# Brenda Meaney
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{{Short description|American actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brenda Meaney
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S.
| alma_mater = [Trinity College Dublin](/source/Trinity_College_Dublin) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[Yale University](/source/Yale_University) ([MFA](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts))
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2010–present
| spouse = Henry Clarke
| children =
| mother = [Bairbre Dowling](/source/Bairbre_Dowling)
| father = [Colm Meaney](/source/Colm_Meaney)
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [Vincent Dowling](/source/Vincent_Dowling) (grandfather)
* [Brenda Doyle](/source/Brenda_Doyle) (grandmother)}}
}}
'''Brenda Meaney''' is an Irish-American actress, born in 1984. Best known for her work on stage, in 2023 she appeared opposite her father [Colm Meaney](/source/Colm_Meaney) in [Landmark Productions](/source/Landmark_Productions) revival of ''Bedbound'' by [Enda Walsh](/source/Enda_Walsh).[Hayes, Katy. "Bedbound Review: Colm Meaney and Daughter Brenda Are Inspired Casting in Tale of Celtic Tiger Hubris." ''Irish Independent'', July 19, 2023.https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/bedbound-review-colm-meaney-and-daughter-brenda-are-inspired-casting-in-tale-of-celtic-tiger-hubris/a805730622.html] Meaney frequently appears in the plays of [Tom Stoppard](/source/Tom_Stoppard).[About The Artists. "Brenda Meaney." Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/468629-brenda-meaney.][Internet Broadway Database. "Brenda Meaney." Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/brenda-meaney-539481.]
==Early life and education==
Meaney was born in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) to Irish actors [Bairbre Dowling](/source/Bairbre_Dowling) and [Colm Meaney](/source/Colm_Meaney). She spent the majority of her childhood and adolescence in [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), and [Dublin](/source/Dublin), Ireland.[Murphy, Lauren. "Colm Meaney’s Daughter Brenda on Sharing the Stage with Her Famous Dad." ''The Irish Times'', July 16, 2023. https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/colm-meaneys-daughter-brenda-on-sharing-the-stage-with-her-famous-dad-c3gbxpj9c.] She graduated from [The Archer School for Girls](/source/The_Archer_School_for_Girls) in 2003.[ McIntosh, Christina. "The Archer School for Girls: Alumni News". ''Artemis'', April 9, 2013. https://issuu.com/thearcherschoolforgirls/docs/130409181219-b383171f43c045b887a1a2b554dbc6ba_orig.]
Meaney later attended [Trinity College Dublin](/source/Trinity_College_Dublin), where a childhood fascination with [Egyptology](/source/Egyptology) inspired her to pursue a [Joint honours degree](/source/Joint_honours_degree) in the [History of Art](/source/History_of_art) [and Architecture](/source/History_of_architecture) & [Ancient History](/source/Ancient_history) [and Archaeology](/source/Archaeology). Meaney graduated in 2007 with plans to become a [paleontologist](/source/paleontologist), but later decided to pursue acting. She then matriculated to the [David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University](/source/David_Geffen_School_of_Drama_at_Yale_University), graduating in 2013 with an [MFA](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in Acting.[Finn, Melanie. "Family ties: Colm Meaney and his daughter, Brenda, to share silver screen." ''Irish Independent'', November 6, 2020. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/family-ties-colm-meaney-and-his-daughter-brenda-to-share-silver-screen/39712935.html.]
