Maria Doyle Kennedy is a television and film actress, singer and songwriter who is best known for her role as Siobahn Sadler on “Orphan Black.” She also appeared in “The Conjuring 2” as Peggy Nottingham. She began her film career in 1991 in the role of Natalie Murphy on “The Commitments.” You may also remember her in the various television series she’s made appearances in which include “Father Ted” (1998), “Queer as Folk” (1999-2000) and in “Hide and Seek” as Emma Holden (2006). She’s also been cast in films including “Byzantium” (2012), “1,000 Times Good Night” (2013) and as Aleksa in “Jupiter Ascending” (2015), to name a few. She’s appeared in several films and television series in the past two decades and is a veteran actress, but here are five things you didn’t know about her.
She is also a musician
Maria juggled acting and music in 1991. She belonged to the Black Velvet Band until 1996 when the group broke up. At this time, she went solo with her music career and created and independent record label of her own. Her album releases include “Charm” “Skullcover,” Mutter’s Daughter,” “Maria” (Live), “Sing” and “The Sorms Are on the Ocean.”
Doyle-Kennedy is Irish
She was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Republic of Ireland on September 24, 1964. Her full given name at birth was Maria Josephine Doyle. She married Kieran Kennedy in 1988 and the couple have four sons. She’s led a busy life with her music career, acting, raising four kids and being active in the role of wife and mother.
She was a “Hot House Flower”
Actually she was a member of the band “Hot House Flowers.” They became successful in the 1980s, hailing from Dublin, Ireland. The name was her idea and she came up with it while having coffee in the Trinity College Arts Block. She served as the lead female vocalist for the group.
She just released a new song
Maria is still managing to keep her musical career alive as well as her acting. She just release a new single that came out on June 10, 2017, called “Pride.” For those of you who didn’t know, Maria is not only a singer, but she is also a very talented songwriter as well. She’s been at the music for over thirty years and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The new single was released under the Mermaid Records label, which belongs to Maria exclusively. You can hear a sample at http://www.mariadk.com/.
Maria is shy
The actress has appeared in multiple roles throughout her career as women who are at a minimum assertive if not at times a bit on the evil or mean side. She shared that her role as Mrs. Bates in “Downtown Abbey” was actually a lot of fun for her. This could be because the character was the antithesis of who Maria really is. She has a shy demeanor until you get to know her, which is the opposite of the characters that she generally plays. She’s only played a few villainous females, but sometimes that is all it takes to be remembered that way. She’s actually more on the self-conscious side in real life.
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