Orlagh Cassidy
Birth dateAugust 17, 1968 (age 58)
Birth placeWashington, D.C.
EducationSUNY Purchase (BFA)
National Theatre of Great Britain
Occupation
  • Actress
  • audiobook narrator
  • playwright
Years active1983–present
SpouseNico Sidoti (m. 9 September 1995; died 4 December 2024)
MotherMarie Cassidy
FatherBryan Cassidy

Orlagh Cassidy (born August 17, 1968) is an Irish-American actress and audiobook narrator, known for her work on stage, television, and film.[1] She made her Broadway debut in the 1991 production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good at the Nederlander Theatre. Subsequent Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams' Garden District (1995), Noël Coward's Present Laughter (1996), and Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (2009).[2] Additionally, Cassidy starred as Maimie Flanagan in the 2006 revival of John B. Keane's The Field at the Irish Repertory Theatre, earning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play nomination.[3]

On television, Cassidy is best known for her portrayal of Doris Wolfe on the long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1999-2009).[4] She has had recurring roles on various primetime dramas, including Another World (1992-1993), The Sinner (2017), and Chicago Med (2025).[5] Her film credits include Caryn Waechter's The Sisterhood of Night (2014) Josephine Decker's Shirley (2020), and Kogonada's After Yang (2021).

Also a prolific voice actress, Cassidy has narrated more than 160 audiobooks,[6] earning 25 Earphones Awards, as well as 2 Audie Award nominations.[7] Notable titles include Dune by Frank Herbert, The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and Trust by Hernán Díaz, winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.[8]

Early life and education

Cassidy was born on August 17, 1968, in Washington, D. C.[2] to Bryan Cassidy, an architect, and Dr. Marie Mullaney Cassidy, a biochemist. Both of her parents were Dublin-born Irish immigrants.[9]

Cassidy received her BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase, where she was known as the “Queen of Dialects.”[6] During her studies, Cassidy earned a 1989 Princess Grace Award to study at the National Theatre of Great Britain.[10]

Career

Cassidy began her professional acting career at age fourteen, working at the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., where she performed the prologue in Troilus and Cressida. During the spring semester of her senior year of high school, Cassidy appeared as Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and, upon graduating, became an apprentice company member. During this season, she performed in eight shows a week for ten months in classics by Molière, William Shakespeare, and Anton Chekhov, appearing as Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Anya in The Cherry Orchard.[11]

Shortly after graduating from drama school, Cassidy made her Broadway debut in Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good in 1991, understudying roles for Cherry Jones, Amelia Campbell, and J. Smith-Cameron.[2] Her subsequent Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams' Garden District (1995), Noël Coward's Present Laughter (1996), and Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (2009).[2]

Her various Off-Broadway credits include star turns in Eric Coble's Bright Ideas at MCC Theater (2003), Jonas Hassen Khemiri's The Hundred We Are at The Cell Theatre (2015), Penelope Skinner's The Ruins of Civilization at Manhattan Theatre Club (2016), William Shakespeare's Hamlet at The Public Theater (2016), Graham Moore's Acolyte at 59E59 Theaters (2017).[12]

A long-time company member of the Irish Repertory Theatre, her various credits include John B. Keane's The Field (2006), Brian Friel's Aristocrats (2009) and Dancing at Lughnasa (2012, 2024), Christine Evans Can't Complain (2011), and Anthony E. Palermo's It's a Wonderful Life (2017).[13]

In early 2020 Cassidy portrayed Nancy Pelosi in the world premiere of Bill McMahon's The Adult in the Room, at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.[14]

In 2023 Cassidy made her professional playwriting debut, writing and performing in the one-woman-show It's in The Play at The Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway, programmed as part of the Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival.[15] The production was subsequently awarded Origin’s Femme First Award.[16]

Personal life

Cassidy married Nico Sidoti on September 9, 1995. Together they had two sons. Sidoti died in December 2024 from stomach cancer.[17][18]

Credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2001Passing StonesShelia[19]
2004The Pornographer: A Love StoryGail[19]
2007Spinning into ButterCNN Reporter[19]
2008Definitely, MaybeNurse[19]
2008Calling it QuitsMarcy[19]
2014St VincentSpeech Therapist[19]
2014Still AliceDoctor[19]
2014The Sisterhood of NightLinda Warren[19]
2018Beach HouseCatherine[19]
2019Catching UpConnie Dobbs[19]
2020ShirleyCaroline[19]
2021After YangLilian[19]
202140-LoveMrs. Stephan[19]
2022MasterCommunications Director[19]
2022The Pale Blue EyeMrs. Fry[19]
2024Oh, CanadaSarah Fife[19]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1992-1993Another WorldSloane Wallace3 episodes[5]
1993GhostwriterOfficer Cole2 episodes[5]
1996Murder OneGigi FasanellaEpisode: "Chapter Twenty-Two"[5]
1998TrinityCo-workerEpisode: "In Loco Parentis"[5]
1999-2009Guiding LightDoris WolfeMain role,
163 episodes		[5]
2001Sex and the CityPark Avenue WomanEpisode: "Defining Moments"[5]
2001-2022Law & Order: Special Victims UnitD.A. Cassandra Drakos4 episodes[5]
2003-2024Law & OrderDetective Shelia Ray4 episodes[5]
2011Mildred PierceWoman2 episodes[5]
2011A Gifted ManJoanneEpisode: "In Case of All Hell Breaking Loose"[5]
2012Blue BloodsAnne CarterEpisode: "Some Kind of Hero"[5]
2013ElementaryMarisEpisode: "The Marchioness"[5]
2014UnforgettableShelly MillerEpisode: "The Island"[5]
2014GothamMrs. LawsonEpisode: "The Mask"[5]
2015The Mysteries of LauraPamela BakerEpisode: "The Mystery of the Corner Store Crossfire"[5]
2015VeepSally DavenportEpisode: "Election Night"[5]
2015The Good WifeHeidiEpisode: "Restraint"[5]
2016BillionsManagerEpisode: "The Conversation"[5]
2017HomelandRachel Croft2 episodes[5]
2017The SinnerElsa Belmont3 episodes[5]
2017Madam SecretaryRegina Boroumand2 episodes[5]
2018Random Acts of FlynessWifeEpisode: "What are your thoughts on raising free black children?"[5]
2018The Loudest VoiceStephanie RainsEpisode: "1995"[5]
2018InstinctMargotEpisode: "Ancient History"[5]
2019Venice: The SeriesHollandMain role,
8 episodes		[5]
2020BullLisbeth MoselyEpisode: "Behind the Ivy"[5]
2021City on a HillFolsomEpisode: "Pax Bostonia"[5]
2023NightingaleLiz Thompson10 episodesPodcast series[20]
2025Chicago MedMiranda Lewis3 episodes[5]