==Career==
Meaney made her professional stage debut as Melanie Coleman in [Lewis Black](/source/Lewis_Black)'s ''One Slight Hitch'' at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, directed by [Joe Grifasi](/source/Joe_Grifasi) and appearing opposite [Mark Linn-Baker](/source/Mark_Linn-Baker) and [Lizbeth MacKay](/source/Lizbeth_MacKay).[Phelps, Rob. "One Slight Hitch is One Extremely Funny Play at W.H.A.T." ''The Columbus Dispatch'', August 1, 2013. https://www.dispatch.com/story/archive/2013/08/01/one-slight-hitch-is/39506899007/.] The same year, she appeared in [Caryl Churchill](/source/Caryl_Churchill)'s ''[Owners](/source/Owners_(play))'' at the [Yale Repertory Theatre](/source/Yale_Repertory_Theatre).[Gold, Sylviane. "The Implications of Ownership." ''The New York Times'', November 9, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/nyregion/a-review-of-owners-at-yale-repertory-theater.html.] The following year, Meaney starred in the West Coast premiere of [David Ives](/source/David_Ives)' [Tony Award](/source/Tony_Awards) winning play ''[Venus in Fur](/source/Venus_in_Fur)'' at the [American Conservatory Theater](/source/American_Conservatory_Theater) in [San Francisco, California](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California).[Examiner Staff. "Battle of Sexes Fuels 'Venus in Fur' at ACT." ''San Francisco Examiner'', March 31, 2014. https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/battle-of-sexes-fuels-venus-in-fur-at-act/article_bbe478c4-2e99-526a-a3c3-34636d64c59d.html.] Later that same year, she made her New York stage debut as Nell in the American premiere of [Tom Stoppard](/source/Tom_Stoppard)’s ''[Indian Ink](/source/Indian_Ink)'' at [Roundabout Theatre Company](/source/Roundabout_Theatre_Company), directed by [Carey Perloff](/source/Carey_Perloff). In a review for ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'', chief theatre critic [Ben Brantley](/source/Ben_Brantley) deemed the production as one of the year's best plays.[Brantley, Ben. "The Tony Award Nominations Should Be ..." ''The New York Times'', May 9, 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/theater/theaterspecial/the-tony-award-nominations-should-be.html.] ''Indian Ink'' was subsequently restaged at the [American Conservatory Theater](/source/American_Conservatory_Theater) in 2015, with Meaney taking over the lead role of Flora Crewe. In a review for the ''[SFGate](/source/SFGate)'', theatre critic Robert Hurwitt observed "Brenda Meaney, who played a smaller role in New York, is a magnetic Flora, as sensually alive as she is smart."[Hurwitt, Robert. "Theater Review: ACT’s 'Indian Ink' Shimmers, Then Fades." ''SFGATE'', January 22, 2015. https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Theater-review-ACT-s-Indian-Ink-6030740.php.] Later that same year, Meaney worked in three successive stage productions, appearing as Natella Abashvili in [Bertolt Brecht](/source/Bertolt_Brecht)'s ''[The Caucasian Chalk Circle](/source/The_Caucasian_Chalk_Circle)'' at the [Yale Repertory Theatre](/source/Yale_Repertory_Theatre);[DeWitt, David. "Choosing to Do Good, Once Upon a Time." ''The New York Times'', April 4, 2015. Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/nyregion/choosing-to-do-good-once-upon-a-time.html.] Helen Stott in [C. P. Taylor](/source/C._P._Taylor)'s ''And a Nightingale Sang...'' at the [Westport Country Playhouse](/source/Westport_Country_Playhouse);[DeWitt, David. "A Review of ‘And a Nightingale Sang’ at the Westport Country Playhouse." ''The New York Times'', June 20, 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/nyregion/a-review-of-and-a-nightingale-sang-at-the-westport-country-playhouse.html.] and Betty Jones in [Harold Chapin](/source/Harold_Chapin)'s ''The New Morality'' at the [Mint Theater Company](/source/Mint_Theater_Company).[Soloski, Alexis. "Review: 'The New Morality,' a Vintage Play, at the Mint." ''The New York Times'', September 24, 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/theater/review-the-new-morality-a-vintage-play-at-the-mint.html.]
In 2016, Meaney reunited with director [Carey Perloff](/source/Carey_Perloff), appearing as Hillary in [Tom Stoppard](/source/Tom_Stoppard)’s ''[The Hard Problem](/source/The_Hard_Problem)'' at the [American Conservatory Theater](/source/American_Conservatory_Theater).[Janiak, Lily. "Tom Stoppard Couldn't Not Write 'The Hard Problem.'" ''SFGATE'', October 18, 2016. https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Tom-Stoppard-couldn-t-not-write-The-Hard-9976267.php.] In 2018, Meaney starred opposite [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Awards) winner [Hayley Mills](/source/Hayley_Mills) in the American premiere of [Isobel Mahon](/source/Isobel_Mahon)'s ''[Party Face](/source/Party_Face)'' at [New York City Center](/source/New_York_City_Center).[Vine, Hannah. "Hayley Mills and the Cast of Off-Broadway’s 'Party Face' Meet the Press." ''Playbill'', December 18, 2017. https://playbill.com/article/hayley-mills-and-the-cast-of-off-broadways-party-face-meet-the-press.] Later that year, Meaney would once again reunite with Perloff to appear as Renia in the regional premiere of [Martyna Majok](/source/Martyna_Majok)'s ''Queens'' at the [La Jolla Playhouse](/source/La_Jolla_Playhouse) in [San Diego, California](/source/San_Diego%2C_California). In 2019, Meaney appeared as Jerri in the world premiere of [Neil LaBute](/source/Neil_LaBute)'s ''Great Negro Works of Art'' at the [Davenport Theatre](/source/Davenport_Theatre), programmed as part of the annual [LaBute New Theater Festival](/source/Neil_LaBute).[Vincentelli, Elisabeth. "Review: Neil LaBute's New Theater Festival Offers Familiar Themes." ''The New York Times'', January 17, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/theater/review-labute-new-theater-festival-neil-labute.html.] Later that year, she starred as Bairbre in [Micheál Mac Liammóir](/source/Miche%C3%A1l_Mac_Liamm%C3%B3ir)'s ''The Mountains Look Different'' at the [Mint Theater Company](/source/Mint_Theater_Company). The production was named a ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' Critics' Pick.[Collins-Hughs, Laura. "Review: 'In the Mountains Look Different' Explores Sin, Shame, and Self-Determination." ''The New York Times'', June 20, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/theater/review-in-the-mountains-look-different-sin-shame-and-self-determination.html.] Shortly thereafter, Meaney starred opposite [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Awards) nominee [Marsha Mason](/source/Marsha_Mason) in Elaine Murphy's ''[Little Gem](/source/Little_Gem)'' at the [Irish Repertory Theatre](/source/Irish_Repertory_Theatre).[Vincentelli, Elisabeth. "Review: 'Little Gem' Offers Three Generations of Family Drama." The New York Times, July 31, 2019. Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/theater/little-gem-review.html.]
