Who is Sinéad Keenan?

Sinéad Keenan is an Irish actress whose career has spanned over two decades, encompassing a wide range of roles across film, television, and theatre. Born on 27 December 1977 in Dublin, Ireland, Keenan’s trajectory from a budding young actor in Irish soap operas to one of the most compelling performers on contemporary British and Irish television reflects not only her skill and versatility but also the changing nature of the medium itself. Her journey into the world of performance is one punctuated by artistic exploration, familial connections to the stage, and an ongoing commitment to her craft.

Early Life and Education: Roots in Dublin

Raised as the eldest of three children in Dublin, Keenan grew up in a household that fostered creativity and imagination. Although neither of her parents were actors, the performing arts soon became a family affair – her younger siblings, Rory and Gráinne, both pursued careers in acting as well. This shared pursuit of performance created an environment where artistic ambition was not only encouraged but normalized.

Keenan’s interest in storytelling and drama began early. In school, she was cast in plays and cultivated her readiness to perform in front of audiences – a precursor to the disciplined work that would later define her professional life. After finishing secondary school, she went on to attend University College Dublin, where she graduated with a degree in sociology and history. This academic background, while not directly related to acting, equipped her with a nuanced understanding of human behavior and societal complexity – insights she would later bring to her on‑screen characters.

Beginnings in Film and Television: From Fair City to Early Roles

Sinéad Keenan’s first major screen appearance came in 1999, when she was cast in the Irish film Sunburn as the teenage girlfriend of a character played by Cillian Murphy. This role marked her punctuated entry into the world of professional acting, setting a foundation for future work in television and film.

Shortly thereafter, she landed the role that would first bring her significant public attention — Farrah Phelan on the long‑running Irish soap opera Fair City. This role allowed her to inhabit a recurring character over a year, showcasing her ability to develop depth and consistency in performance within a serialized format. Soap operas like Fair City often serve as training grounds for emerging talent, and Keenan made the most of this opportunity, attracting early acclaim among Irish television audiences.

In the early 2000s, Keenan continued to build her résumé with appearances in notable British series such as Murder City, Taggart and Doctors. Each role, though sometimes brief, demonstrated her adaptability: she could convincingly embody characters from different genres and settings.

Breakthrough: Being Human and Genre Television

While Keenan had steadily built her career throughout the early 2000s, her breakthrough on the international stage came with the BBC Three supernatural drama Being Human. Beginning in 2009, she portrayed Nina Pickering, a young woman whose life is irrevocably altered when she becomes a werewolf. This role placed Keenan at the center of a series that blended fantastical elements with grounded, emotional storytelling.

Being Human was a standout series at the time because it married genre television with character‑driven drama, and Keenan’s performance played a significant part in its success. Her portrayal of Nina allowed her to balance ferocity and vulnerability — embodying a character who navigated the perils of supernatural transformation while retaining emotional depth. The show’s loyal fan base and international exposure expanded her recognition beyond Irish and British screens.

Stage Work and Theatrical Pursuits

Parallel to her screen career, Keenan also maintained a presence in the theatre — a foundation deeply rooted in the classical tradition. She became associated with prestigious companies, including the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). Her stage work ranged from classical pieces such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream to modern productions that allowed her to employ her classical training in contemporary contexts.

This serious commitment to the stage not only diversified her acting resume but also honed her skills in live performance — learning how to connect with audiences in real time and how to carry narrative momentum without the safety nets modern camera work often provides.

Expanding Screen Presence: From Guest Spots to Continued Growth

Throughout the 2010s, Keenan appeared in a variety of British and Irish dramas and anthologies. She took on guest roles in productions such as Doctor Who, where she appeared in the Christmas special The End of Time (2009), and projects like Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Silent Witness, further cementing her versatility across genres.

But her range was not limited to fantasy and genre television. In 2018, Keenan garnered critical acclaim for her work in the Jimmy McGovern drama Little Boy Blue, portraying Melanie Jones in a performance that earned her the Royal Television Society Programme Award for Actor (Female) and a subsequent BAFTA TV nomination for Best Actress. This recognition affirmed her standing not merely as a genre actress but as a powerful dramatic performer capable of tackling emotionally demanding material.

Unforgotten: Becoming DCI Jess James

In 2023, Keenan secured one of her most high‑profile roles to date — DCI Jessica “Jessie” James in Unforgotten, a British crime drama broadcast on ITV. The series, known for its meticulous approach to cold cases and character complexity, centres around a team of detectives working to unfold mysteries rooted in unresolved murders.

