Gina Costigan

Gina Costigan
Born (1984-03-21) 21 March 1984
Dublin, Ireland
EducationQueens University Belfast (B.A.)
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1994 – present
Parents

Gina Costigan (born 21 March 1984)[1] is an Irish actress of stage and screen. She appeared in the original Broadway companies of Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman (2018) and Martin McDonagh's Hangmen (2022), and starred as Grace Hardy in the 2023 UK national tour of Brian Friel's Faith Healer.[2][3][4]

Her film appearances include Veronica Guerin (2003), Becoming Jane (2007) A Terrible Beauty (2013), Halal Daddy (2017) and My Sailor, My Love (2023).[5] On television, she’s had guest and recurring roles on Fair City (2007), Vikings (2019-2020), Harry Wild (2022), Kin (2023), and Law & Order: SVU (2024-2025).[6]

In 2019, Costigan was named to The Irish Echo's 40 Under 40 for emerging Irish talent.[7] She frequently appears in both English and Irish language roles.[8][9]

Early life and education

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Costigan is the daughter of theatre producer John Costigan and actress Maria McDermottroe.[10] Raised primarily in Dún Laoghaire, she attended a Gaelscoil.[11][12]

She made her professional stage debut as a child performer in the 1994 revival of James Plunkett's The Risen People at The Gaiety Theatre, directed by brothers Peter and Jim Sheridan.[13] At the time, the production was the most expensive in the history of the Dublin Theatre Festival.[14] In 1997, she appeared as Jenny in Brian Ó Riagáin's Irish-language play Buille an Phíce at the Andrews Lane Theatre.[15]

Costigan later earned a B.A. (Hons) from Queen's University Belfast's School of Arts, English and Languages before studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[1][16]

Career

2003-2013: Early stage & screen work

During the 2000s and early 2010s, Costigan began working extensively in Irish theatre, frequently appearing in both English and Irish-language productions.[9] Her stage work during this period included two national tours of Máiréad Ní Ghráda's An Triail with Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company (2008, 2012), as well as premieres of new plays at Project Arts Centre, Smock Alley Theatre, and the Town Hall Theatre.[17][9] In 2003, Costigan made her screen debut as Molly, the girlfriend of Irish crime figure John Traynor in Joel Schumacher's Veronica Guerin, appearing opposite Cate Blanchett and Ciarán Hinds.[18] The film received eight nominations from the Irish Film & Television Academy.[19] In 2007, she had a recurring role as Diane Sutton on the RTÉ drama series Fair City and appeared as Caroline Austen in Julian Jarrold's Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway.[20] Costigan would later note in a profile with Hot Press, that the majority of her role in the film "ended up on the cutting room floor."[16] From 2011 through 2012, Costigan starred in the world premiere of Isobel Mahon's Billy the Boat Loves Angelina at Liberty Hall Theatre and the The New Theatre, Dublin.[21] In a review for The Irish Times, drama critic Peter Crawley noted "Costigan gives an assured performance while portraying a menacing figure with admirable bite."[22] During this period, she continued to alternate between theatre and screen work, appearing in Keith Farrell's Irish-language docudrama Áille an Uafáisy, as well as Gráinne Curistan's Les Impossibles at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[23]

2014-2019: Broadway & Off-Broadway

In 2013, Costigan moved to New York City to study at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. She subsequently began working in New York theatre, making her Off-Broadway debut as Hen in Eileen Connolly's Daughter of the Waves at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.[24] She later appeared in the world premiere of Honor Molloy's Crackskull Row at the Irish Repertory Theatre, followed by Teresa Deevy's The Suitcase Under the Bed at the Mint Theater Company. Both productions were named Critics' Picks by The New York Times.[25][26] In a review for the latter, Stanford Friedman of New York Theatre Guide noted "Gina Costigan, as Mrs. Stims, shines the brightest."[27] In 2018, Costigan appeared opposite Academy Award-winner Hayley Mills in the U.S. premiere of Isobel Mahon's Party Face at New York City Center. For their respective performances, Costigan and Mills were both nominated for Best Actress at the 2018 1st Irish Awards.[28] Tim Teeman of The Daily Beast noted "Gina Costigan’s excellent performance is the layered heart of the play."[29] The same year, she was cast in the original Broadway company of Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman, understudying the roles of Caitlin and Mary Carney.[30] The production later won the Tony Award for Best Play.[31] During this period, Costigan had recurring roles on the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime Video (2017), and Vikings on the History Channel (2019-2020), as well as a supporting role in the feature film Halal Daddy (2017).[6] In 2019, she was named to The Irish Echo's 40 Under 40 for emerging Irish talent.[7]

