B.J. Quinn
Writer/actor Clare Dunne is best known for writing and starring in Phyllida Lloyd’s Herself (2020), for which she scooped Best Script at the IFTAs, and for her role as Amanda in RTÉ’s hit series Kin. Adding to her achievements, this past February Dunne was named one of ten emerging European talents for this year’s 25th anniversary edition of European Shooting Stars as part of the 72nd Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin.
Having graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2009, Dunne was cast in the leading role of Pegeen Mike in Druid Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Playboy of the Western World directed by Garry Hynes for a national UK tour. From there, the Dublin native went on to build an impressive career on stage, highlights including The Cripple of Inishmaan (2011), Juno and the Paycock (2016), and The Gate Theatre’s production of Look Back In Anger in 2018.
In addition to winning the IFTA for Best Script, Dunne was also nominated for Best Actress Lead Role at the 2021 Award Ceremony.
Other nominations include a British Independent Film Award (2021) for Best Actress, a CSA Award (2021) for Outstanding Achievement in Casting, Herself won the Women Film Critic Circle Award for 2021 for ‘Women Saving Themselves,’ and the Discovery Award (Clare Dunne) and the Human Rights Film Award at the Dublin International Film Festival in 2020.
Over the past 25 years, European Shooting Stars –one of the European Film Promotion’s (EFP) flagship programmes – has placed some of the most promising young actors from all over Europe onto the world stage and have proven to be an essential stepping stone for launching their international careers. The most prominent names in recent years include Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), and George MacKay (True History of the Kelly Gang).
Each year, actors from across the continent are nominated by the EFP member organisations to take part in the prestigious programme.
These are actors who have already made a name for themselves in their home countries and are looking to breakthrough to a global audience. A jury of industry professionals then selects the ten most interesting and internationally versatile talents to be introduced to the press, industry and public at the Berlin International Film Festival. As a European Shooting Star, the actors attend an exclusive programme, including meetings with casting directors, journalists, talent agents and producers, which broadens and strengthens their international industry alliances and networks. All this leads to the European Shooting Stars Awards ceremony at the Berlinale Palast. Speaking about being selected as a Shooting Star, Dunne said: “It feels amazing. It feels absolutely incredible.
It is a huge milestone in my career. Any Irish actor that has ever gotten this award, they have gone on to have a very flourishing and diverse career so for me I just hope that I follow in the same footsteps. The actor now joins previous Irish recipients such as IFTA winners Fionn O’Shea, Aisling Franciosi and Domhnall Gleeson, as well as, Oscar nominee and Independent Spirit Award winner Ruth Negga and BAFTA winner Andrew Scott.
