Maggie O'Neill (born in 15 November, 1962 in Buckinghamshire), is an English actress.

Biography

The youngest of six Catholic brothers and sisters, born to head teacher parents, O'Neill grew up in the Midlands, where she was educated at a convent school, and after being inspired by a sixth-form drama teacher, "fell" into acting.

After training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she starred in the video for Simply Red's Holding Back the Years, before making her professional stage debut in Moving Pictures at the Leeds Playhouse in 1985. After making her screen debut in the British production Mona Lisa opposite Bob Hoskins in 1986, she made her Hollywood screen debut in the Sigourney Weaver film Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey in 1988.

O'Neill played Dr. Alex Redman in ITV1's medical drama Peak Practice, but is best known to British audiences for playing Sheila Jackson in Channel 4's comedy drama Shameless. O'Neill is currently playing Suzy Branning in the BBC1 soap opera, EastEnders.

Personal life

O'Neill and her cameraman boyfriend Mike live in South London. O'Neill enjoys pilates, yoga and holidays in Italy, but having failed her driving test twice presently cannot drive.

Filmography

• Mona Lisa (1986) as Girl in Paradise Club
• Wherever You Are... (1988) as Julian's second wife
• Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988) as Kim
• Defrosting the Fridge (1988) (TV) as
• Take Me Home BBC - Three Part TV Drama (1989) (TV) as Kathy who has affair with a taxi driver (Keith Barron)
• Georg Elser - Einer aus Deutschland (1989) as Berta
• Under Suspicion (1991) as Hazel Aaron
• When Pigs Fly (1993) as Sheila
• All Men Are Mortal (1995) as Florence
• Killing Me Softly (1995) (TV) as Sara Thornton
• Hero of the Hour (2000) (TV) as Alison Liddle
• Peak Practice (2001, 2002) (TV) as Dr. Alex Redman
• Shameless (2004-2007) (TV) as Sheila Jackson
• Wild at Heart (UK/South African TV series) (2007) as Elaine
• Little Devil (2007) (TV) as Laura Crowe
• EastEnders (2008-) (TV) as Suzy Branning

Other appearances

• Simply Red, Holding Back The Years (1986) (music video) as the young teacher

References

External links

• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=phpqU3qvFgw