Keenan joined the cast in Series 5, stepping into the role of DCI James, a character that asked her to balance the leadership demands of a high‑stakes police unit with the personal challenges and vulnerabilities that make her a layered and relatable protagonist. Critics and fans alike responded positively to her portrayal, applauding her ability to hold her own in a series that blends procedural accuracy with emotional depth.

By 2025, Unforgotten had broadcast its sixth series — again featuring Keenan’s Jess James at the narrative helm alongside co‑star Sanjeev Bhaskar’s DI Sunny Khan. The show’s consistent renewal, including for a seventh series filming in 2026, reflects ongoing audience interest and critical confidence in the series’ storytelling — with Keenan’s performance widely viewed as one of its central strengths.

In conversations around the show, Keenan has spoken openly about the challenges and joys of stepping into a role originally made iconic by a previous lead actress. She has described finding her own rhythm within the Unforgotten ensemble, forging relationships on‑set, and embracing the show’s meticulous narrative structure, which balances emotional realism with the procedural rigour that fans have come to expect.

New Horizons: How to Get to Heaven from Belfast

As her work on Unforgotten continued, Keenan expanded her creative reach with a role in the Netflix series How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, which premiered on 12 February 2026. This British‑Irish production, created by Lisa McGee – acclaimed for Derry Girls – is a genre‑blending mystery drama that combines elements of comedy, crime thriller, and character exploration.

In the series, Keenan plays Robyn, one of three lifelong friends drawn back together to investigate the mysterious death of an old classmate. This role finds her in a narrative world that is both familiar — the intricate emotional dynamics of female friendships — and new: a whodunit mystery that doubles as a complex character study. The series offers Keenan an opportunity to explore comedy and suspense in ways that are distinct from her work on Unforgotten.

Critics have praised How to Get to Heaven from Belfast for its sharp wit, strong performances, and inventive storytelling — noting that the chemistry among its central trio, including Keenan, Roísín Gallagher, and Caoilfhionn Dunne, is one of the show’s core strengths. The series resonates with audiences by presenting women in a narrative space that foregrounds their agency, humor, and wonky, complicated emotional lives in equal measure — elements that Keenan brings to life with rich performance depth.

Given the positive reception of the first season and the open narrative arc at its conclusion, there has already been industry conversation about the potential for future seasons — which, if realized, could further broaden Keenan’s reach on global streaming platforms.

Personal Life: Family, Stability, and Artistic Support

Despite Keenan’s growing public profile, she has been notably protective of her personal life. She married Chris McGill, a film and television director, in 2012. The couple has two sons and divides their time between the demands of Keenan’s acting career and the rhythms of family life.

McGill and Keenan’s partnership extends into creative collaboration as well. Early in Keenan’s career, they worked together on a 2020 short film titled The Snatcher, with Keenan acting and McGill directing — a glimpse into the shared artistic dialogue that characterizes their relationship.

Keenan’s familial connections to the performing arts reach beyond her husband: her siblings Gráinne and Rory are both actors with their own bodies of work. In fact, her sister Gráinne appeared alongside Keenan in Unforgotten, adding layers of both familial and professional resonance to the production. Rory, meanwhile, has accumulated a portfolio of roles in acclaimed British and Irish series and is married to fellow actor Gemma Arterton — further weaving the Keenan family into the fabric of contemporary acting.

This closeness to family — both in life and in collaboration — has informed Keenan’s perspective on acting as a profession. In interviews, she often speaks not only about her craft but about the importance of emotional support, personal balance, and the unpredictable nature of acting as a career.

Artistic Identity and Future Trajectory

Sinéad Keenan’s body of work reflects an actor unafraid to explore diverse roles and storytelling forms. From genre staples such as Being Human to the emotionally rich crime narratives of Unforgotten, and from stage classics to innovative streaming drama with How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, her career trajectory demonstrates both range and depth.

One of the defining characteristics of her work is an ability to inhabit roles that resonate with authenticity. Whether portraying a supernatural creature wrestling with identity, a detective probing the darkest corners of human behaviour, or a friend confronting unresolved pasts, Keenan brings an emotional intelligence that invites audiences to engage deeply with her characters.

Looking ahead, her presence in international and streaming platforms hints at an expanding global footprint. With Unforgotten continuing into its seventh series and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast garnering attention as a fresh Netflix offering, Keenan stands at a moment in her career where experience, visibility, and artistic integrity converge.