A long way from Tipperary! The rise and rise of Kerry Condon
Actress Kerry Condon has certainly come a very long way from her hometown of Tipperary.
A native of Thurles, Kerry's big screen career has gone into literal and metaphorical overdrive with her standout performance in Brad Pitt's new race car flick F1.
While Hollywood hottie Brad may be in the driving seat in the film, which is proving a smash hit with movie goers, and Kerry's standout performance has helped steer the movie into pole position. Kerry Condon. Pic:F1 sees Kerry take on the role of Kate McKenna, a technical director on the Formula 1 race team, that sees Pitt come out of retirement to mentor a fledgling driver.
Condon collaborated with Northern Irish F1 analyst Bernie Collins to ensure a thorough, authentic performance.
And while Kerry is garnering stellar reviews for her role in the Hollywood film, her success is by no means overnight. Kerry Condon at the IFTA Awards 2024 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Pic: Brian McEvoy
In fact, Kerry's love of acting began on her family farm in Thurles, which took her to the Royal Shakespearean Theatre and from there on to Hollywood.
Kerry's love for acting first emerged whilst working alongside her father on the family farm in Thurles, surrounded by animals and open fields. Kerry's imagination ran rampant.
It was amidst this backdrop that her passion for performance was nurtured and led her to the Dublin Theatre Arts School. Kerry Condon. Pic:Then, at just 16, Kerry landed her first role in Alan Parker's Angela's Ashes, marking the start of a glittering career.
Her early television appearances saw her land roles in the BBC series Ballykissangel, but it was theatre that saw her true talents shine bright.
Her groundbreaking role came in 2001 when she took on the part of Ophelia, making her the youngest actress to tackle this classic with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
This, coupled with her stage work in Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, marked Kerry out for true stardom.
Through the years, Kerry Condon has played a diversity of different roles that run the gamut of genres.
Her filmography charts her rise from stage to small screen to global movie theatres.
In 2003, Kerry's first big screen break saw her delve into the realm of historical fiction when she played the part of Kate Kelly, the outlaw sister of Ned Kelly, alongside Heath Ledger, in the Hollywood-produced movie Ned Kelly.
Her next big part came in 2005 when she starred in the HBO/BBC series Rom, taking on the supporting character Octavia of the Julii.
And small screen success was to continue with aplomb when she was cast in the Breaking Bad spin-off seems Better Call Saul, where she appeared for seven seasons.
Her next big screen standout role was to come in the smash hit Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri which saw her once again work with acclaimed director Martin McDonagh.
But it was in 2022 that Condon's true talents were globally recognised when she was nominated for an Oscar for her stellar performance in The Banshees of Inisherinwhere she appeared alongside Colin Farrell.
While she didn't win the Oscar, Kerry did earn a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress.
But while her career is firmly on show in her personal life, Condon is far more low-key.
But her love of animals has stayed with her from her childhood farm in Thurles as she runs an animal sanctuary in her adopted home of Washington State.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Kneecap fill Glastonbury stage as Mo Chara declares 'I'm a free man'
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Kneecap at Glastonbury: ‘I'm a free man' Mo Chara says to crowd of 30,000; Group have dig at Keir Starmer and Rod Stewart during set
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
My mum Kerry is called a ‘trollop' and a ‘sl*g' but she's rolling in it and driving a Lamborghini, says Heidi Katona
