Kathryn O'Reilly
ABOUT
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, Writer, Producer, Director and Assistant Director - storytelling is at the heart of it all.
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, creatives and crews on projects and engaging in processes that support ambitious, meaningful, exciting storytelling.
Kathryn O'Reilly Actress.
I am am a classically trained, award-winning actor whose work combines emotional intelligence, vocal strength and a vivid inner life. Equally at home in heightened classical text and sharp contemporary drama, I am drawn to complex, contradictory characters with something urgent to say. My extensive credits span television, film and theatre, including Grantchester, Holby City, Rare Beasts, debbie tucker green's BAFTA winning TV Film Random, Academy Award Nominated director Lenny Abrahamson's feature The Little Stranger, guest lead in Call The Midwife directed by Darcia Martin, BIFA award winning feature Zebra Crossing directed by Sam Holland.
On stage I won Best Performance Award at Birmingham Fringe Festival playing Michelle in Skin of the Game directed by Clemmie Reynolds at Blue Orange Theatre, was Offie nominated for Best Female Performance in a Play in Poisoned Polluted at Old Red Lion Theatre.
I work internationally having played at Guthrie Theatre Minneapolis, Royal Alexandra Theatre Toronto, and Koninklijke Schaumburg The Hague, and in the UK I've played at 61 theatres nationally including Hampstead Theatre, Arts Theatre, Sheffield Crucible, Bolton Octagon, Manchester Royal Exchange, Liverpool Everyman, Trafalgar Studios, Brighton Theatre Royal, Arcola Theatre, and St James Theatre.
As a Playwright I have 2 plays published by Nick Hern Books - Screwed and Poisoned Polluted,
and have had various rehearsed and staged readings of my work read by actors including - Carey Mulligan, Phil Davis, Celia Imrie, Jonny Harris, Jamie Foreman, Gary Beadle.
Producer | Director | Screenwriter
Producer Enquiries kathryn1oreilly@yahoo.co.uk
As a Filmmaker I have produced short-doc Beyond The Divide for Netflix Youtube Channel, and been on the producing teams of 9 short films, one of which I directed called Silence currently on the festival circuit and was nominated for best female director at IndieX Film Festival.
My recent and current work includes Key Second Assistant Director on Testament S2 for Roarlight and Angel Studios. Working within a complex scripted television environment. First Assistant Director on short film In Tandem working with Directors Joseph Adesunloye, Yasmeen Ghrawi, short film Oyakodon, both productions working with Producers Tolu Stedford and Lily Usher, short film You, Me and The Bag directed by Jordon Stevens and Produced by Natasha Cowley and Jamie Cooper, short film Tor Lewa directed by Paul Holbrook and Produced by Sonia Wargacka, Tor Lewa will be screening at Encounters Film Festival 2026, and Feature Film The Hoarder which has its worldwide premier at Frightfest 2026.
My First Assistant Director experience includes; Beyond The Divide for Strayborn, a short-documentary for Netflix Youtube channel, it screened at Raindance Film Festival 2026, Once Again... (Statues Never Die), directed by Sir Isaac Julien CBE RA, Produced by Angie Daniell which premiered at Tate Britain across five screens as part of What Freedom Is To Me, while my wider AD credits include Testament series 1 (2nd Unit, and 2nd AD on 1st Unit) for Roarlight and Angel Studios. Deep Fake Neighbour Wars Series 1 (ITVX), Count Abdulla Series 1 (ITVX), Such Brave Girls (pilot), Person of Interest for Halycons Heart Films and Channel 4 Films directed by multi BAFTA award winner Aisha Rafaele and producer Joseph Bullman, Such Brave Girls, Lumbu Produced by Kurban Kassam and Directed by Billy Dosanjh playing on BBC iplayer.
I have worked as a First Assistant Director on 70+ short films including; Headhunter Directed by Spike Curtis, Plastic Surgery Directed by Guy Trevellyan Produced by Sophie Stacey, multi award winning Ceres starring Hannah Morrish and Juliet Stevenson, directed by Amelia Sears, multi award winning Fifty-Four Days Directed bt Phoebe Torrance Produced by Ella Greenwood starring Celia Imrie and Cat White, Largo starring Tamsin Grieg currently on the festival circuit, multi award winning short What We Wished We Could Be and Directed by Luke Shelley.
I have firsted music videos including for Au/Ra Crack selected for London Music Video Awards 2026, Susie Vanner, Brother Leo, The Blockheads featuring Andy Serkis and Toyah Wilcox.