2020-present: Later stage & screen work

In 2020, Costigan appeared in Joe Crilly's On McQuillan's Hill at the Finborough Theatre in London, England. The production received critical acclaim, earning five stars from the Morning Star and four stars from The Stage.[32][33] In a review for The Arts Desk, drama critic Rachel Halliburton noted "In a play distinguished, not least, by its strong female characters, it is Gina Costigan’s Loretta who particularly shines."[34] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she portrayed Molly Bloom in The Ulysses Project, a digitally produced adaptation of Ulysses featuring more than 75 performers.[35] The film was later screened by the Irish Film Institute, as part of their Bloomsday Centennial celebration.[36] In 2022, Costigan joined the original Broadway company of Martin McDonagh's Hangmen.[37] The production was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.[38] Shortly thereafter she portrayed the titular role in Seán Ó Muireagáin's Luaithríona, an Irish language panto adaption of Cinderella at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich in Belfast. In 2023, Costigan starred as Grace in the UK national tour of Brian Friel's Faith Healer.[39] In a review for Plays International & Europe, drama critic Jeremy Malies noted "There is no distance whatsoever between actor and her lines in Gina Costigan’s wonderful performance. My heart leapt out to Grace as Costigan skillfully dismantled the character’s natural reticence."[40] In 2025, she starred as Kate Mundy in Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa at the Asolo Repertory Theatre directed by Joe Dowling. In 2026, she appeared as Ann Putnam in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at The Gaiety Theatre. Her recent screen work has included guest and recurring appearances in various television series, including Atlanta on FX, Harry Wild on Acorn TV, Kin on RTÉ, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC, as well as supporting roles in the feature films My Sailor, My Love (2022) and TWIG (2024).[41]

In addition to acting, Costigan has worked extensively as a voice artist for advertising campaigns including Guiness, Ryanair, Volkswagen, Marks & Spencer, and Electric Picnic, among others.[42]

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Veronica Guerin Molly [43]
2006 The Front Line Garda [41]
2007 Becoming Jane Caroline Austen [44]
2009 Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne Nurse [41]
2013 A Terrible Beauty Bridget Grace [45]
Black Ice Sister [46]
2016 The Board Siobhann Short film [47]
2017 Halal Daddy Magda [41]
2018 Kryptonights Beth [41]
2019 Brittany Runs a Marathon Drunk Woman [41]
2020 Flesh Is Heir To Agent Kerrigan [41]
2022 The Ulysses Project Molly Bloom [41]
My Sailor, My Love Joyce [46]
2023 Suspicious Minds Lola Short film [41]
2024 TWIG Ange's Mother [41]
The Friend Jocelyn [41]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Fair City Diane Sutton 3 episodes [41]
2017 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Officer Judy 2 episodes [6]
2019-2020 Vikings Runa 3 episodes [41]
2020 I Know This Much Is True Mrs. O'Meara Episode: "Five" [41]
2021 Halston Doctor Episode: "Critics" [41]
2022 Atlanta Karen Episode: "White Fashion" [41]
Harry Wild Jenny Doyle Episode: "A Corpse in My Soup" [41]
2023 Kin Betty Duggan Episode: "2.8" [41]
2024 Say Nothing Lily Episode: "Evil Little Maniacs" [41]
2024-2025 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Virginia Becker 2 episodes [41]

