Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker dies at 81

Irish actress Brenda Fricker, known for her roles in My Left Foot and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has passed away at the age of 81 in Dublin. Fricker made history in 1990 by becoming the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, receiving the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Bridget Fagan Brown in My Left Foot. She was also recognized for her long-standing role as nurse Megan Roach in the BBC series Casualty, which she played from 1986 until 2010. Among international audiences, she was widely remembered as the 'pigeon lady' in the 1992 film Home Alone 2. Her agent, Phil Belfield, confirmed the news and paid tribute to her contribution to film and television. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Fricker had spoken openly about her declining health, expressing that she was largely bedridden and suffering from chronic pain. The actress was born in Dublin and began her career in theater and television before rising to global prominence.