In 2023, Meaney appeared in workshop productions of [William Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare)'s ''[Richard II](/source/Richard_II_(play))'' and ''[Henry IV](/source/Henry_IV%2C_Part_1)'', in repertory at [Theatre for a New Audience](/source/Theatre_for_a_New_Audience).[Putnam, Leah. "Broadway Alums to Star in Repertory Workshop of Richard II and Henry IV at TFANA." Playbill, January 25, 2023. https://playbill.com/article/broadway-alums-to-star-in-repertory-workshop-of-richard-ii-and-henry-iv-at-tfana.] Later that year, she returned to [Theatre for a New Audience](/source/Theatre_for_a_New_Audience) to appear as Pascuala in a new adaptation of [Lope de Vega](/source/Lope_de_Vega)'s play ''[Fuenteovejuna](/source/Fuenteovejuna)'', written by [Adrian Mitchell](/source/Adrian_Mitchell).[Putnam, Leah. "TFANA's Fuente Ovejuna Opens Off-Broadway May 23." ''Playbill'', May 23, 2023. https://playbill.com/article/tfanas-fuente-ovejuna-opens-off-broadway-may-23.] Shortly thereafter, she made her Irish stage debut, starring opposite her father [Colm Meaney](/source/Colm_Meaney) in [Enda Walsh](/source/Enda_Walsh)'s ''Bedbound'' at the [Galway International Arts Festival](/source/Galway_International_Arts_Festival). The production later transferred to [Olympia Theatre, Dublin](/source/Olympia_Theatre%2C_Dublin), where it received critical acclaim. Both ''[The Stage](/source/The_Stage)'' and ''[The Arts Review](/source/The_Arts_Review)'' awarded the production 4 stars, while ''[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)'' praised the pairs chemistry, and [RTÉ Arena](/source/RT%C3%89_News) described Meaney's performance as "magnetic, electric, and extraordinary."[Landmark Productions. "Bedbound." Last modified November 25, 2023. https://www.landmarkproductions.ie/production/bedbound/.] Meaney made her [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) debut the following year, in a new adaptation of [Anton Chekhov](/source/Anton_Chekhov)'s ''[Uncle Vanya](/source/Uncle_Vanya)'' at [Lincoln Center Theatre](/source/Lincoln_Center_Theatre), understudying the roles of Sonya and Elena for [Alison Pill](/source/Alison_Pill) and [Anika Noni Rose](/source/Anika_Noni_Rose), respectively.[Tran, Diep. "On the Red Carpet: There Are No Small Roles in Uncle Vanya." ''Playbill''. April 26, 2024.https://playbill.com/article/on-the-red-carpet-there-are-no-small-roles-in-uncle-vanya.] Later that year, she starred as Gretl in back-to-back productions of [Tom Stoppard](/source/Tom_Stoppard)'s [Tony Award](/source/Tony_Awards) winning play ''[Leopoldstadt](/source/Leopoldstadt_(play))'' at [Huntington Theatre Company](/source/Huntington_Theatre_Company) in [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston%2C_Massachusetts), and [Shakespeare Theatre Company](/source/Shakespeare_Theatre_Company) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)[Huntington Theatre Company. "Brenda Meaney." Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/bio/brenda-meaney/.][Shakespeare Theatre Company. "Leopoldstadt 24-25." Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/leopoldstadt-24-25/.]
