{{Short description|Irish historian & actor (born 1983)}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1983|9|23}} | birth_place = | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * Royal Central School of Speech and Drama * University of Exeter }} | occupation = | employer = | spouse = {{marriage|Shane Delaney|2013}} | website = }} '''Anthony Delaney''' (born 23 September 1983) is an Irish historian and actor. As an actor, he is known for his roles in the RTÉ One soap opera ''Fair City'' (2015–2019) and the Acorn TV series ''Harry Wild'' (2022–). He co-hosts the History Hit podcast ''After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal'' (2023–) with Madeleine Pelling. His debut book ''Queer Georgians'' was published in 2025.
==Early life and education== Delaney grew up in rural County Kilkenny.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gcn.ie/irish-lesbian-love-story-queer-georgian-book/|title=Irish lesbian love story featured in new book on queer Georgian history|work=GCN|first=Alice|last=Linehan|date=17 September 2025|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shemazing.net/spice-up-your-life-watch-rtes-mini-series-featuring-die-hard-fans/|title=Spices Up Your Life: Watch RTÉ's mini-series featuring die-hard fans: Ex-Fair City actor Anthony Delaney|work=SheMazing|first=Kate|last=Brayden|date=24 May 2019|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> He trained in acting at London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilkennycastle.ie/event/queer-irish-lives-in-the-18th-and-19th-centuries/|title=Queer Irish lives in the 18th and 19th centuries: An arsy-versy history of Lady Butler, Ms Ponsonby, Dr Barry, and Mr and Mrs De Lacy Evans.|work=Kilkenny Castle|date=10 June 2023|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> In 2022, Delaney completed a PhD in History at the University of Exeter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/alumni-news/2025/09/02/celebrating-our-alumni-authors-6/|title=Celebrating our alumni authors|work=University of Exeter|date=2 September 2025|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artsfuse.org/317918/book-review-queer-enlightenments-flaming-creatures-of-yore/|title=Book Review: "Queer Enlightenments" – Flaming Creatures of Yore|work=The Arts Fuse|first=Trevor|last=Fairbrother|date=8 October 2025|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref>
==Career== ===Acting=== Delaney began his acting career in theatre; he starred in Colin Teevan's ''The Kingdom'' at the Soho Theatre in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dyt24hourplays.com/2015/01/qa-with-anthony-delaney-actor-24hrdub-2015/|title=Q&A with Anthony Delaney, actor #24hrDub 2015|work=The 24 Hour Plays|date=24 January 2015|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-kingdom-soho-theatre-london-8254999.html|title=The Kingdom, Soho Theatre, London|work=The Independent|first=Paul|last=Taylor|date=1 November 2012|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> In 2015, Delaney joined the cast of the RTÉ One soap opera ''Fair City'' as Shane Cawley, a role he would play until 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/i-hate-gran-seeing-steamy-fair-city-affair-says-shane-as-lover-heather-reveals-all-to-shocked-pub-tonight/34436446.html|title=I hate gran seeing steamy Fair City affair, says Shane as lover Heather reveals all to shocked pub tonight|work=Irish Independent|first=Eimear|last=Rabbitt|date=9 February 2016|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/0209/766454-fair-city/|title=More bad medicine for Fair City doctor Shane|work=RTÉ|date=9 February 2016|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> He made his feature film debut in the 2019 ''Hellboy'' reboot. In 2022, he began playing in the Acorn TV detective series ''Harry Wild''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tellyvisions.org/article/acorn-tvs-harry-wild-sets-april-release-date|title=Acorn TV's 'Harry Wild' Sets An April Release Date|work=Telly Visions|first=Ani|last=Bundel|date=22 February 2022|accessdate=3 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alexcusackmanagement.com/anthony-delaney-returns-to-harry-wild-s4-joined-with-a-host-of-others-from-acm/|title=Anthony Delaney and Anthony Kinahan return to HARRY WILD S4|first=Alex|last=Cusack|date=9 May 2025|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref>
===History=== Upon completing his PhD, Delaney became an Honorary Fellow at his alma mater the University of Exeter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-humanities-arts-and-social-sciences/archaeology-and-history/chance-discovery-inspires-new-historical-insights-into-queer-domestic-life-during-the-georgian-era/|title=Chance discovery inspires new historical insights into queer domestic life during the Georgian era|work=University of Exeter|first=Andrew|last=Merrington|date=1 September 2022|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref>
