Pauline McLynn
Encyclopedia
Pauline McLynn is an Irish
actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing Mrs Doyle in the Channel 4
sitcom Father Ted
, and Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless
.
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.
.
Other televised 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 adaptation of Angela's Ashes
. She has also appeared in Jennifer Saunders
' Jam & Jerusalem. In the late 1990s 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'.
McLynn 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 (which was unusual at the time as the team captain usually did this along with the other, regular panellist). Yorath was granted her request, and Pauline (who was on the opposing team) was offered the chance to don the blindfold herself and take part with her team captain Rory McGrath
. She was only the third woman to do so at the time.
McLynn was critically acclaimed for her performance in the 2005 film Gypo
, receiving an Irish Film and Television Award nomination for Best Actress.
McLynn can be seen in Shameless
, with the series showing on Channel 4
on 10 January 2011. In January 2011 it was announced that she had left the show, reportedly after a "difficult year".
and Bohemian F.C.
. She is a patron of the children's charity World Vision
Ireland. and is vice president of Friends of Innisfree Housing Association.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing Mrs Doyle in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
sitcom Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
, and Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless
Shameless
Shameless is a British television drama series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate. Produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from 13 January 2004...
.
Early life
McLynn was born in SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
but grew up in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. She studied History of Art and Modern English at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, but was more heavily involved in Trinity's Dublin University Players, the college's drama society. She graduated with an MA.
Acting career
Although McLynn was in her 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 performances in 1996. The award was presented to her by Tony BlairTony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
Other televised appearances have been in sketches on Bremner, Bird and Fortune
Bremner, Bird and Fortune
Bremner, Bird and Fortune is an award-winning satirical British television programme produced by Vera Productions for Channel Four, uniting the longstanding satirical team of John Bird and John Fortune with the satirical impressionist Rory Bremner.The show started in 1999. The fourteenth series...
, and numerous panel shows, including Just a Minute
Just a Minute
Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game chaired by Nicholas Parsons. Its first transmission on Radio 4 was on 22 December 1967, three months after the station's launch. The Radio 4 programme won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2003....
, Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
, and If I Ruled the World
If I Ruled the World (game show)
If I Ruled the World is a television show aired in the United Kingdom in 1998 and 1999. It was a comedy panel game show, similar to Have I Got News For You but focused on parodying the behaviour of politicians...
. In 1999, she appeared in the film adaptation of Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes (film)
Angela's Ashes is a 1999 Irish-American drama film based on the memoir of the same title by Frank McCourt. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge .-Plot:Angela's Ashes tells the story of Frank McCourt and his childhood...
. She has also appeared in Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Jane Saunders is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.She first came into...
' Jam & Jerusalem. In the late 1990s she was recruited to play Mrs Doyle for a UK advert for online Tax returns by the Inland Revenue
Inland Revenue
The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
and became infamous for the phrase 'Go Online'.
McLynn also got an unusual opportunity during her only appearance on They Think It's All Over
They Think It's All Over (TV series)
They Think It's All Over was a British comedy panel game with a sporting theme produced by Talkback Thames and shown on BBC One. The show's name is taken from Kenneth Wolstenholme's famous 1966 World Cup commentary quotation, "they think it's all over...it is now!" and the show used the phrase as...
, the BBC1 TV show. Fellow guest panellist Gabby Yorath requested that she be allowed to take part in the Feel the Sportsman Round (which was unusual at the time as the team captain usually did this along with the other, regular panellist). Yorath was granted her request, and Pauline (who was on the opposing team) was offered the chance to don the blindfold herself and take part with her team captain Rory McGrath
Rory McGrath
Patrick Rory McGrath is an English comedian and writer. He is best known for roles in Who Dares Wins, Chelmsford 123, Three Men in a Boat and its successors. He was also a regular panellist on They Think It's All Over....
. She was only the third woman to do so at the time.
McLynn was critically acclaimed for her performance in the 2005 film Gypo
Gypo (film)
Gypo, is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Jan Dunn. Its story details the breakdown of a family in a small town in Britain, told in three narratives....
, receiving an Irish Film and Television Award nomination for Best Actress.
McLynn can be seen in Shameless
Shameless
Shameless is a British television drama series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate. Produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from 13 January 2004...
, with the series showing on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
on 10 January 2011. In January 2011 it was announced that she had left the show, reportedly after a "difficult year".
Writing career
McLynn is the author of seven novels. Her credits include 'Missing You Already', Bright Lights and Promises, Summer in the City, The Woman on the Bus, Right on Time, Better than the Rest and Something for the Weekend.Personal life
McLynn has no children. She is married to theatrical agent Richard Cook. She supports both Aston Villa F.C.Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
. She is a patron of the children's charity World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
Ireland. and is vice president of Friends of Innisfree Housing Association.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | British Comedy Award | Top TV Comedy Actress | Father Ted Father Ted Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May... |
Won |
| 2006 | Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival | Special Mention: Best Video | Gypo Gypo (film) Gypo, is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Jan Dunn. Its story details the breakdown of a family in a small town in Britain, told in three narratives.... |
Won |
| 2007 | Irish Film and Television Award | Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Feature Film | Gypo Gypo (film) Gypo, is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Jan Dunn. Its story details the breakdown of a family in a small town in Britain, told in three narratives.... |
Nominated |