Philomena McDonagh (also known as Phylomena McDonagh) is an English actress and writer best known for her roles as art teacher June Summers in Grange Hill and Carol Nelson in ITV soap opera Emmerdale. McDonagh acted in Phil Young's play, "Crystal Clear" at the Wyndham's Theatre in London, England with Anthony Allen and Diana Barrett in the cast. Phil Young was also director. She has also written films and for television, notably the film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd.

Philomena McDonagh
OccupationActress/writer
Years active1979–2010

Career

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Acting

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McDonagh first appeared in acting in 1975, in play for today, playing Nurse O'Malley. She was credited as Phylomena McDonagh. In 1979, she played June Summers the art teacher in the children's drama series Grange Hill. In the same year, she appeared in Angels as Sister Moran. In 1980, she appeared in a short sketch called The Errand. She also appeared in BBC2 Playhouse in Happy, as Barbara. She appeared on stage in 1983 in the female lead in Phil Young's play Chrystal Clear as Thomasina, a girl who has been blind since birth, and falls in love with Richard, a man whose relationship is failing with Jane, his current girlfriend. In 1987, she played her first of two appearances in The Bill, as Mrs. Bradford in "Domestics". She appeared again two years later as Janet Watson in "Woman In Brown". In 1991, McDonagh joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Carol Nelson, a girl who Archie Brooks falls for and dates. They split up later. In 2010, after a seventeen-year break from acting, she appeared in Little Crackers.

Writing

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McDonagh has written films and television. Her first work was the film adaptation of Chrystal Clear in 1988, which she had appeared in five years previously. Her next work was ten years later, the film adaptation of the novel Far from the Madding Crowd. In the same year, she wrote the film King's Girl. In 2005, she wrote an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Play for Today Nurse O'Malley credited as "Phylomena McDonagh"
1979 Grange Hill Miss June Summers 9 episodes
1979 Angels Sister Moran 2 episodes
1980 The Errand Girl Short film
1980 BBC2 Playhouse Barbara
1981 The Dick Emery Show
1981 World's End Finnish Girl 2 episodes
1983 Don't Wait Up Marie-Claire
1984 Play for Today Julia Episode: "Talk To Me"
1986 Brookside Jerry Martin
1987 The Bill Mrs Bradwell
1988 Crystal Clear Thomasina TV movie
1989 The Bill Janet Watson
1991-1993 Emmerdale Carol Nelson 191 episodes
2010 Little Crackers Staff Member

Film

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Year Title Role
1983 Ascendancy Mary
1984 Still Life Linda
1984 The House Maid
1989 Resurrected Ileen Clausen
1992 The Dying of the Light Maureen Deveruex

Theatre

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Year Title Role
1983 Crystal Clear Thomasina

Writing Credits

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Year Title Notes
1988 Crystal Clear
1998 Far From The Madding Crowd
1998 King Girl
2002 Daddy's Girl
2005 Agatha Christie's Poirot 1 Episode: After The Funeral

References

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