Join us on the 5th of December 2024 at 6:30 pm sharp for our latest instalment in the WFT Changemakers Series, featuring two remarkable actors, Elaine Cassidy (Disco Pigs) and Hazel Doupe (Float Like A Butterfly, Kathleen is Here), just off the set of Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale. Season 2 episodes were directed by WFT’s own board member Hannah Quinn, who will be moderating the panel.
Supported by Coimisiún na Meán and hosted by Windmill Lane, the WFT Changemakers Series continues to highlight women who have made significant contributions to the visibility and empowerment of women in the industry.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from some of Ireland’s leading acting talents about their journey, challenges, and the change they inspire in the industry.
Book your place for the Changemakers Panel here through Eventbrite.
Date: 5th December 2024
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Windmill Lane, 29 Herbert St, Dublin 2, D02 NH02, Ireland
We look forward to seeing you there!
About ELAINE CASSIDY
Elaine Cassidy is an award-winning Irish actress. She first came to prominence in her leading role in Disco Pigs (2001), for which she won the Irish Film and television Award for Best Actress. This was shortly after playing the titular role of Felicia in Felicia’s Journey (1999). Recently Elaine starred in Sebastián Lelio’s film The Wonder opposite Florence Pugh, which premiered at Telluride Film Festiva,l & Netflix’s The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
Elaine’s played Abby Mills in CBS’s Harper’s Island, her first leading role on a US network television show, which won her a second Irish Film and Television award for Best Actress. Her other television work includes the BBC mini-series Fingersmith, The Paradise, the BAFTA nominated police procedural No Offence, where she was the lead, BBC’s Emmy nominated The Paradise and A Room With A View, adapted by Andrew Davies. Most recently Elaine starred in Belgravia: The Next Chapter. Elaine is currently filming a second season of AMC’s Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale where she plays the lead.
Elaine has also appeared on the stage, with roles in Donmar Warehouse productions Aristocrats directed by Lyndsey Turner and the critically praised revival Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Josie Rourke. Other prominent stage credits include There Came A Gypsy Riding, The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Crucible directed by Dominic Cooke.
About HAZEL DOUPE
Hazel’s breakthrough came at the age of just 17 when she was cast as the lead in 2018’s Float Like a Butterfly, an Irish
drama film about a young traveller girl who idolises Muhammad Ali and wants to become a boxer. Her performance in the film was praised by critics – at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival the production was awarded the FIPRESCI Discovery Prize.
Screen International “Star of Tomorrow” and IFTA-nominated Irish actress leads as the unflinching and charismatic “Kathleen” in Eva Birthistle’s KATHLEEN IS HERE. The film won the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the 2024 Galway film festival.
This November (2024), in Disney FX’s next limited series, Hazel will play the key role of “Marian Price”, a former provisional IRA member, in the much anticipated SAY NOTHING.
Also in 2024, Doupe starred in AMC’s fantasy drama SANCTUARY: A WITCH’S TALE, playing the lead teen role of “Harper Fenn.” The Hollywood Reporter praised her performance, noting she “imbues her character with an adolescent brattiness that’s equal parts endearing and frustrating.” Season 2 filmed in Ireland this year, directed by WFT board member Hannah Quinn.
Doupe was nominated for both Best Actress in a Lead Role and The Rising Star Award at the 2022 IFTA Awards for Kate Dolan’s YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER. Doupe leads the psychological horror as the quiet and introspective “Char.”
Further notable credits include lead role in the the critically acclaimed CALM WITH HORSES alongside Barry Keoghan and Niamh Algar; “Cathy Dunne” in the 2023 comedy-drama THE MIRACLE CLUB, alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney; and voiceover work in Cartoon Network’s Children’s & Family Emmy® Award-winning series UNICORN: WARRIORS ETERNAL.
In theater, Doupe made her stage debut starring in the 2024 production of Annie Baker’s CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. Critics have praised Hazel’s performance, with The Irish Independent noting her “dazzling moments” and The Irish Times calling her role a “breakthrough performance.”
About Director HANNAH QUINN
Hannah Quinn won the IFTA drama director award for her episodes of Vikings:Valhalla season 1 in 2022 and was also IFTA nominated for The Gone (RTÉ) in 2023 and Blood (VMTV) 2019. Hannah is currently directing the 2nd series of a 6 part fantasy drama ‘Sanctuary – A Witch’s Tale’ for AMC, and recently directed The Boy That Never Was, a four part series set in Morocco and Ireland for RTÉ.
Previous work includes Vikings:Valhalla Seasons 1 & 3 (Netflix), The Gone (RTÉ) North Sea Connection (RTÉ), Disenchanted-2nd Unit (Disney), Fate – The Winx Saga (Netflix), Harlan Coben’s – The Stranger (Netflix), Eastenders (BBC1), Blood (VMTV) Red Rock (VMTV) and award winning short films, Smithy & Dickie and My Bonnie.
Before directing, Hannah worked as an Assistant Director for 20 years and in 2016 she got her private pilot’s licence.