Stage

Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
1994 The Risen People Street child James Plunkett The Gaiety Theatre [48]
1997 Buille an Phíce Jenny Brian Ó Riagáin Andrews Lane Theatre [9]
2008 The Countess and the Lesbians Countess Markievicz/Grace Carolyn Gage Dublin Gay Theatre Festival [49]
2009 An Triail Mailí Máiréad Ní Ghráda Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company (National Tour) [17]
Walnuts Remind Me of My Mother Áine Elizabeth Moynihan Focus Theatre [9]
Facebreak Tara Costello Gina Costigan Dublin Gay Theatre Festival [50]
2010 Face to Face With the Enemy Kristine Judy Klass Town Hall Theatre [51]
Ghost Stories Various Isobel Mahon Mill Theatre Dundrum [51]
2011 The Rainbows End Wilhelmina Leslie Lalor Mill Theatre Dundrum [52]
Billy the Boat Loves Angelina Sandra Smith Isobel Mahon Liberty Hall [53]
2012 New Theatre, Dublin
The Muse Unbidden Hilary Roger Gregg Smock Alley Theatre [51]
Bun Go Barr Pamela Órna Ní Choileáin & Aodán Ó Coileáin Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company [9]
Les Impossibles Actor 3 Gráinne Curistan Edinburgh Festival Fringe [54]
2013 An Triail Mailí Máiréad Ní Ghráda Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company (National Tour) [17]
2014 Daughter of the Waves Hen Eileen Connolly New York Musical Theatre Festival [24]
2015 The Bacchae Chorus Euripides Gorilla Repertory Theatre Company [55]
The Seedbed Hannah Bryan Delaney New Jersey Repertory Company [56]
2016 Crackskull Row Dollie Moorigan Honor Molloy The Cell Theatre [57]
2017 Irish Repertory Theatre [58]
The Suitcase Under the Bed Jil/Mrs. Stims Teresa Deevy Mint Theater Company [59]
2018 Party Face Mollie Mae Isobel Mahon New York City Center [60]
2018-2019 The Ferryman Caitlin/Mary Carney (u/s) Jez Butterworth Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre,
Broadway		 [61]
2019 The Valley Of The Squinting Windows Brigid Byrne / Mary Essie / Mrs. McGoldrick / Miss Mckeon Brinsley MacNamara Mullingar Arts Centre [51]
2020 On McQuillan's Hill Loretta Maline Joe Crilly Finborough Theatre [62]
2022 Hangmen Alice/Shirley (u/s) Martin McDonagh John Golden Theatre,
Broadway		 [61]
Luaithríona Luaithríona Brothers Grimm & Seán Ó Muireagáin Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company [63]
2023 Faith Healer Grace Hardy Brian Friel London Classic Theatre (National Tour) [64]
2025 Dancing At Lughnasa Kate Mundy Brian Friel Asolo Repertory Theatre [65]
2026 The Crucible Ann Putnam Arthur Miller The Gaiety Theatre [66]

Radio

Year Title Role Author Broadcaster Ref.
2021 The Long Wet Grass Woman Seamus Scanlon The Cell Theatre [67]
2021 Paddy Goes to Petra Air Hostess Aine Ryan Near FM [68]
2021 Black Cherry Leonie Krystal Sweedman Near FM [69]