Theatre

YearTitleRolePlaywrightVenueRef.
1983Troilus and CressidaChorusWilliam ShakespeareFolger Theatre, Washington, D.C.[11]
1985A Midsummer Night's DreamPeaseblossomWilliam ShakespeareFolger Theatre, Washington, D.C.[11]
1985OthelloChorusWilliam ShakespeareFolger Theatre, Washington, D.C.[11]
1986The Cherry OrchardAnyaAnton ChekhovFolger Theatre, Washington, D.C.[11]
1986The Merry Wives of WindsorAnne PageWilliam ShakespeareFolger Theatre, Washington, D.C.[11]
1991Our Country's GoodLiz/Mary/Dabby u/sTimberlake WertenbakerNederlander Theatre, Broadway[2]
1994Richard IIILady AnneWilliam ShakespeareHartford Stage[13]
1995Of Mice and MenCurly's WifeJohn SteinbeckPhiladelphia Drama Guild[13]
1995Garden DistrictCatharine Holly u/sTennessee WilliamsCircle in the Square Theatre, Broadway[2]
1996-1997Present LaughterJoanna LyppiattNoël CowardWalter Kerr Theatre, Broadway[2]
2003Bright IdeasDeniseEric CobleMCC Theater, Off-Broadway[12]
2006The FieldMaimie FlanaganJohn B. KeaneIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2009AristocratsAliceBrian FrielIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2009-2010God of CarnageAnnette/Veronica u/sYasmina RezaBernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway[2]
2011God of CarnageAnnette/Veronica u/sYasmina RezaCenter Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum[12]
2011-2012Dancing at LughnasaKate MundyBrian FrielIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2014When We Were Young And UnafraidAgnes u/sSarah TreemManhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway[12]
2016The Hundred We Are2Jonas Hassen KhemiriThe Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2016The Ruins of CivilizationJoyPenelope SkinnerManhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway[12]
2016HamletGertrudeWilliam ShakespeareThe Public Theater, Off-Broadway[12]
2017AcolyteAyn RandGraham Moore59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway[12]
2017It's A Wonderful LifeVariousAnthony E. PalermoIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2020The Adult in the RoomNancy PelosiBill McMahonVictory Gardens Theater, Chicago[12]
2023It's in The PlayVariousOrlagh CassidyThe Cell Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]
2024Dancing at LughnasaKate MundyBrian FrielIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway[12]

Awards

References

  1. ^ Goldstein, Toby (March 22, 2004). "One more killing due on 'Days'". Statesman Journal. Tribune Media Services. p. 2 D. Retrieved June 27, 2025. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ "Orlagh Cassidy". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived March 16, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. ^ Irish Repertory Theatre. “The Field (2005–2006 Season).” Irish Repertory Theatre. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://irishrep.org/show/2005-2006-season/the-field/ .
  4. ^ SheKnows. “Orlagh Cassidy.” Guiding Light Actors. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://soaps.sheknows.com/guiding-light/actors/orlagh-cassidy/ .
  5. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” TV Guide. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/orlagh-cassidy/3030500750/ .
  6. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” Purchase College. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5746-orlagh-cassidy-90 .
  7. ^ Matter, Jordan. “Spotlight on Narrator Orlagh Cassidy.” AudioFile Magazine. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/narrators/orlagh-cassidy/ .
  8. ^ Audible. “Audiobooks Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy.” Audible. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Orlagh+Cassidy .
  9. ^ Prosky, Ida. “Oral History — Bryan Cassidy.” Capitol Hill History Project. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.capitolhillhistory.org/interviews/bryan-cassidy
  10. ^ Princess Grace Foundation-USA. “Princess Grace Award Winners.” Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://pgfusa.org/princess-grace-award-winners/ .
  11. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” The Actors Center. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://theactorscenter.org/bio/orlagh-cassidy/
  12. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” BroadwayWorld. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Orlagh-Cassidy/
  13. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” AboutTheArtists. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/285346-orlagh-cassidy .
  14. ^ "New play about Nancy Pelosi will debut in Chicago". The Free Lance-Star. The Chicago Tribune. December 28, 2019. p. C 3. Retrieved June 27, 2025. – via Newspapers.com
  15. ^ the cell theatre. “Past Productions.” the cell theatre. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.thecelltheatre.org/pastproductions
  16. ^ “1st Irish Fest Hands Out Awards.” Irish Echo, February 14, 2023. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.irishecho.com/2023/2/1st-irish-fest-hands-out-awards .
  17. ^ "Orlagh Cassidy". UU Montclair. Accessed October 7, 2025.
  18. ^ " Obituary of Nico Sidoti". Greenwich Village Funeral Home. Accessed October 7, 2025. .
  19. ^ “Orlagh Cassidy.” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/orlagh_cassidy
  20. ^ Gen-Z Media. “Nightingale Cast.” Gen-Z Media. Accessed October 7, 2025. https://gzmshows.com/shows/listing/nightingale/cast/ .
  21. ^ "'LoveMusik' receives 12 Drama Desk nods". Gloucester County Times. Associated Press. April 29, 2007. p. 34. Retrieved June 27, 2025. – via Newspapers.com