Danika McGuigan (4 January 1986 – 23 July 2019) was an actress, born in Northern Ireland and raised in England.[1] She was known for her role as Danielle Mullane in Can't Cope, Won't Cope (2016–2018). She was posthumously awarded Best Actress at the 2021 IFTA Awards for her final role in Wildfire (2020).[2][3] Her previous films included Philomena (2013), Mammal (2016), and The Secret Scripture (2016).[4]
Nika McGuigan | |
|---|---|
 McGuigan at the 2016 Dublin International Film Festival | |
| Born | 4 January 1986 Newry, Northern Ireland |
| Died | (aged 33) Dublin, Ireland[citation needed] |
| Other names | Danika McGuigan |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2000–2019 |
| Father | Barry McGuigan |
| Family |
|
Early life and education
editMcGuigan was born in Newry, Northern Ireland in 1986,[5] the second of four children and only daughter of Barry McGuigan, a former world champion boxer, and his wife Sandra. She had three brothers, including Shane.[2]
McGuigan spent her early childhood in Clones, County Monaghan before the family settled in rural Kent, England near Whitstable.[6] She attended St Edmund's School Canterbury and then boarded at Benenden School. She trained in Dublin, graduating from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2006, and The Factory (now Bow Street) in 2013 before moving to London.[7]
Death
editMcGuigan was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at age 11 in 1997, but recovered from the illness after two years. She was pulled out of school at the time for her treatment at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.[8] She died from bowel cancer on 23 July 2019, aged 33.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Malicious Intent | Barmaid | (Debut role) |
| 2010 | Glory | Laura | Short film |
| 2012 | Remains | Eva | Short film |
| 2013 | The Food Guide to Love | Maureen | |
| Philomena | Bridie | Film nominated for 4 Oscars, including Best Picture | |
| Stay | Deirdre McGilloway | ||
| 2015 | Lost in the Living | Grace | (Uncredited) |
| Traders | Orla | ||
| 2016 | Mammal | Ann Marie | |
| The Secret Scripture | Chrissie | ||
| 2020 | Wildfire | Kelly | Posthumous release Final role *WON* IFTA for Best Lead Actress in Film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Tudors | Chambermaid | S01E03 – Episode: 'Wolsey, Wolsey, Wolsey!' |
| 2009 | Hollyoaks: The Morning After the Night Before | Ruby | TV series |
| Mid Life Christmas | Cranchesterford teenager | Television film | |
| 2010 | Dani's House | Belle Charlotte | S03E12 – Episode: 'Buddy Movie' |
| 2014 | Undeniable | Miss Maclean | Miniseries - Ep. #2 |
| Play Next Door | Dyla | S01E02 – Episode: 'If Those Lips' | |
| 2016–2018 | Can't Cope, Won't Cope | Danielle Mullane | Main cast 12 episodes[2] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IFTA Awards | Lead Actress in a Film | Wildfire | Won | [3] |
References
edit- ^ "Actress Danika McGuigan dies aged 33". BBC News. 24 July 2019.
- ^ a b c "Can't Cope, Won't Cope actor Danika McGuigan dies aged 33". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b "Nika McGuigan posthumously honoured at IFTAs for Wildfire role". RTÉ. 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Actress Nika McGuigan dies aged 33". 24 July 2019 – via rte.ie.
- ^ "How old was Danika McGuigan, what was her cause of death and what was she in?". 24 July 2019.
- ^ Notaro, Vicki (24 September 2016). "'I always play little scallywags so this is a big change'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Danika McGuigan obituary: accomplished stage and screen actor". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Needham, Lucy (24 July 2019). "Barry McGuigan's daughter Danika's cause of death confirmed by her family". mirror.co.uk.
- ^ "Danika McGuigan obituary". The Irish Times. 3 August 2019.
External links
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