Brenda Fricker has been remembered as one of Ireland's 'most cherished actors' after her sad passing on July 16.

The actress passed away 'peacefully' aged 81 after what her agent Phil Belfield called a period of ill health.

Belfield led the tributes to the much-loved star, saying: 'We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her.'

'I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the hearts of so many film and TV fans the world over.'

Jim Sheridan, who famously directed her in My Left Foot, for which she became the first Irish woman to win an Oscar, described her as a 'force of nature'.

Brenda Fricker at the 62nd Academy Awards in March 1990. (Photo by Alan Light/CC by 2.0)

Brenda Fricker at the 62nd Academy Awards in March 1990. (Photo by Alan Light/CC by 2.0)

He told RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline that the first person to call him after hearing the news was her co-star Daniel Day-Lewis and remembered her as someone who was 'very giving'.

The director touched on how, despite the global fame the film brought her, her one regret was that it left her typecast.

Brenda Fricker and Daniel Day-Lewis in 'My Left Foot.'

Brenda Fricker and Daniel Day-Lewis in 'My Left Foot.'

'She was getting asked to play mothers, and she wanted to play an axe murderer.'

Brenda also famously starred alongside Mike Myers in So I Married an Axe Murderer, and he was among the first to pay tribute to the actress.

'I'd like to add my voice to the amazing chorus of people mourning the passing of Brenda Fricker. I loved working with her,' he said.

'She was a generous, sweet and insanely talented artist. I learned so much from her. I'm blessed to have known her. My condolences to her family and friends.'

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Actor Chris O'Dowd remembered the legacy she created while he was growing up, saying: 'I hope she was surrounded by comfort and love when she went.

'We seem so lucky now with so many stars, Cillian and Saoirse... on the world stage, but when I was growing up there were very few, and she's the only woman I can think of that was really such a shining light.

'Such a gorgeous actor, so grounded, so doing everything in her own terms, and I thought that she brought it to the world stage in a beautiful way.'

Keith Duffy paid tribute to her no-nonsense attitude to life, describing her as 'always approachable, always kind, always protected but always wise'.

'I loved our chats, if never for me, always caring and always free. Thank you for your guidance, if sometimes harsh. Rest in peace,' he wrote.

Ryan Tubridy also paid tribute to Brenda, writing that she was 'irascible, astute, funny and peerless in her field'. He wrote: 'She was a one-off, and I will miss her dearly.'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin shared his condolences, saying: 'She was an iconic figure in Irish film and theatre, an Oscar winner and actor of world renown. My thoughts are with her family and friends.'

Tánaiste, Simon Harris, also described Brenda as: 'One of Ireland's most celebrated and cherished actors' and added 'Our country has lost a national treasure.'

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.