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Denise was born in Ireland in 1980 to a father who was an electrician - later a fisheries expert - and a mother who "was pregnant for nine and a half years" since Denise is the seventh of twelve children, her younger sister Kelly, born in 1987, also being an actress. At school she had no theatrical aspirations, leaving at age fifteen and moving to London a year later "to follow a boy." After several years in menial jobs she took a Saturday acting class and won a place at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in Wandsworth - having borrowed the audition fee - and graduated in 2003. In 2004 she made her television debut in Casualty (1986) and has since appeared in many populist series from New Tricks (2003) to Stella (2012). However she has attracted more notice as a stage actress, being nominated in 2012 by the Evening Standard Awards for her roles in 'Our New Girl' and 'Desire Under the Elms' and in 2015 winning universal plaudits as the recovering drug addict in 'People, Places and Things' at the National Theatre.

Simone plays Mary Malone in the BBC/HBO series, 'His Dark Materials,' and Bibi in the RTE/Acorn series, 'Hidden Assets.'

Simone's film credits include BAFTA nominated feature 'Notes On Blindness' (Archers Mark), playing the female lead, Marilyn, and Ken Loach's feature Jimmy's Hall, playing the female lead, Oonagh.

Other film credits are: Dating Amber (Tilted Pictures), The Hole In The Ground (Savage Productions), Calm With Horses (DMC), Mothers Day (BBC), Alice Through The Looking Glass (Disney), Artemis Fowl (Disney), The Truth Commissioner (BBC), The Flag (Treasure Ent.), England Is Mine (Honlodge), and Season Of The Witch (Lionsgate).

Television credits include 'The One' (Netflix), Resistance/Rebellion 2 (RTE/Netflix), Peaky Blinders (BBC), Silent Witness (BBC), Houdini & Doyle (ITV), Dark Heart (ITV), Clean Break (RTE), Love Hate (RTE), Pure Mule (RTE), Single Handed (RTE/ITV), and as writer and performer in Meet Your Neighbours (RTE), with PJ Gallagher.

For theatre Simone has performed extensively with The Old Vic, Shakespeare's Globe, The Irish Rep in New York, The Abbey Theatre and The Gate Theatre in Ireland, and with Druid, Corn Exchange, and Rough Magic, amongst many others.

Awards and nominations include Best Supporting Actress Drama Nomination (IFTA 2022), Best Supporting Actress Film Nomination (IFTA 2017), Best Actress Film nomination (IFTA 2015), Best actress nomination (Irish Theatre Awards 2004) and winner of The Jayne Snow Award, (Dublin Fringe Festival 2005).

A UK based character actor of 30-odd years experience in regional theatre, West End productions, national tours, films and hundreds of television programme's ranging from prestigious television drama plays, drama series, comedy-drama series, situation comedy series, narrations, voice-overs and commercials. As a co-founder of XED Film & Television Associates with his writing partner, Allan Bardsley, he is also a script writer. Mike can be contacted at his e-mail address: [email protected].

Edna O'Brien was born on 15 December 1930 in Tuamgraney, County Clare, Ireland. She was a writer and actress, known for Time Lost and Time Remembered (1966), Girl with Green Eyes (1964) and The Hard Way (1980). She was married to Ernest Gebler. She died on 27 July 2024 in London, England, UK.

Des Lynam was born on 17 September 1942 in County Clare, Ireland. He is an actor, known for Have I Got News for You (1990), World Cup 98 (1998) and Footballers' Wives (2002).

Colm Flynn was born in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. He is known for The Ploughing Live (2015), Colm Flynn Show (2021) and RTÉ the History Show (2004).

Brigid Young was born in 1939 in Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland.

Aisling O'Loughlin was born in 1978 in Shannon, County Clare, Ireland.

Mary Robinson was born on 21 May 1944 in County Clare, Ireland. She has been married to Nicholas Robinson since 1972. They have three children.

Phyllis Valentine was born in 1940 in Seafield, County Clare, Ireland.

Marguerite Brennan was born in County Clare, Ireland. She is known for Scotland Yard Inspector (1952), Recoil (1953) and I Thank a Fool (1962).

James Bredin was born on 18 February 1924 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. He was a director and producer, known for Asian Club (1953), Election Results (1959) and Top on Television (1964). He was married to Virginia Meadows. He died on 11 November 1998 in London, England, UK.

Mark Killeen was born in County Clare, Ireland.

Pete is an Irish Big Wave Surfer, he is also a Firefighter Paramedic in Dublin. Pete is an instructor in jet ski rescue and water safety rescue during big wave events in ireland, Along with Paul O'Kane from Irish Surf Rescue Club and Finn Mullan from the RLNI. He won the Irish Division at the mullaghmore tow-in invitational event in 2011.

Rachel Macnamara was born on 16 January 1870 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. She was a writer, known for Tell Your Children (1922). She died on 18 October 1947 in Kensington, London, England, UK.

Bobby Casey was born in 1926 in Annagh, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland. He was an actor, known for I Could Read the Sky (1999), The Music of Man (1979) and Open Door (1973). He died on 13 May 2000 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.

Patrick McDonald was born on 26 July 1878 in Killard, County Clare, Ireland. He died on 16 May 1954 in New York City, New York, USA.