Quick Facts
Biography
Michelle Fairley is a Northern Irish actress, best known for her roles as Catelyn Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones, Dr. Ava Hessington in multiple episodes of USA Network series Suits, and as terrorist Margot Al-Harazi, a main antagonist in 24: Live Another Day.
Early life
Fairley was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, to locally renowned publicans Theresa and Brian Fairley. She attended a Roman Catholic grammar school. As a teenager, she became a member of the Ulster Youth Theatre. Upon graduation, she moved to Belfast where she honed her skills with the repertory company Fringe Benefits, alongside a fellow alumnus of the Ulster Youth Theatre, Conleth Hill.
Career
Fairley appeared in a number of British television shows, including The Bill, Holby City and Casualty. Some of her earlier roles were as Cathy Michaels on ITV1's Inspector Morse in the episode titled "The Way Through The Woods" and as Nancy Phelan in Lovejoy in the episode 9 of Season 3 titled "Smoke Your Nose".
She took over the role of Mrs. Granger from Heather Bleasdale (who had played Mrs. Granger in Chamber of Secrets) in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films. She played the role of Catelyn Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones, replacing Jennifer Ehle who played the character in the original pilot episode.
She joined the cast of the USA Network series Suits for its third season, playing the recurring role of Ava Hessington.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Hidden Agenda | Teresa Doyle | |
| 1998 | Soldier's Daughter Never Cries, AA Soldier's Daughter Never Cries | Miss O'Shaunessy | |
| 1998 | Suffering | Patricia | |
| 2000 | Second Death, TheThe Second Death | Aisling | Short film |
| 2001 | Others, TheThe Others | Mrs. Marlish | |
| 2002 | Shearing | Yvonne | Short film |
| 2010 | Cup Cake | Annie McNabb | |
| 2010 | The Duel | Marya | |
| 2010 | Chatroom | Rosie | |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Mrs. Granger | |
| 2013 | Invisible Woman, TheThe Invisible Woman | Caroline Graves | |
| 2013 | Philomena | Sally Mitchell | |
| 2013 | Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart | Brigitte Helm | Voice only |
| 2014 | Ironclad: Battle for Blood | Joan De Vesci | |
| 2014 | Montana | DCI Rachel Jones | |
| 2015 | In the Heart of the Sea | Mrs. Nickerson |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Saracen | Maeve | Episode: "Starcross" |
| 1990 | 4 Play | Maureen | Episode: "Valentine Falls" |
| 1990 | Theatre Night | Ruth | Episode: "Pentecost" |
| 1991 | Children of the North | Kate | Episodes: "The Killing of Yesterday's Children", "City of Maloch" |
| 1991 | Casualty | Kathy Emerick | Episode: "Judgement Day" |
| 1992 | Lovejoy | Nancy Phelan | Episode: "Smoke Your Nose" |
| 1992 | Screenplay | Jenny | Episode: "Force of Duty" |
| 1992 | Screen Two | Sharon | Episode: "Flea Bites" |
| 1993 | Screen Two | Fiona Gibbons | Episode: "The Long Roads" |
| 1993 | Casualty | Kate Maguire | Episode: "No Place to Hide" |
| 1993 | Comics | Nula O'Reilly | TV film |
| 1994 | Cardiac Arrest | Karen Teller | Episodes: "You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking Legs", "The Edge" |
| 1995 | Life After Life | Roisin Donaghy | TV film |
| 1995 | Bill, TheThe Bill | Beth Spence | Episode: "No Choice" |
| 1995 | Inspector Morse | Cathy Michaels | Episode: "The Way Through the Woods" |
| 1996 | Mug's Game, AA Mug's Game | Kathy Cowan | TV film |
| 1996 | Safe and Sound | Eleanor Delaney | Regular role (6 episodes) |
| 1996 | Precious Blood, TheThe Precious Blood | Jean McBride | TV film |
| 1997 | Broker's Man, TheThe Broker's Man | Gabby Rodwell | Regular role (6 episodes) |
| 1997 | History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, TheThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling | Mrs. Fitzpatrick | TV miniseries |
| 1999 | Births, Marriages and Deaths | Pat | Regular role (4 episodes) |
| 1999 | Vicious Circle | Frances | TV film |
| 2000 | McCready and Daughter | Bernadette | TV film |
| 2001 | In Deep | Eva / Phoebe | Episodes: "Blue on Blue: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2001 | Rebus | Janice Mee | Episodes: "Dead Souls", "Mortal Causes" |
| 2003 | Holby City | Heidi Drury | Episode: "Keep It in the Family" |
| 2003 | Clinic, TheThe Clinic | Shirley | Episode: "1.6" |
| 2005 | Ahead of the Class | Sonia Venning | TV film |
| 2005 | Golden Hour, TheThe Golden Hour | Julia Harper | Episode: "1.4" |
| 2006 | Strictly Confidential | Carol Machin | Episode: "1.2" |
| 2007 | Trial & Retribution | Mrs. Jenkins | Episode: "Mirror Image: Part 1" |
| 2009 | Short Stay in Switzerland, AA Short Stay in Switzerland | Mrs. Savery | TV film |
| 2009 | Lark Rise to Candleford | Mrs. Elizabeth Patterson | Episode: "2.10" |
| 2009 | Best: His Mother's Son | Ann Best | TV film |
| 2009 | Taggart | Joan Revie | Episode: "So Long Baby" |
| 2009 | Misfits | Louise Young | Episodes: "1.1", "1.2" |
| 2010 | Midsomer Murders | Iris Holman | Episode; "The Noble Art" |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | DI Suzy Harte | Episodes: "First Casualty: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2011–13 | Game of Thrones | Catelyn Stark | Regular role (25 episodes) |
| 2012 | Coming Up | Jen | Episode: "Colour" |
| 2013 | Suits | Ava Hessington | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
| 2014 | 24: Live Another Day | Margot Al-Harazi | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
| 2014 | Common | Shelagh | TV film |
| 2014 | Resurrection: A Second Chance | Margaret Langston | TV film |
| 2014–15 | Resurrection | Margaret Langston | Recurring role (13 episodes) |
| 2015 | The Lizzie Borden Chronicles | Aideen Trotwood | Episode: "Capsize" |
| 2015 | Crossing Lines | Sophie Baines | Recurring role (Season 3) |
| 2016 | Rebellion | Dolly Butler | |
| 2017 | Fortitude | Freya Lennox | Recurring role (Season 2) |
| TBA | The White Princess | Margaret Beaufort |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Oleanna | Carol | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2000 | Weir, TheThe Weir | Valerie | |
| 2003 | Scenes from the Big Picture | Helan | Broadway |
| 2003 | Loyal Women, Neverland | Brenda | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2004 | Ashes to Ashes Pinter | Lyric Theatre | |
| 2006 | Wild Duck, TheThe Wild Duck | Gina | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2006 | Gates of Gold | Alma | Trafalgar Studios |
| 2007 | Othello | Emilia | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2007 | Macbeth | Lady Macbeth | West Yorkshire Playhouse |
| 2009 | Dancing at Lughnasa | Kate | Old Vic |
| 2010 | Greta Garbo Came to Donegal | Paulie Hennessy | Tricycle Theatre |
| 2011 | Remembrance Day | Sveta | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2015 | Splendour | Genevieve | Donmar Warehouse |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Irish Film & Television Award | Best Actress - Television | Nominated | |
| Scream Award | Best Ensemble | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Irish Film & Television Award | Best Actress - Television | Won | |
| Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Irish Film & Television Award | Best Supporting Actress - Television | Nominated |