KERRY Katona's daughter Heidi breaks down in tears as she admits: 'I saw things as a child I should not have seen.' The Atomic Kitten star's turbulent life has been well publicised over the years; from relationships to an abusive partner and financial struggles that left her bankrupt twice over. 13 Heidi Katona reveals there are things she should not have seen as a kid, as she opens up on her childhood Credit: David Cummings 13 Heidi is now hitting back at the trolls who have slammed former Mum of the Year Kerry Credit: Splash 13 Kerry is now a millionaire thanks to OnlyFans Credit: Instagram 13 But Heidi, 18, reveals she doesn't want to go down the same route Credit: David Cummings But although she's now turned her life around and is a millionaire thanks to OnlyFans, 18-year-old "It is not the route in life I want to take, I want to be a lawyer or a property developer. "Mum sometimes struggles with men seeing her in that sexual way. I wouldn't like that at all. I've not paid to see her pictures on there, that would be weird, but I know what she does." Heidi is speaking out today, in her first interview, to hit back at the critics who have called former Mum of the Year Kerry a 'prostitute' and 'trollop'. The teen says: 'They should realise Kerry Katona is now rolling in it - she drives a Lamborghini. 'I couldn't be prouder of her. She has worked so hard. People forget OnlyFans is just a new thing; she has been singing, doing reality work and TV appearances for nearly 25 years. "She has never stopped. She put us through private school, we go on amazing holidays, she just bought me clothes for the weekend.' OnlyFans has helped pay for a Growing up down the road in Warrington wasn't so luxurious. Kerry, 44, grew up in foster care, did Watch the moment Kerry Katona SCREAMS about daughter Heidi's GCSE exam results She has had her own reality shows, won I'm A Celeb, appeared on Big Brother and Dancing On Ice. But that turbulent life has seen Kerry go to rehab for a Heidi says: "I'd be stupid to even try drugs after what mum has been through - I know how destructive they can be.' She was too young to remember Kerry going to 'Very anti drugs' Heidi says: 'I am very, very anti drugs. 'At school there was this older boy, I thought he was cute until I overheard him say, 'You know that Heidi Katona's mum, she's a coke head. She probably does drugs in front of her kids too'. 'I was upset, it was cruel; of course I've never seen mum doing drugs.' But what she has seen is difficulties during Kerry's relationships. Kerry has children Molly, now 23, and Lilly, 22, with first husband Westlife star Brian McFadden and Heidi and her younger brother Max, 17, shared drug dealer dad Kerry's third husband Heidi, who has ditched the surname Croft for Katona, saw George as her dad. I've never understood why someone would want to bully - or hate on - someone's parents like that. It's rude, plus, I can't control what my mum does Heidi Throughout our interview Heidi is upbeat, positive, chatty and straight-talking but it is when we mention George that tears come to her eyes - and she talks about the things she saw as a child. George violently attacked Kerry and once even threatened to kill DJ by Heidi says: 'I am grieving for him. But I also saw my dad hitting my mum. She didn't realise at the time how much I saw. 13 Heidi reveals she would like to become a lawyer or a property developer Credit: David Cummings 13 Kerry, above with a younger Heidi, had a turbulent life which saw her go to rehab for a cocaine addiction, and struggle with relationships Credit: Instagram 13 Kerry has children Heidi and her younger brother Max, 17, with drug dealer dad Mark Croft Credit: Rex Features 13 But daughter Heidi saw George Kay, who violently attacked Kerry and once even threatened to kill their daughter DJ by injecting her with heroin, as her dad Credit: Getty 'That is not nice , it was horrid, and has an effect on who I am now. I saw things as a child I should not have seen. 'Mum sent me to a therapist but I don't see the point of it. 'I try to be tough. Like mum I use humour to cover things up, but it's not always easy." Petite Heidi has had to be tough when defending Kerry. She says: 'There was one time I was walking through Alderley Edge when a group of lads started shouting, 'Your mum is a sl*g...a prostitute'. 'They started following me. I wasn't scared, I was angry. Mum has always told me to tell people like that where to go. "I respond to abuse by saying, 'Tell your dad to unsubscribe then!', or, 'You know that Lamborghini my mum drives… your dad helped pay for that'. 'Sometimes I say, 'Obviously, you've noticed that she's rich? Yeah! She's doing great'. 'I've never understood why someone would want to bully - or hate on - someone's parents like that. It's rude, plus, I can't control what my mum does.' 