
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Also Known As
Michelle Forbes
Michele Forbes
Michéle Forbes
Michèle Forbes
Biography
Michèle Forbes was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and studied English and Psychology at Trinity College, Dublin.
She worked as a script reader for the Abbey Theatre and subsequently began acting with the Abbey Theatre Company, touring worldwide with such productions as The Great Hunger and Dancing at Lughnasa . Her film work includes the BAFTA winning Omagh (Paul Greengrass) for which she won Best Actress Monte Carlo and was nominated Best Actress at the Irish Film &Television Awards.
Her short stories have won both The Bryan MacMahon and The Michael McLaverty Awards.
Her first novel Ghost Moth was shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year Irish Book Awards, the First Book Award Edinburgh International Book Festival, nominated for the First European Novel Award at Chambery’s Festival du Premier Roman, the Prix Escapades, the French Booksellers Novel Discovery Selection, the Prix des Lectrices Elle, and most recently for the Ireland Francophonie Ambassador’s Literary Award 2017.
Her second novel Edith & Oliver was a Sunday Times Book of the Year.
Known For

TV
Bodkin
Alice
2024

TV
Titanic: Blood and Steel
Donovan Woman
2012

TV
Jack Taylor
Mary Willis
2010

TV
Small Town, Big Story
Barbara the Butcher
2025

Film
Omagh
Patsy Gallagher
2005

Film
Dorothy Mills
Paul Fallon's Wife (as Michele Forbes)
2008

Film
The Playboys
Maggie Rudden
1992

Film
An Ranger
Maire
2008

Film
No Ordinary Heist
Ladybird
2026
Filmography
2026FilmNo Ordinary Heistas Ladybird2025TVSmall Town, Big Storyas Barbara the Butcher2024TVBodkinas Alice2012TVTitanic: Blood and Steelas Donovan Woman2010TVJack Tayloras Mary Willis2008FilmAn Rangeras Maire2008FilmDorothy Millsas Paul Fallon's Wife (as Michele Forbes)2005FilmOmaghas Patsy Gallagher1992FilmThe Playboysas Maggie Rudden