Kathryn O'Reilly

ABOUT

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As an artist, over the past couple of decades I have been working both sides of the stage and screen in various roles; as an Actress, Producer, Writer, Director and Assistant Director - and have dedicated myself to improving and developing the crafts I pursue in helping to facilitate story telling. ​

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ACTING

Trained at LAMDA on three‑year classical acting course and was a member of the National Youth Theatre, I have appeared in theatre nationally and internationally, in television dramas including Call The Midwife, and in debbie tucker green’s BAFTA‑winning film Random starring Nadine Marshall.

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My acting stage work has earned nominations and awards, including an Offie nomination for Best female performance and winning Best Performance at Birmingham Fringe Theatre Festival for the role of Michelle in Paul Westwood’s Skin in the Game (dir. Clemmie Reynolds), and critical acclaim for portraying Liz Morden in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Olivier Award‑winning play Our Country’s Good. I played multiple roles in the two-hander YOU with actor Stephen Meadows directed by Sarah Meadows, produced by Rosalyn Newbery, written by Mark, winning Vault Festival show of the week award and Brighton Fringe Argus Angel Award.

 

FILMMAKING - writing, directing, producing

As a filmmaker, I completed the Directors Series short course at NFTS and trained in video, film and television production at The BRIT School and write and direct character‑driven stories with strong visual storytelling, my short films have had screenings at multiple festivals and received nominations and wins. 

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Recent writing, producing and directing credits include the short Caught (dir. Fred Kelly, co‑produced with Fred Kelly and Anna Doolan), which received multiple awards and honours, including Award of Excellence (Special Mention) and Women Filmmakers Award of Excellence at the Accolade Film Competition, an Honourable Mention at Unrestricted View Film Festival, semi‑finalist placements at Kino Short Film Festival and Short to the Point, and a nomination for Best Dark Comedy Short at IndieX Film Fest, with selections at Toronto International Women Film Festival, Cannes Indie Shorts, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival and Romford Film Festival. 

 

My current short, Silence (co‑produced with Anna Doolan), has received honours including Honourable Mentions for Best Women’s Short and Women Filmmakers, nominations for Best Female Director and Best Actress at IndieX Film Festival, nominated for Best Female Director at Toronto International Women Film Festival and selected as best narrative short at Little Venice Film Festival.

 

As a producer, I completed the StageOne New Producers’ workshop, and have worked on a range of short‑form projects, including short-doc Beyond The Divide (dir. Imoje Aikhoje) for the Netflix YouTube channel, which premiered at Raindance Film Festival. 

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PLAYWRITING

Two of my plays, Screwed which ran at Theatre503, produced by myself and Meave O’Neil, directed by Sarah Meadows who was Offie Nominated, and Poisoned Polluted which ran at Old Red Lion Theatre, which I produced with Anna Doolan and RUA Arts, are both published by Nick Hern Books, and I was a member of the Royal Court Young Writers Program and hold an MA in Scriptwriting from University of Essex, reflecting a long‑standing commitment to story craft.

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Behind the camera, I have worked as First Assistant Director on television series, most notably serving as 2nd AD on the first unit and 1st AD on the second unit of the 80‑day, eight‑episode shoot of Testament for Angel Studios, as well as on feature films, music videos and more than 70 short films. These projects have included work with performers such as Andy Serkis, Susie Vanner, Toyah Willcox, Au/Ra, and eminent actresses such as Celia Imrie, Nina Wadia, Juliet Stevenson and Tamsin Greig.

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Bringing extensive experience from both sides of the stage and camera, I am committed to honing my craft in different areas and dedicated to collaborating with artists and crews on projects and engaging in processes that support ambitious, meaningful storytelling.