Catherine Clinch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2009or2010(age 15–16) [1] Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | The Quiet Girl |
| Mother | Méav Ní Mhaolchatha |
Catherine Clinch (born 2009or2010) [1] is an Irish child actress. She made her film debut in The Quiet Girl (2022).
Clinch grew up in the village of Ranelagh in Dublin. [1] Her father, Tom Clinch, is a stockbroker, and her mother is the singer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha. [1] [2] She took acting classes from a young age. [3]
Clinch first appeared on screen in Colm Bairéad's The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin) as Cáit, a reserved 9-year-old who spends the summer of 1981 on a distant relative's farm. [1] Auditions sought a lead actress who could speak Irish, the language of most of the film, and advertised the role at Irish-language schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] The film's producers recalled deciding quickly that Clinch was right for the role—able to carry the film—when they saw her audition tape. [3] [4] [5] [6] Shot in 2020 and released in 2022, [7] [8] the film was critically acclaimed alongside praise in particular for Clinch's performance. [9] [10] She was commended for conveying "a deep reservoir of emotions" while showing studious restraint. [11] [12] She was awarded Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Quiet Girl at the 18th IFTAs. [13]