Siobhan McSweeney on overcoming tragedy - from losing parents to being homeless (2025)

Just like her on-screen character Sister Michael, Siobhán McSweeney is a witty and talented woman who's career is on the rise, since her role in Derry Girls.

Although she is a well-known and beloved actress now, she has been through her fair share of ups and downs in her 44 years. This includes grieving the death of both of her parents, and becoming homeless in London.

So here is everything about Siobhán McSweeney, the hilarious actress who is set to host the highly anticipated show The Traitors Ireland.

Read more: Siobhan McSweeney announced as host of The Traitors Ireland

Read more: Ireland's Fittest Family returns to screens next month with tribute to contestant who passed away

Early life

Siobhán was born in 1979 in Cork, where she lived and went on to study, earning a degree in science in UCC, before eventually going on to pursue acting. Although she has gone down a different path to her degree, the actress has said that her time at college was “the most important time of my life”.

'I knew I wanted to act before I had the words to express that but coming to UCC and getting involved in the Dramat crystalised that for me,' she said during her speech after receiving a UCC Alumni Achievement Award. And my parents knew that if I ever got lost, they could always find me in the Granary Theatre.”

The 44-year-old moved to London in 2001 after her time in UCC, earning a spot at the Central School of Speech and Drama there.

Career

Her first acting role was in the famous Cillian Murphy film The Wind That Shakes the Barley, where she played Julia.

Siobhan McSweeney on overcoming tragedy - from losing parents to being homeless (1)

Other acting gigs included starring as Una Gilbert in the film Mr. Holmes in 2015 and Witzender in Alice Through the Looking Glass in 2016, before her breakout role in Derry Girls where she played fan-favourite Sister Michael.

Her brilliant portrayal as school principal in the series made Siobhán a household name and she even won a BAFTA for the role.

The Cork native has also been the presenter on Channel 4's The Great Pottery Throw Down since January 2021 and it has recently been announced that she will host the upcoming series The Traitors Ireland.

Speaking about her newly revealed role, Siobhán said: “Like everyone, I am a huge Traitors fan so when I was asked to host the Irish version I jumped at the chance. I’m looking forward to meeting our loyal Faithful and delicious Traitors.

“The Irish have a charm and ability to deceive while smiling which will make this version rather special, I think. And I’m the luckiest person in the world to watch them close-up.”

RTÉ's Director of Video, Steve Carson, has praised McSweeney’s talent and personality in a statement about the show: "Siobhán is an incredibly talented actor with a great comic and dramatic range. We know that she is going to bring something really special to Ireland's version of this fantastic game of trust and deceit."

The hit series has captivated audiences around the world, including popular versions in the UK, US and the Netherlands.

The Traitors Ireland will be shot on location in Ireland and will feature contestants from all around the country, where the contestants will play the ultimate game of deception, betrayal and trust for a whopping €50,000 prize.

Overcoming tragedy

Although Siobhán is as humorous as her on-screen character, she has dealt with many tragic occurrences in her personal life.

The actress’ mum passed away in 2005, soon after she graduated from UCC. Her father then died in while she was filming season two of Derry Girls in 2018, after battling a long illness.

Speaking about her father’s death on Kathy Burke’s podcast Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake, Siobhán said: “I was manic for three months after he died. After the manic stopped, I swear to God, Kathy, this outpouring of ideas and of plots and plans.”

She continued: “And I started writing and I had an idea for this, and I had an idea for that, and I want to go for this. It was like a dam had burst. And I think that the best gift my parents gave me was dying.”

Siobhán experienced another trauma in 2019, after her home in London caught fire, leaving her temporarily homeless.

“My flat went on fire, it was an electrical fire, one of those cubed adapters fell out of its socket, like by a millimetre and it caused an electrical fire,” she revealed on Ireland AM.

“I lost everything. By the time lockdown started I was technically homeless. I was living in friends' spare rooms and sofas and things like that so I entered lockdown in quite an anxious state,” she added.

Romantic life

Although Siobhán keeps aspects of her personal life, such as her romantic life, very private, she is rumoured to be dating British talent agent Kevin Joseph Brady.

Siobhan McSweeney on overcoming tragedy - from losing parents to being homeless (2)

Although the pair have never spoken on this themselves, Grazia reported the relationship in 2023.

They have posed for pictures together at various star-studded events, suggesting that they are in a relationship.

Siobhan McSweeney on overcoming tragedy - from losing parents to being homeless (2025)
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