Tara Lynne O'Neill

Biography

Tara-Lynne O'Neill (born 16 November 1975) is a film, theatre and television actress from Northern Ireland.

During her childhood, she aspired to become a dentist, but abandoned this after failing her General Certificate of Secondary Education in chemistry.

At sixth-form college, she opted for a career in acting.

O'Neill started work as a television presenter on Saturday Disney from 1993 to 1996. She was also a main presenter on The Over the Wall Gang, a young people's television show from BBC Northern Ireland

O'Neill also appeared in film roles such as the town's seductress in The Most Fertile Man in Ireland (1999), and as Claire McKee in Wild About Harry (2000). She later played Joanne Ryan in EastEnders, appearing in 58 episodes between 20 September 2002, and 21 August 2003.

Between 2013 and 2016, she appeared in The Fall. In 2018, she joined the main cast of Derry Girls as Mary Quinn, remaining on the show until the airing of the final episode on 18 May 2022. In April 2024, O'Neill was cast as Inspector Eve Dunlop in BBC's Hope Street for the show's fourth series.

Her other roles include The Informant (1997), Disco Pigs (2001), Full Circle and Omagh (2004).

Known For

Malcolm
Malcolm
Just Johnny
Just Johnny
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
The Last Rifleman
The Last Rifleman
Best Before
Best Before
Disco Pigs
Disco Pigs
Insulin
Insulin

Filmography

2024 The Spin
as Sadie
2024 Best Before
as
2023 The Last Rifleman
as Tracy Milligan
2023 Malcolm
as Dr Gallagher
2021 Just Johnny
as Mrs. Wilson
2018 Derry Girls
as Ma Mary Quinn
2017 Our Lives
as Self - Narrator
2015 A Patch of Fog
as Vera
2015 Insulin
as The Pharmacist's Wife
2013 The Fall
as Martina Dean
2013 Made in Belfast
as Jane
2012 Line of Duty
as Lorna
2012 Line of Duty
as Lorna Barrett
2011 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
as Self - Participant
2005 Omagh
as Carol Radford
2003 The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
as Angel Hunter
2002 Chaos
as Marie
2001 Disco Pigs
as Mags
2000 The Most Fertile Man in Ireland
as Mary Mallory
1997 The Informant
as RUC Policewoman