| "It’s gotten to the stage where my father, who lives in Ireland, sometimes has people driving to his house with their children to see the place where Harry Potter’s [grandparents] live. It does take a bit of head bending to work that out; 'you know Mrs. Dursley's dad lives there.' And then somehow the book has a life beyond the book! It’s incredible!" |
Fiona Shaw was born to an eye surgeon father, Denis, and physicist mother, Mary. Christened
Philomena, she liked to be called “FeFe” as a young girl which may have led to her adopting
‘Fiona’ later in life; unfortunately, not much information is available on the subject.
She found her love of performance at school in poetry competitions – the spark created by
reading poetry ignited into a much greater passion. Her pragmatic father, however, persuaded
her to get a university degree before pursuing acting.
Relenting, she studied philosophy at University College Cork and received her BA Honors
degree before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, or RADA, in London. There she
won the Bancroft Gold Medal and made her professional debut as Rosaline in Love's Labor's Lost
in 1982.
Journalist Richard Covington described Shaw as a “fixture with the Royal Shakespeare
Company and London's National Theatre.” Since her 1983 appearance in the National Theatre’s
production of The Rivals, Shaw has shown herself to be a preeminent force on the world stage.
Often heralded as “one of our finest classical actresses” and even “the next Vanessa Redgrave,”
Shaw maintains a strong sense of self and humility.
The proof, however, is in the pudding, as they say. Shaw has won two London Evening
Standard Awards, two London Critics' Awards, a Drama Desk Award, a Theater World Award, a
Tony nomination, and has been nominated for an Olivier Award four times and won twice!
Her talent coupled with her independent nature has risen more than a few eyebrows.
Controversy over her performance of Shakespeare’s Richard II – as the title character – had many
in the British press asking questions, but those questions soon turned into applause.
From Richard II, Shaw gained critical and popular acclaim as well as a lasting partnership with
director, Deborah Warner. The two – often referred to as the “Terrible Two” – have continued to
work together for 20 years.
Their collaboration has resulted in a slew of awards and accolades for the talented pair. In 2007,
they worked together on Beckett’s Happy Days. The play traveled from the London stage,
across Europe, eventually landing on stage in NYC at BAM where the New York audiences
went crazy for Shaw.
Perhaps best known - or at least most widely known - as Aunt Petunia in the Harry Potter film
series, Shaw is a talented and well-established actor and brings years of experience and
professionalism to the set. She is as proud to be a part of such a monumental production as she
is to be known for her work on stage. When asked by Gothamist.com in 2007 about Aunt Petunia,
she jokes that the Potter films have made her very popular with kids.
Philomena, she liked to be called “FeFe” as a young girl which may have led to her adopting
‘Fiona’ later in life; unfortunately, not much information is available on the subject.
She found her love of performance at school in poetry competitions – the spark created by
reading poetry ignited into a much greater passion. Her pragmatic father, however, persuaded
her to get a university degree before pursuing acting.
Relenting, she studied philosophy at University College Cork and received her BA Honors
degree before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, or RADA, in London. There she
won the Bancroft Gold Medal and made her professional debut as Rosaline in Love's Labor's Lost
in 1982.
Journalist Richard Covington described Shaw as a “fixture with the Royal Shakespeare
Company and London's National Theatre.” Since her 1983 appearance in the National Theatre’s
production of The Rivals, Shaw has shown herself to be a preeminent force on the world stage.
Often heralded as “one of our finest classical actresses” and even “the next Vanessa Redgrave,”
Shaw maintains a strong sense of self and humility.
The proof, however, is in the pudding, as they say. Shaw has won two London Evening
Standard Awards, two London Critics' Awards, a Drama Desk Award, a Theater World Award, a
Tony nomination, and has been nominated for an Olivier Award four times and won twice!
Her talent coupled with her independent nature has risen more than a few eyebrows.
Controversy over her performance of Shakespeare’s Richard II – as the title character – had many
in the British press asking questions, but those questions soon turned into applause.
From Richard II, Shaw gained critical and popular acclaim as well as a lasting partnership with
director, Deborah Warner. The two – often referred to as the “Terrible Two” – have continued to
work together for 20 years.
Their collaboration has resulted in a slew of awards and accolades for the talented pair. In 2007,
they worked together on Beckett’s Happy Days. The play traveled from the London stage,
across Europe, eventually landing on stage in NYC at BAM where the New York audiences
went crazy for Shaw.
Perhaps best known - or at least most widely known - as Aunt Petunia in the Harry Potter film
series, Shaw is a talented and well-established actor and brings years of experience and
professionalism to the set. She is as proud to be a part of such a monumental production as she
is to be known for her work on stage. When asked by Gothamist.com in 2007 about Aunt Petunia,
she jokes that the Potter films have made her very popular with kids.
|
| For Nerds. By Nerds. |
|
|
| Fiona Shaw |
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Siblings:
- Philomena Mary Wilson
- Fe Fe
Date of Birth:
- 10 July 1958
Place of Birth:
- County Cork, Ireland
Siblings:
- ----
- 1989 Best Actress London Critics Circle Theatre Award win
- Electra
- 1990 Best Actress Olivier Award win
- Electra
- 1991 Best Actress London Critics Circle Theatre Award win
- Hedda Gabbler
- 1992 Best Actress Olivier Award nomination
- Hedda Gabbler
- 1993 Best Actress London Evening Standard Theatre Award win
- Machinal
- 1994 Best Actress Olivier Award win
- Machinal
- 1996 Best Supporting Actress Chlotrudis Award nomination
- Persuasion
- 1997 Theater World Award win
- The Waste Land
- 1997 Best One Person Show Drama Desk Award win
- The Waste Land
- 2001 Best Actress London Evening Standard Theatre Award win
- Medea
- 2001 Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- 2002 Best Ensemble Phoenix Film Critics Award nomination
- Chamber of Secrets
- 2002 Best Supporting Actress National Society of Film
- Critics Award nomination
- The Triumph of Love
- 2003 Best Actress Drama Desk Award nomination
- Medea
- 2003 Best Actress Tony Award nomination
- Medea
- 2008 Best Actress Drama Desk Award nomination
- Happy Days
- 2008 Best Actress Olivier Award nomination
- Happy Days
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Harry Potter
Arithmancy
Divination
Character Arcs
Muggle Studies
Under the Influence
Other Projects
Arithmancy
Divination
Character Arcs
Muggle Studies
Under the Influence
Other Projects
Hunger Games
Book Notes
Movie Review
Book Notes
Movie Review
The Hobbit
Book Notes
Movie Review
Book Notes
Movie Review
Percy Jackson
Book Notes
Movie Review
Book Notes
Movie Review
Twilight
Book Notes
Movie Stills
Book Notes
Movie Stills
Narnia
Book Notes
Movie Review
Book Notes
Movie Review
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