Iconic Irish actress to be given Freedom of Dublin

Brenda is one of Ireland’s finest acting exports, having won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in My Left Foot — becoming the first ever Irishwoman to do so — and has shown up in several more roles, including as the Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2", "A Time to Kill", and "Veronica Guerin".

The Freedom of Dublin, one of the country’s highest honours, is chosen after Dublin City Council approve a person who has been nominated by the Lord Mayor. Previous honourees include Nelson Mandela, John F Kennedy and Barack Obama.

Now, Brenda is set to be the latest honouree of the award, with her nomination being proposed by Dublin’s Lord Mayor Ray McAdam who was backed by the council’s protocol committee.

"Brenda Fricker is one of Dublin’s most distinguished cultural figures, and it is a source of immense pride that our city is recognising her in this way," Mr McAdam said.

Brenda Fricker.

"This honour is not simply about international acclaim. It is about contribution and the pride Brenda has brought to Dublin and to Ireland."

While the honour doesn’t hold any financial benefit, those who receive the honour get special ancient privileges and duties, including the right to bring goods into the city without paying customs, and pasturage of sheep on common ground in the city — something that U2 actually did when they were conferred in 2000.

Brenda had previously opened up about her career in recent years, admitting that the roles have dried up after she turned 70.

"They don’t write for old women," Brenda told the Times last year. "Shakespeare wrote for old women, but none of the young writers do. None.

"There are so many wonderful people around…interesting women with history and stories," she continued, before revealing what former Dumbledore Richard Harris told her: "'Remember these words when you turn 70: You become invisible.' Richard Harris said that to me while sitting on the rocks looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, and it stuck in my head.

"On my 70th birthday I thought 'he’s wrong, I feel great.' A week later I knew exactly what he meant. It’s weird. You have to shout to be heard. So it’s not that I’m out of work for any other reason. there are no parts to do."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.