
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

Sherlock Holmes
1984 · TV

A Touch of Frost
1992 · TV

Not Going Out
2006 · TV

Boys from the Blackstuff
1982 · TV

Watching
1987 · TV

The Royal
2003 · TV

Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators
2018 · TV

Heartbeat
1992 · TV

Merseybeat
2001 · TV

The Cage
2026 · TV

Moving On
2009 · TV

Hearts and Minds
1995 · TV

Goldie's Oldies
2021 · TV

In Suspicious Circumstances
1991 · TV

Scully
1984 · TV

New Street Law
2006 · TV

Eyes Down
2003 · TV

Peak Practice
1993 · TV

Rockliffe's Babies
1987 · TV

Chiller
1995 · TV

The Vice
1999 · TV

Houdini & Doyle
2016 · TV

Casualty
1986 · TV

Holby City
1999 · TV

EastEnders
1985 · TV