Aisling Bea

Aisling Bea, born Aisling Clíodhnadh O'Sullivan on 16 March 1984 in Kildare, Ireland, is an acclaimed Irish comedian, actress, and screenwriter known for her sharp wit and candid storytelling. Raised by her mother Helen after her father Brian, a horse veterinarian, died when she was three, Bea drew on a childhood surrounded by horses and the racing world, yet she soon discovered a passion for performance, working as a tour guide at the Irish National Stud before pursuing drama at Trinity College Dublin and later at LAMDA. While at Trinity she joined a student sketch‑comedy group, laying the groundwork for a career that would blend observational humor with heartfelt narrative. Her breakthrough came in 2012 when she won the So You Think You're Funny award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, making her only the second woman to claim the prize in its 25‑year history, and a nomination for Best Newcomer followed in 2013. The visibility propelled her onto British television, where she became a regular on panel shows such as QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and Taskmaster, while also starring in sitcoms like Trollied and drama series including The Fall. In 2019 she created, wrote, and starred in the Channel 4 series This Way Up, earning a BAFTA Craft Award for Breakthrough Talent and a nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2022. Beyond screen work, Bea has released a Netflix stand‑up special, co‑hosted radio programmes, and appeared in the Netflix series Living with Yourself and the Doctor Who special "Eve of the Daleks". Known for her openness about mental health, including her ADHD diagnosis, she is also an outspoken activist for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and Palestinian humanitarian issues, using her platform to champion social change.