Claire savours getting into the weeds, building her character, taking words on a page and fleshing them out into living, breathing beings. It was mesmerising to see her realise a leading role of Louise O’Neill in my feature film, Crosshair.
Claire is somebody who elevates your material with her performance and keen attention to scene and character detail. She has a natural intuition as a performer that doesn’t just make your job as creator all the easier but helps further realise the very best version of your creative vision across
About Me
Four year old me wanted to be an archaeologist. So, after getting a degree from UCC in Archaeology, 22 year old me decided against that. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I became an actor. While I was working full time I trained at night in Cork and at Bow St. in Dublin.
Now, I continue to train with the incredible practitioner Tom Kibbe.
I love my job. I get to play make believe, like a giant child. Four year old me is delighted. Anything is possible when we commit to our imagination and when I get to take words on a page, take the idea of a person and make her real I feel the most myself. It is a priviledge to be an actor.
When I’m not acting I love a good crime podcast or TV detective. That first season of Prime Suspect still thrills me. I have a grá for 70’s fashion and so I collect vintage clothes. Recently I’ve started to make my own using vintage patterns.
If you’d like to collaborate on a project or want to start a conversation about work or film or theatre, please email me. It’s important that we build a strong and supportive creative community. This is a great industry but it’s a tough one and the more we buoy each other the better it will be.
IMAGES
Claire Loy is a hugely talented actor who brings freshness, excitement, energy and emotional honesty to the process. She isn’t afraid of taking on difficult roles and plays them with great integrity and emotional courage that shines through and lights up the screen
CROSSHAIR
As Louise O’Neill Dir. and Written by Tom McKenna, Redsky Films.
Terrible Things
As The Wanderer in Terrible Things. Dir. Ciarán Hickey
In Orbit
In Orbit wins BEST IRISH SHORT at Gaze Film Festival
Cogadh Ar Mhná
as Nora Healy Dir. Ciara Hyland
The Girl at the End of the Garden
As Government Agent, Poster Design. Dir. Bonnie Dempsey.
Squawk 7700
As Maeve Striker in Squawk 7700 Dir. Dave Fox
Coming To Terms
As Lisa in Patrick Ketch’s Coming To Terms
Will You Stay and Watch Me Dying
as Alcestis in Patricia Kilch’s multidisciplinary production
Overcast
as Maureen in Overcast, Dir. Noel McElligott
Erin Connolly and the Children of Lir
As Aoife in Eoin ÓhAnnracháin’s theatre production. Credit: Clare Keogh
F**K Sake
as Kerrie Dir. Paddy O’Shea
Breathe out
As Anne in a still from Sean Breathnach’s short. Credit: Sean Breathnach
The Outpost
In Arrowstorm Entertainment’s new fantasy series.
Casualty
On set as Marie-Anne Naismith in Casualty. Credit: BBC
Beyond The Woods
As Emma in a still from Beyond The Woods. Credit: Sean Breathnach
Beyond The Woods
Chatting with director Sean Breathnach at the cast screening. Credit: Dan O’Connell
Selected Credits
Film
| Film | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Crosshair (feature) | Louise O’Neill | Dir. Tom McKenna, Redsky Films |
| Beyond The Woods (feature) | Emma | Dir. Sean Breathnach, Egomotion |
| In Orbit (short) | Maura | Dir. Katie McNeice, Hardback Films |
| Terrible Things (short) | The Wanderer | Dir. Ciarán Hickey |
| The Machine (short) | Professor | Dir. Jon Hozier- Byrne, Stoneface Films |
| Imbas Forosnaí (short) | The Poet’s Mother | Dir. Shane Serrano, Crude Media |
| Squawk 7700 (short) | Maeve Striker | Dir. Dave Fox, MOMO Productions |
| F**k Sake (short) | Kerrie | Dir: Patrick O’Shea |
| Breathe Out (short) | Anne | Dir. Sean Breathnach, Egomotion |
| Vegetable (short) | Amelia | Dir. Michael Flemming, Swan Dive |
| Overcast (short) | Maureen | Dir. Noel McElligott, Redrum Films |
| Coming To Terms (short) | Lisa | Dir. Patrick Ketch, P.K.Productions |
TV
| Show | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| The Outpost | Talon’s Mother | Dir. John Lyde, NBC Universal |
| Casualty | Marie-Anne Naismith | Dir. Joss Agnew, BBC |
| Trivia | Vanessa | Dir. Tom Hall, RTE |
| The Girl at the End of the Garden | Government Official | Dir.Bonnie Dempsey, Dyehouse Films |
| Cogadh ar Mhná | Nora Healy | Dir. Ciara Hyland, ForeFront |
Theatre
| Production | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Erin Connolly And The Children Of Lir | Aoife | Dir. Eoin ÓhAnnracháin, The Everyman |
| Blood Will Have Blood | Alex | Dir. Stephen Isreal, TDC |
| Shakers | Adele | Dir. Jim Horgan, Cork Arts Theatre |
| The Mai | Mai | Dir. J Chalmers, Cork Arts Theatre |
| Talking Subtext | Lydia | Dir. Eoin O h’Ainnreachain, TDC |
| King Lear | Goneril | Dir. J Chalmers, Touring |
| Will you Stay and Watch Me Dying | Alcestis | Dir. Patricia Kilch |
Audio
| Production | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Yum or Yuk | Voice Over | Dir. Shaun O’Connor |
| Radio Silence | Pies | Dir. Eszter Nemethi, Helium |
| Scéalta Grá na hÉireann | Maud Gonne/ SarahCurran | Dir Patrick O’Shea, Bo Media |
Representation
Alex Cusack Management
+353 87 9603138
Direct Contact
+353 (0)860406231
Photo Credits: Header Image and Headshot: by Steve Tobin.