Meaney made her screen debut in the 2021 family drama ''There's Always Hope'', appearing opposite her father, [Colm Meaney](/source/Colm_Meaney). She later had supporting roles as Bridget in [Neil LaBute](/source/Neil_LaBute)'s 2023 action thriller ''[Fear the Night](/source/Fear_the_Night)'', and Helen in [Lorcan Finnegan](/source/Lorcan_Finnegan)'s 2024 psychological thriller ''[The Surfer](/source/The_Surfer_(2024_film))'', which premiered at the [77th Cannes Film Festival](/source/2024_Cannes_Film_Festival).[{{cite web|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2024/the-screenings-guide-of-the-77th-festival-de-cannes/|title=The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes|date=8 May 2024|website=Festival de Cannes|access-date=8 May 2024}}] Her television credits include guest roles on ''[Love/Hate](/source/Love%2FHate_(TV_series))'', ''[Hell on Wheels](/source/Hell_on_Wheels_(TV_series))'', ''[For Life](/source/For_Life_(TV_series))'', and ''[FBI: Most Wanted](/source/FBI%3A_Most_Wanted)''. From 2021-2024, Meaney starred as Debra in the podcast series ''Fear, A Love Story'' on [Acast](/source/Acast).
==Personal life==
Meaney is married to American actor Henry Clarke. The pair performed opposite one another in [David Ives](/source/David_Ives)' ''[Venus in Fur](/source/Venus_in_Fur)'' at the [American Conservatory Theatre](/source/American_Conservatory_Theater) in 2014.[BroadwayWorld. "Photo Flash: First Look at Brenda Meaney and Henry Clarke in ACT's 'Venus in Fur.'" BroadwayWorld, March 21, 2014. https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Brenda-Meaney-and-Henry-Clarke-in-ACTs-VENUS-IN-FUR-20140321.]
==Credits==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
! class=unsortable|Ref.
|-
|2021
|''[There's Always Hope](/source/There's_Always_Hope)''
|Amelia
|
|[Brenda Meaney Movies & TV Shows List. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brenda_meaney.]
|-
|2023
|''[Fear the Night](/source/Fear_the_Night)''
|Bridget
|
|[“Brenda Meaney Credits.” TV Guide. Accessed June 29, 2025. TV Guide. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brenda-meaney/credits/3030122768/.]
|-
|2014
|''[Hell on Wheels](/source/Hell_on_Wheels_(TV_series))''
|Anna
|Episode: "Reckoning"
|[Simoes, Monica. “Meet the Cast of Nick Payne’s Incognito.” Playbill, April 8, 2016. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://playbill.com/article/meet-the-cast-of-nick-payne-39-s-incognito.]
|-
| ''[The Hard Problem](/source/The_Hard_Problem)''
| Hillary
| [Tom Stoppard](/source/Tom_Stoppard)
| [American Conservatory Theater](/source/American_Conservatory_Theater)
| [La Jolla Playhouse. “Queens.” La Jolla Playhouse. July 3–29, 2018. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://lajollaplayhouse.org/show/queens/.]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019
| ''Great Negro Works of Art''
| Jerri
| [Neil LaBute](/source/Neil_LaBute)
| [Davenport Theatre](/source/Davenport_Theatre)
| [Rabinowitz, Chloe. “2020 Origin 1st Irish‑Theatre Festival Releases Full Schedule.” BroadwayWorld, January 3, 2020. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/2020-Origin-1st-Irish-Theatre-Festival-Releases-Full-Schedule-20200103/.]
|-
|rowspan="5"|2023
| ''[Richard II](/source/Richard_II_(play))''
|[Sir Stephen Scroop](/source/Sir_Stephen_Scroop) / [Lord Willoughby](/source/William_Willoughby%2C_5th_Baron_Willoughby_de_Eresby) / Lord 1 / [Lord Fitzwater](/source/Walter_FitzWalter%2C_4th_Baron_FitzWalter)
| [William Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare)
| [Theatre for a New Audience](/source/Theatre_for_a_New_Audience)
| [Huston, Caitlin. “Saoirse‑Monica Jackson to Star in ‘Irishtown’ Off‑Broadway.” The Hollywood Reporter, April 2025. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/saoirse-monica-jackson-irishtown-off-broadway-1236145405/.]
|-
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meaney, Brenda}}
Category:Living people
Category:Irish film actresses
Category:Irish stage actresses
Category:Irish television actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
Category:David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:20th-century births
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Brenda Meaney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Meaney) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Meaney?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.