of the Premier League soccer team Aston Villa. She says her best moment supporting Villa came in 1996 when she watched her beloved team beat Leeds in the Football League Cup final with her Father Ted co-star Ardal O'Hanlon who is a big Leeds supporter.