Awards and nominations

Year Associations Category Work Result Ref.
2018 1st Irish Awards Best Actress Party Face Nominated [70]
2019 The Irish Echo 40 Under 40 The Ferryman Honored [7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Another act in family drama". Independent.ie. 3 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Gina Costigan". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Stewart, Greg (11 September 2023). "Interview: Gina Costigan on Faith Healer". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Jennings, Dave (12 September 2023). "Theatre review: Faith Healer from London Classic Theatre at Theatr Clwyd, The Mix, Mold". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Gina Costigan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Gina Costigan". TVGuide.com. 13 May 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 "2019 40 Under 40". Irish Echo. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Queens backs bilingual version of Mayo-set 'The Long Wet Grass'". Irish Echo. May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gina Costigan". IrishPlayography.com.
  10. ↑ O'Donoghue, Anne (21 March 2018). "Actress Maria McDermottroe on pursuing her passion". FarmersJournal.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Smith, Andrea (13 January 2014). "Bondings: Beyond the curtain call at the Gaiety". Independent.ie.
  12. ↑ Jackson, Joe (25 December 2005). "Happy? Oh, yes he is!". Independent.ie.
  13. ↑ "Theatre: An agitprop Oliver". The Independent. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Morphet, Richard (10 October 1994). "Theatre: Aida Joins the Dublin Demo". Independent.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "Buille an Phíce". The Irish Times.
  16. 1 2 Jackson, Joe. "Markievicz park". Hotpress.com.
  17. 1 2 3 Glenn, Laura (9 October 2023). "'One of the greatest plays of the 20th century - Brian Friel's 'Faith Healer' - for Millennium Forum stage this week". DerryJournal.com.
  18. ↑ Clifford, Laura (10 January 2020). "Veronica Guerin". ReelingReviews.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  19. ↑ "Winners of the 1st Annual Irish Film & Television Awards". Irish Film & Television Academy. Irish Film & Television Academy. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Becoming Jane Credits". Metacritic.
  21. ↑ "Billy the Boat Loves Angelina – The Rules". TheNewTheatre.com. 16 January 2012.
  22. ↑ Crawley, Peter (16 February 2002). "Billy the Boat Loves Angelina". The Irish Times.
  23. ↑ "A Terrible Beauty... - Cast and Crew". RottenTomatoes.com.
  24. 1 2 "Daughter of the Waves". Eileen Connolly.
  25. ↑ Webster, Andy (16 September 2016). "Review: 'Crackskull Row,' an Irish Gothic With Masher, Basher and Rasher". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ Webster, Andy (25 August 2017). "Review: Ireland in Four Dimensions, by a Pioneering Playwright". The New York Times.
  27. ↑ "The Suitcase Under the Bed". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Soloski, Alexis (25 January 2018). "Women Beyond the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown". New York Times. Gale A524722009 – via Gale General OneFile.
  29. ↑ "Hayley Mills Sets a New Parent Trap: Review of 'Party Face'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Complete Casting of The Ferryman Is Announced". BroadwayDirect.com. 4 September 2018.
  31. ↑ "Tony Awards 2019 Northern Irish drama The Ferryman wins best play". IrishTimes.com. 10 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "On McQuillan's Hill Review". Morning Star Online. 12 February 2020.
  33. ↑ "On McQuillan's Hill Review". The Stage.
  34. ↑ "McQuillan's Hill, Finborough Theatre review – timely glance at Northern Irish myths and tensions". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "The Ulysses Project". 10K HRS FILMS.
  36. ↑ Sexton, Laoisa; Murphy, Trevor (2022). The Ulysses Project (Digital). Ireland.
  37. ↑ Gans, Andrew (12 June 2022). "2022 Tony Award Winners: A Strange Loop, The Lehman Trilogy, Company, Take Me Out Win Top Honors". Playbill.
  38. ↑ Gans, Andrew (12 June 2022). "2022 Tony Award Winners: A Strange Loop, The Lehman Trilogy, Company, Take Me Out Win Top Honors". Playbill. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  39. ↑ "Faith Healer – Tour Archive". UK Theatre Web.
  40. ↑ "Faith Healer at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne". Plays International & Europe. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Gina Costigan". Peliplat.
  42. ↑ "Gina Costigan". Voicebank.
  43. ↑ "Veronica Guerin - Full Cast & Crew". Tvguide.com.
  44. ↑ "Gina Costigan: 'The Irish have a tendency towards darkness'". Cambridge Independent. 2 November 2023.
  45. ↑ "Multimedia". 1916film.com.
  46. 1 2 "Gina Costigan - About". Entertainment.ie.
  47. ↑ "The Board (2016) update feed". Listal.com.
  48. ↑ "20 Questions with Gina Costigan". Fairy Powered Productions. 17 November 2021.
  49. ↑ "International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2008 Programme" (PDF). International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Winterfest Programme" (PDF). International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  51. 1 2 3 4 "Gina Costigan". MullingarArtsCentre.ie.
  52. ↑ "Reviews - Current - The Rainbow's End". ITMArchive.ie.
  53. ↑ "Billy the Boat Loves Angelina / The Rules". The New Theatre. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "Les Impossibles". AtLargeTheatre.com.
  55. ↑ "The Bacchae (Gorilla Rep)". Show-Score. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  56. ↑ "'The Seedbed,' a Drama by Bryan Delany, at New Jersey Repertory Company". The New York Times. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "Theater review: Crackskull Row at the Workshop Theater". Time Out New York. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  58. ↑ "Crackskull Row". Irish Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  59. ↑ "The Suitcase Under the Bed". Mint Theater Company. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  60. ↑ "Review: In 'Party Face,' a Family Dinner Gone Wrong". The New York Times. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  61. 1 2 "Gina Costigan (Performer)". Playbill.com.
  62. ↑ "On McQuillan's Hill". FinboroughTheatre.co.uk. 2020.
  63. ↑ "What's on in the Arts". Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 2 December 2022. Accessed 7 June 2025.
  64. ↑ "Faith Healer". London Classic Theatre. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  65. ↑ "Asolo Repertory Theatre Announces Casting of the Olivier and Tony Award-Winning Dancing at Lughnasa". Asolo Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  66. ↑ McGuinness, Max (13 February 2026). "In The Crucible at the Gaiety, Andrew McCarthy gives a fine performance, but this Miller should be more ambitious". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  67. ↑ "Costigan Ruddy for radio version". Irish Echo. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  68. ↑ Ryan, Áine, playwright, and Anna Nugent, director. "Paddy Goes to Petra – Part 1". New Drama Hour. Near FM, 29 October 2021. Podcast audio.
  69. ↑ Sweedman, Krystal, playwright, and Anna Nugent, director. "Black Cherry – Part 2". New Drama Hour. Near FM. 3 December 2021. Podcast audio, 47:19. Accessed 7 June 2025.
  70. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (19 January 2018). "Origins 1st Irish Theatre Festival Set to Distribute Awards". TheaterMania.
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