Pauline McLynn (born 1962)

Pauline McLynn was born on July 11th 1962 to Padraig and Sheila McLynn in Sligo, but had moved with her parents to live in Galway when she was just six months old.

Pauline is a well-known Irish actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing the role’s of Mrs Doyle in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, and Libby Croker in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless.

Pauline McLynn studied History of Art and Modern English at Trinity College in Dublin, but was more heavily involved in Trinity‘s Dublin University Players, the college’s drama society where she graduated with an MA.

Pauline was in her early thirties when she started playing Mrs Doyle, makeup was used to make her look far older to fit the character’s profile. She received a British Comedy Award for her performances in 1996, with the award being presented to her by Tony Blair

Pauline‘s other television appearances have included sketches on Bremner, Bird and Fortune, and she has appeared on numerous panel shows, including Just a Minute, Have I Got News For You, and If I Ruled the World.

In 1999, she appeared in the film adaptation of Angela’s Ashes. She has also appeared in Jennifer Saunders‘ Jam and Jerusalem. In the late 1990s she was recruited to play Mrs Doyle for a UK advert for online Tax returns by the Inland Revenue and became infamous for the phrase ‘Go Online’.

One of Pauline‘s more recent roles saw her play a leading role in the 2011 Channel 4 tv series Shameless, in which she played the role of nymphomaniac librarian Libby Croker alongside the British actor David Threfall, with whom she is alleged to have had a steamy affair, which was itself the subject of a super-injunction issued by the UK Law Courts.

McLynn is also the author of seven novels, including: Missing You Already, Bright Lights and Promises, Summer in the City, The Woman on the Bus, Right on Time, Better than a Rest and Something for the Weekend.

Pauline McLynn is married to theatrical agent Richard Cook. She is a patron of the children’s charity World Vision Ireland, and is vice president of Friends of Innisfree Housing Association and she is also a big fan of the English Premier League football team Aston Villa F.C.