Funeral of Irish actress Brenda Fricker to take place in Dublin

The funeral for acclaimed Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who passed away last month at the age of 81, is scheduled to take place in Dublin on Thursday.

Fricker made history in 1990 as the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award, earning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Daniel Day-Lewis's mother in "My Left Foot." She triumphed over notable Hollywood figures such as Julia Roberts and Anjelica Huston for the prestigious award.

Beyond her Oscar-winning performance, Fricker was widely recognized for her role as nurse Megan Roach in the BBC series "Casualty," which she played from 1986 until her final appearance in 2010. She also famously appeared as the Central Park "pigeon lady" in the 1992 sequel "Home Alone 2."

Born in Dublin, Fricker's acting career began with roles in television and theatre, including Ireland's inaugural soap opera, "Tolka Row," in the 1960s, and the ITV soap "Coronation Street" in 1977. She was part of the original cast of "Casualty" in 1986, remaining a key character until 1990 and making regular returns in subsequent years.

During her Oscar acceptance speech, Fricker dedicated her award to the people of Ireland. "My Left Foot" chronicled the true story of Christy Brown, an Irish man with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot, a role for which Daniel Day-Lewis also won his first of three Oscars.

Her role as the homeless bird lady befriended by Macaulay Culkin's character Kevin in "Home Alone 2" two years later is often cited as one of her most memorable performances.

Fricker's other film credits include "So I Married An Axe Murderer" (1993), "Angels In The Outfield" (1994), "A Time To Kill" (1996), and "Veronica Guerin" (2003). Despite her success, she later expressed that her career might have progressed differently had it not been for her Oscar win.

The funeral service will commence at 11:00 local time at St Catherine's Church, followed by a private burial.