'Struggling for money' Even pensioners Shaking her head Heidi says: 'I was in a cafe, and this woman started chatting to me about celebrities and said, 'Do you know who I can't stand…that Kerry Katona , she's a right tramp, a trollop on OnlyFans'. I didn't say a word.' Kerry and her, clearly intelligent, daughter are a joy to watch together; laughing and sharing jokes, with a relationship that looks more like friends than mother and daughter. She's done glamour before, she's been pictured with her boobs out, there's not a huge difference. This way she takes control and makes money from her sexuality Heidi But their teen years couldn't be more different. Kerry had started taking cocaine at 14 while Heidi only went out in Manchester for her first 'proper' night out in February to celebrate her 18th because, unlike many of her friends, she 'never went down the fake ID route'. She says: 'In the loos women were openly taking cocaine. They asked if I wanted some…no thanks! I thought, 'If you want to do it, fine, but I don't even want to see it'.' 13 Kerry split from fiance Ryan Mahoney last year Credit: Instagram 13 Heidi says she has to be tough when defending her mum Credit: David Cummings And although she never wants to see her mum on OnlyFans she gave her backing to the idea when Kerry suggested it during Covid lockdown. After speaking to her then fiance She explained exactly what the subscription site was. Heidi says: 'Lockdown meant her other work had stopped. We all agreed she should do it, she's a grown woman who makes her own decisions. 'She bought us all Airpods with her earnings. I thought, 'This is great'. 'She's done glamour before, she's been pictured with her boobs out, there's not a huge difference. This way she takes control and makes money from her sexuality. 'We didn't know at the time that she was struggling for money. She has hidden a lot from us over the years.' Heidi knows she is luckier than Kerry was growing up because 'mum will never let us forget that'. Now she has decided she wants to be famous and knows Kerry can help her. She says: 'People will scream 'nepotism' but mum can only open a door, I have to make a career work.' She embarrasses me in front of boys and I can recite her catchphrases before she even comes out with them Heidi Heidi, who has appeared on The Voice, has her head screwed on. She is also doing A levels in sociology, psychology and criminology and looking at universities but would love to sing or go on I'm A Celeb. She doesn't feel she has 'enough life experience' for Love Island and wouldn't want her mum seeing her kissing on TV. But she would have had Love Island type lip filler - if her mum had her own way. Laughing, Heidi says: 'When I was about 13 I told mum I wanted them done. 'So when I turned 18 she was like, 'Right, I've spoken to the clinic, the doctor will do your lips… get them done, I think you should, they will look amazing' I said, 'No!' I'd changed my mind. But she was like, 'Go on. Why don't you?' For now I am happy as I am.' Life in the Katona household does seem happy. But surely Kerry Katona star has some faults? 'Yes, she does,' laughs Heidi, 'She embarrasses me in front of boys and I can recite her catchphrases before she even comes out with them. 'She can be so loud too…but then so can I. 'I couldn't ask for a better mum. She's my best friend - but I never tell her that or I'd never hear the end of it.' 13 Heidi has decided she wants to be famous and knows her mum, who has turned her life around, can help her Credit: David Cummings 13 She has already appeared on The Voice Credit: David Cummings 13 She thinks she could not have asked for a better mum than Kerry Credit: David Cummings Kerry Katona's love life timeline Kerry's first high-profile relationship was with Brian McFadden, who was then a member of the Irish boyband Westlife. The couple married in 2002 and had two daughters together, Molly and Lilly-Sue, but divorce beckoned just four years later after infidelity claims. In 2007, Kerry married Mark Croft, a former taxi driver. Their relationship was tumultuous and marked by financial difficulties and accusations of infidelity. They had two children together, Heidi and Maxwell, before divorcing in 2011. Kerry has spoken openly about the difficulties she faced during this period, including struggles with her mental health and substance abuse. Following this, she entered into a relationship with George Kay, a former professional rugby league player. They married in 2014 and had a daughter, Dylan-Jorge (DJ). However, their relationship was fraught with issues, including horrifying domestic abuse, and they separated in 2017. Kay died in 2019 after 'biting into a ball of cocaine'. Kerry later found love again with Ryan Mahoney, a fitness trainer. The couple became engaged in 2020, and Kerry described Ryan as a stabilising and positive influence in her life. After increasing speculation late in 2024, Kerry revealed they had split over a "breach in trust" and Ryan had moved out of her home.
