Deirdre O’Kane

"O'Kane dazzles the audience from start to finish" HHHH - The List

Deirdre O'Kane became a stand-up comic in 1996 and easily found her way in to the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards of that year. She has played at the Edinburgh Festival every year since including 2001 where she not only performed her own solo show, Deirdre O'Kane is Crystallized, but also the two-hander 'Tis Pity She's Anonymous’. She has also played The Melbourne, Adelaide and Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festivals and has toured the Middle East, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Prague, Briussels and London.
"Unique star quality" - The Guardian
Deirdre began her career as an actress and has played every major theatre in Ireland as well as touring in Australia, Canada and the UK. Leading roles include Mary in Juno and the Paycock (National Theatre), Miss Funny in At the Black Pig's Dyke (Druid Theatre Co.) and Daphne in Present Laughter (Gate Theatre).
Television credits include hosting the ten-part TV series of stand-up comedy and sketches called The Lounge (RTE) which included guests such as Rich Hall, Adam Hills, Jeff Green and Dara O'Briain. She also played the role of Fiona in Owen O'Neills sit-com The Fitz (BBC).
In 2001 Deirdre (described in the Sunday Times as "absolutely superb") played the leading role of Helen in Paths to Freedom, a six-part spoof-documentary for RTE/BBC Choice and last year starred in the RTE comedy series, Fergus's Wedding.
2002 was an incredibly busy year for Deirdre. In July she appeared at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal which was edited into a short series for RTE hosted by Ed Byrne. In August it was back to Edinburgh with her second solo show and more rave reviews…”won the audience over from the moment she opened her mouth’ HHHH - Metro. “O’Kane is an instasntly charasmatic stage presence and her brand of day-to-day anarchism stormed the place” HHHHH - three weeks magazine. “O’Kane is the very near furture” – Scotland on Sunday.
September was filled playing the part of Noeleen in the feature film Intermission with Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Colm Meany and Kelly McDonald. Produced by Neil Jordan's Company of Wolves, it is due for release internationally later this year.
Also in 2002, Deirdre toured extensively around Ireland with Pat Shortt and released her debut video Deirdre O'Kane, Live At The Olympia (EMI)
This year she plans a nationwide tour, kicking off with six nights in Vicar Street where she will be recording her second video for release in November 2003.
" O'Kane quickly sets up a rhythm of her own and when she exits, applause follows her all the way down the street" - The Scotsman.

Nina Conti.