Alisha Weir

Last updated

Alisha Weir
Born (2009-09-26) 26 September 2009 (age 15)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2017–present

Alisha Weir (born 26 September 2009) is an Irish actress and singer, best known for her leading roles in the films Matilda the Musical (2022) and Abigail (2024); for the latter, she received a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer nomination. In April 2024, Weir was named in Forbes 30 Under 30. [1]

Contents

Early Life

Alisha Weir was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She attended Our Lady's School and has two older sisters, both of whom participated in drama classes, inspiring her to pursue acting at a young age. [2]

Her father manages a car dealership, and she is scheduled to take her Junior Cert exams in 2025. [3]

Career

Weir began her career in theatre, debuting as Ivanka in the musical Once at Dublin's Olympia Theatre in 2017. She gained attention for her singing talent on The Late Late Toy Show , where she performed Justin Timberlake's cover of "True Colors". [4]

Her feature film debut was in the 2018 thriller Don't Leave Home, and she made her television debut as Laura in the 2019 crime drama Darklands. [5] Weir has also appeared in stage productions of Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and Oliver! . [3]

At eleven, Weir was cast as Matilda Wormwood in the Netflix adaptation of Matilda the Musical . [4] She later starred in the 2024 horror film Abigail , released on 19 April 2024. For this role, she trained in ballet and performed her own stunts. Critics praised her performance, with Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "mesmerising" and "frightening and sardonically funny". [6]

Weir is also set to voice the lead role in the animated feature The Land of Sometimes, alongside Jessica Henwick and Ewan McGregor. [7]

Personal life

Weir resides with her parents in Knocklyon, South Dublin, and they have a pet dog. [3] She enjoys films such as The Parent Trap and The Black Phone , and she cites actress Saoirse Ronan as one of her idols. [6]

Filmography

Film and Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018Don't Leave HomeSiobhan Callahan
Day OutRachaelShort film
2019DarklandsLaura5 episodes
2020Ooops! The Adventure ContinuesPrimrose (voice)
2022 Matilda the Musical Matilda Wormwood
Fia's FairiesFia (voice)Main role
2023 Wicked Little Letters Nancy Gooding
2024 Abigail Abigail
Buffalo Kids Mary (voice)
TBAThe Land of SometimesTBA

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017 Once [8] Ivanka Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Annie [9] Molly National Concert Hall, Dublin
2018 The Wizard of Oz [6] Munchkin
2019 Oliver! [3] Chorus

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2022 Dublin Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Artist – IrishMatilda the MusicalWon [10]
2023 London Film Critics' Circle Young British/Irish Performer of the YearNominated [11]
Irish Film & Television Awards Lead Actress – FilmNominated [12]
2024 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Performance Abigail Nominated [13]
2025 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Performer Pending [14]

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References

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  3. 1 2 3 4 Barter, Pavel (28 April 2024). "Matilda star Alisha Weir: I'm back at school, I want to do my Junior Cert". The Sunday Times . ISSN   0140-0460. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Dublin actress Alisha Weir, 11, lands lead role in Netflix Matilda". The Sunday Times . 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  5. "Dublin teen poised for stardom after a lead role in Netflix's 'Matilda the Musical'". IrishCentral. 3 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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  7. Yossman, K.J. (8 May 2024). "Jessica Henwick, Alisha Weir Join Ewan McGregor in Animated Feature 'The Land of Sometimes'". Variety . Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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