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. 

Tom McKenna

Dir. Crosshair, Red Sky Films

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

Ciarán Hickey

Dir. Terrible Things

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 

Ciara Hyland

Dir. Cogadh Ar Mhná, Forefront Productions

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 

acusackmanagement@gmail.com

+353 87 9603138

Direct Contact

clairejloy@gmail.com

+353 (0)860406231

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Header Image and Headshot: by Steve Tobin.