TRIBUTES CONTINUED to be paid yesterday to award-winning actor Anna Manahan, who died in her native Waterford at the weekend at the age of 84.
Manahan received a Tony award in 1998 for her performance on Broadway as Mag Folan in Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane. She had been nominated for a Tony in 1969 for her role in Brian Friel's Lovers.
McDonagh yesterday said: “To have met and gotten to work with an actress as bright and brilliant as Anna on my very first play was one of the most rewarding experiences of my whole life.
“She was one of the true greats of Irish stage and screen and a lovely woman, and I’ll miss her.”
Garry Hynes, artistic director of Druid theatre company, said Manahan "was a true star of the theatre and not just because she won a coveted Tony award on Broadway for her stunning performance in Beauty Queen of Leenane.
“She was a star because in a long, distinguished and incredibly hard working career, she gave so much pleasure to so many all across Ireland and abroad.
“She was a much loved member of the Druid community and I personally will miss her very much,” said Ms Hynes.
The late actor’s body will be removed to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford city today at 6.30pm. She will be buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Ballygunner following Requiem Mass at the cathedral tomorrow.
