
Eileen O'Brien
Acting
Born 1945-12-04 · Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
Eileen O'Brien is an English actress who has played a wide variety of roles in British television over many years. She appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Beattie Dixon in 2013, having previously appeared in the show as teacher Bridget Burgess from 2006 to 2007. From 1987 to 1988, O'Brien had a recurring role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders; she played Edie Smith, the mother of Mary Smith (Linda Davidson). O'Brien has also appeared in The Crezz, Casualty, Doctors, The Royal, Where the Heart Is, Brookside, Heartbeat and Coronation Street. She later appeared in several films, including Between Two Women in 2000. In May 2009, she played Anne in the BBC miniseries Moving On. In 2013, she played Rita in the BBC comedy-drama Being Eileen. In January 2020, she appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Jean Wadham.
Known for

Merseybeat
2001 · TV

Goldie's Oldies
2021 · TV

Scully
1984 · TV

EastEnders
1985 · TV

Heartbeat
1992 · TV

Boys from the Blackstuff
1982 · TV

The Cage
2026 · TV

Casualty
1986 · TV

Hearts and Minds
1995 · TV

Holby City
1999 · TV

The Vice
1999 · TV

Sherlock Holmes
1984 · TV

A Touch of Frost
1992 · TV

Peak Practice
1993 · TV

Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators
2018 · TV

Moving On
2009 · TV

Watching
1987 · TV

The Royal
2003 · TV

Houdini & Doyle
2016 · TV

In Suspicious Circumstances
1991 · TV

Chiller
1995 · TV

Eyes Down
2003 · TV

Rockliffe's Babies
1987 · TV