In October 2023, History Hit launched the podcast ''After Dark'', which Delaney co-hosts with English historian Madeleine Pelling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podnews.net/press-release/after-dark-podcast|title=History Hit Launches Myths, Misdeeds and Paranormal Podcast|work=PodNews|date=13 October 2023|accessdate=1 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://retrospectjournal.com/2024/03/03/after-dark-myths-misdeeds-the-paranormal/|title=After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal|work=Retrospect|first=Ellie|last=Whitehead|date=3 March 2024|accessdate=1 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podcastrex.com/reviews/after-dark-myths-misdeeds-and-the-paranormal|title=Podcast reviews: After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds and the Paranormal|work=Podcast Rex|first=Scott|last=Bryan|date=22 October 2023|accessdate=1 September 2025}}</ref> Delaney and Pelling were jointly nominated for Best New Presenter at the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAs),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/03/bbc-dominates-shortlist-for-2024-audio-and-radio-industry-awards/|title=BBC dominates shortlist for 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards|work=Radio Today|first=Roy|last=Martin|date=27 March 2024|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> while ''After Dark'' won Rookie of the Year at the 2024 True Crime Awards<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podnews.net/press-release/true-crime-awards-uk-24|title=True Crime Awards recognises top creators from across the true crime industry|work=PodNews|date=24 April 2024|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> and was shortlisted for the Listeners' Choice Award at the 2025 British Podcast Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podcastingtoday.co.uk/british-podcast-awards-unveils-spotlight-and-specialist-shortlists/|title=British Podcast Awards unveils Spotlight and Specialist shortlists|work=Podcasting Today|date=27 August 2025|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref>
Announced in 2023, Doubleday acquired the rights to publish Delaney's debut book ''Queer Georgians'' in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/doubleday-pre-empts-delaneys-queer-georgians|title=Doubleday pre-empts Delaney's Queer Georgians|work=The Bookseller|date=31 August 2023|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> It also had a North America release under the title ''Queer Enlightenments'' via Grove Atlantic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/98364-how-to-tell-queer-histories-pw-talks-with-anthony-delaney.html|title=How to Tell Queer Histories: PW Talks with Anthony Delaney|work=Publoshers Weekly|first=Emily|last=Colucci|date=8 August 2025|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref> The book is based on Delaney's PhD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scenemag.co.uk/queer-georgians-a-hidden-history-of-lovers-lawbreakers-and-homemakers-by-dr-anthony-delaney/|title=Queer Georgians: A Hidden History of Lovers, Lawbreakers and Homemakers By Dr Anthony Delaney ★★★★★|work=Scene Mag|first=Eric|last=Page|date=17 September 2025|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Delaney lives in south east London with his husband.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://andrewnurnberg.com/book-author/anthony-delaney/|title=Anthony Delaney|work=Andrew Nurnberg Associates|accessdate=3 September 2025}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * ''Queer Georgians: Hidden History of Lovers, Lawbreakers and Homemakers'' (2025) {{small|(also released as ''Queer Enlightenments'')}}
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2015–2019 | ''Fair City'' | Shane Cawley | 77 episodes |- | 2015 | ''Penny Dreadful'' | Opera Man | Episode: "Above the Vaulted Sky" |- | 2019 | ''Hellboy'' | Alice's father | |- | 2022–present | ''Harry Wild'' | Jordan McDonald | Recurring role |- |}
==Stage== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''Assassins'' | rowspan="2" | Ensemble | rowspan="2" | Union Theatre, London |- | ''All-Male Iolanthe'' |- | rowspan="2" | 2011 | ''Northern Star'' | | rowspan="2" | Finborough Theatre, London |- | ''Drama at Inish'' | Michael |- | 2012 | ''The Kingdom'' | Young Man | Soho Theatre, London |- | 2013 | ''Liolà'' | Villager | National Theatre, London |- | 2014 | ''How Many Miles to Babylon?'' | Alec | Lyric Theatre, Belfast |- | 2015 | ''The 24 Hour Plays'' | | Abbey Theatre, Dublin |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaney, Anthony}} Category:Living people Category:1983 births Category:21st-century Irish historians Category:Academics of the University of Exeter Category:Actors from County Kilkenny Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter Category:Irish expatriates in England Category:Irish gay actors Category:Irish gay writers Category:Irish male soap opera actors Category:Irish male television actors Category:Irish podcasters Category:LGBTQ historians Category:Scholars and academics from County Kilkenny