FEATURE:
Thank You for Hearing Me
IN THIS PHOTO: A 1992 portrait of Sinéad O’Connor at a concert rehearsal, with the image of the celebrated Observer photographer Jane Bown reflected in her pupils/PHOTO CREDIT: Jane Bown/The Observer
Who Will Be Cast As Sinéad O'Connor in a Planned Biopic?
__________
IT may already…
IN THIS PHOTO: Sinead O' Connor in Bray, Ireland in 2008/PHOTO CREDIT: Kim Haughton/Shutterstock
be in the works but, as a planned biopic of Sinéad O'Connor has been announced, there will be speculation around the casting. I am going to come to that and one name who has been mooted as the frontrunner. However, first, it is worth getting to the news about a biopic of an artist that we tragically lost in 2023. Aged only fifty-six, it was heartaching learning of the passing of the Dublin-born icon. An artist whose influence is so vast! The outpouring of sadness was immense. That love and respect for O’Connor. It is inevitable that a biopic would be announced at some point. The Guardian provides some details about an anticipated music biopic that charts the early career of the irreplaceable Sinéad O'Connor:
“A biopic of Sinéad O’Connor is in the works, with its backers including the company involved in Nothing Compares, the acclaimed 2022 documentary about the singer.
According to Variety, the film will be directed by Josephine Decker, who made a much-liked biopic of horror writer Shirley Jackson, starring Elisabeth Moss, in 2020. The script will be by Stacey Gregg, who has credits on TV series Mary and George, Little Birds and The Letter for the King.
Production companies behind the project include See-Saw Films, whose past output includes The King’s Speech, Shame, The Power of the Dog and Slow Horses, alongside Nine Daughters (God’s Creatures, Lady Macbeth) and ie:entertainment, which acted as executive producer on Nothing Compares.
O’Connor died in 2023, aged 56, after a string of hit records including the huge-selling Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990, and a tumultuous life marked with outspoken protest and controversy. In 1992 she ripped up a picture of the pope on US TV; in 1999 she was ordained as a priest by an independent Catholic group, and in 2018 she converted to Islam.
According to Variety, the film will follow O’Connor’s early years in the music industry, “tell[ing] the story of how one young woman from Dublin took on the world, examining how her global fame may have been built on her talent, but her name became synonymous with her efforts to draw attention to the crimes committed by the Catholic church and the Irish state”.
Even though Winona Ryder is someone who looks very similar to Sinéad O'Connor, you do wonder about the age of the actor who will play her. If they are focusing on the early years of Sinéad O'Connor’s career, will the actor be de-aged? Winona Ryder is fifty-three. The frontrunner at the moment is Natalie Portman. Again, someone who very much resembles Sinéad O'Connor and could portray her seamlessly, is the fact Natalie Portman is forty-four rule her out? I would hope not! If, as the Irish Times rightly observes, many films love to relish in the downfall and decline of women and female stars, this is a film that will not do that. As such, it cannot be restrictive or ageist regarding the actor who will play Sinéad O'Connor. It will be interesting to see what approach the film takes. I don’t think they necessarily need an actor in her twenties or thirties to play Sinéad O'Connor. However, it would also be nice to have a relative unknown portray her. Maybe an upcoming talent or someone coming through like Emma Mackey. She has appeared in a few big films and T.V. shows, though this could be her biggest role. It is important to remember that, if Sinéad O'Connor were alive today, she would be the most vocal against the genocide in Gaza and Palestine. She would have written songs about it and taken to the stage to voice her disgust! I can imagine her risking prison by protesting. An actor who plays her, in political terms, needs to be on the right side. Someone who is actively opposed to the genocide and has spoken about it. Or someone who has spoken against Israel and what they are doing. Natalie Portman could be a fit in that sense as, if the casting it wrong in that sense, it could be a disaster from the start. She is someone who has voiced her anger at the mistreatment of Palestine people and the violence that has beset them. That was back in 2018. In terms of recent comments and news, this article explains how Portman has shown support for Gaza:
“Among the posts was a call to donate to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, a rare move from a high-profile "Israeli"-American celebrity amid the ongoing war.
Portman, who was born in Jerusalem and holds dual citizenship, shared content featuring demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the war and the return of "Israeli" captives held in Gaza. One of the posts specifically pointed followers to a campaign collecting donations for Palestinian civilians affected by the genocide, a gesture likely to spark both praise and criticism across the political spectrum.
IN THIS PHOTO: Natalie Portman photographed in 2025/PHOTO CREDIT: Lachlan Bailey for Vogue Australia
The Oscar-winning actress has long held a nuanced position on the "Israeli"-Palestinian issue. In 2018, she famously declined to attend the Genesis Prize ceremony in "Israel", citing her distress over recent events and her refusal to appear as endorsing then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation,” she wrote at the time.
Portman has previously criticized the "Israeli" nation-state law as "racist" and expressed concern about policies that, in her view, undermine equality and democracy. Yet, she has also remained firmly opposed to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement and has maintained her cultural ties to "Israel", including directing a Hebrew-language film in 2015.
However, her posts add to growing voices challenging official narratives and calling attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis”.
It is impressive that an Israeli-born actor would take this stance. One might say it is simply humanitarianism, however, there are many actors in Hollywood who have either shown support for Israel or have revealed themselves to be Zionist. Natalie Portman could simply not be cast as Sinéad O'Connor if she was part of that group. O’Connor’s estate would definitely not allow it. Although it is more important to cast someone who will sound and look like Sinéad O'Connor and capture her personality and genius, we know full well the horror of what is happening today in Gaza and what O'Connor would say. Anyone playing her, even in her early career, needs to match O’Connor’s ethics, politics and worldview.
IN THIS PHOTO: Niamh Algar/PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Tierney
Belfast actor Lola Petticrew and Westmeath-born Niamh Algar are also among those who have ben tipped to play Sinéad O'Connor. Again, they are closer in age to when Sinéad O'Connor career began, though I would still like to think that the filmmakers would not use that as a barrier. Saoirse Ronan is someone else that could play Sinéad O'Connor. Will we see a huge actor like her cast or someone that is more unknown? Nothing is confirmed yet in terms of who will play O’Connor. Many on social media said it should be an Irish actor. Someone who is a naturally great singer. To be fair, Natalie Portman has a great voice and could easily learn the accent and O’Connor’s singing style. The delivery, intonations and cadence of her voice. Unless, like some recent music biopics, the actor will mime to the recordings, it will be quite a lot of work and preparation needed to accurately portray someone as unique and rich as Sinéad O'Connor. Even though Natalie Portman seems like a favourite and someone who definitely looks like the late icon, there is a lot to consider and balance. In terms of the age range, nationality of the actor and their experience. Whether you go for a big name that would naturally help bring people into the cinema or a newer actor who might be a more natural fit. Whoever is cast is going to get this wonderful opportunity to play a music genius early in her career. Whether the film starts before the release of Sinéad O'Connor’s debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, in 1987 or in 1990 when she released her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. It is going to be a biopic that will naturally receive scrutiny. I do think that the filmmakers will get the balance right in terms of the script and narrative. Casting the right lead is essential. Whether it is Natalie Portman or Niamh Algar, you know they will pour their heart, passion and every ounce of their being into the role! It is the least the dearly-departed queen deserves. An artist that…
WE all sorely miss.