Maria Doyle Kennedy
Musician and Actress
One of Ireland’s best loved performers Maria joined a band while still in college. They formed originally to enter a Slogadh competition (which they won) but music quickly became a motivating force in her life. She has spent the best part of 20 years performing live all over the world to audiences ranging from the many thousands who have enjoyed her show at festivals (Glastonbury, Oxygen, Cambridge Folk Festival etc.) to the more intimate theatre concerts.
Maria released her first album “When Justice Came” in 1989 with The Black Velvet Band. Recorded in Los Angeles in 1989 it reached No.4 in the Irish charts and is ranked among the best Irish albums of the late 1980's. She then united with producers Clive Langer and Allen Winstanley to record her second Black Velvet Band album "King Of Myself" in 1992. The Irish Hot Press later called her "The finest voice this country has ever produced."
'The Lady Sings The Blues' a compilation Album featuring Maria alongside Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Annie Lennox, followed and proved to be a best selling album in 1994. It also established Maria in new markets in Europe the US and Japan. ‘Touring Europe for the first time, she got rave reviews from The Guardian, The Times and others.
Both of her solo albums have been nominated for Meteor awards and her forthcoming project sees her teamed with U.S. country music legend John Prine.
An equally successful acting career includes leading roles in such iconic films as The Commitments and The General, a summer spent performing with Druid Theatre Company and TV shows ranging from Father Ted (her personal favourite) to Showtime Network's recent hit series The Tudors for which she won the IFTA Best Supporting Actress award in 2008 and again in 2009.
Maria produced a documentary -Golden Boy- based on the life and work of Irish artist Patrick Scott and has appeared as a broadcaster on our airwaves filling in for John Kelly on his Mystery Train show and for Tom Dunne on Pet Sounds.
Maria is an honours graduate of Trinity College Dublin (Joint Honours Politics & Business, faculty of E.S.S.) and a mother to four sons.
As a speaker Maria shares her own life experiences and observations, and even occasionally, a song.
DISCOGRAPHY:
1988 - Love Don’t Work This Way
1989 - When Justice Came
1991 - The Commitments
1992 - King Of Myself
1994 - Live In Europe
1995 - The Lady Sings The Blues
1998 - Collective
2001 - Charm
2005 - Skull Cover
2007 - Mutter
2009 - Band of Maria’s Live DVD.
FILM:
Tara Road
Spin The Bottle
Home For christmas
Mystics
Miss Julie
I Could The Sky
Gregory' Two Girls
The General
Nothing Personal
A Further Gesture
The Matchmaker
Moll Flanders
The Commitments
AWARDS:
2001 - Irish Meteor Music Award – Nomination Best Female Artist
2007 - Irish Meteor Music Award – Nomination Best Female Artist
2008 - Irish Film and Television Awards – Best Supporting Actress
2008 - Gemini Award Canada- Best Supporting Actress
2008 - Tatler Magazine – Woman of the year Achievement Award
2009 - Irish Film and Television Awards – Best Supporting Actress
TELEVISION:
The Tudors
Sorted
Hide And Seek
Big Night Out
Thursday The 12th
The Fitz
Making The Cut
Queer As Folk
Father Ted
Borderline
THEATRE:
The Blue Macushla
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