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Danielle Ryan
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Danielle Ryan (born 1 November 1983) is an Irish-Sri Lankan actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur.
Key Information
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Early life
[edit]Ryan is the daughter of Captain Cathal Ryan and granddaughter of Tony Ryan, founder of Ryanair. Her mother Tess de Kretser, is from Sri Lanka. [1]
Career
[edit]Acting
[edit]Ryan graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2006.
Most recently, Ryan appeared in “The End (2024 film)”, which is due to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2024. In 2024, she also appeared on stage at the Irish Repertory Theatre off-Broadway in New York where she played the role of Judith in Brian Friel’s Aristocrats.
In 2007, she made her theatrical stage debut in Food to positive reviews.[2] In the same year, she appeared in How About You, a film based on a collection of stories by Maeve Binchy[3] and The Trial of Tony Blair. She has also appeared in Vivarium, which premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, The Silencing, Wild Mountain Thyme alongside Jamie Dornan, Emily Blunt and Jon Hamm.[4] and Mr. Malcolm's List.
Her television work includes her role as Alice in Magpie Murders,[5] Vicky Boyle in Harry Wild[6] and Agent Sophia Elias in The Professionals[7] along with roles in Doctors, The Tudors, Casualty (TV series) and Fair City. Ryan is credited as a producer on six productions,[8] including Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, Song of Granite, which was selected as the Irish entry for the Best Foreign Film at the 90th Academy Awards, Rialto, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and L.O.L.A., which wrapped in November 2020.[9]
Business
[edit]In 2013, Ryan launched the brand ROADS,[10] which encompasses luxury fragrances, book publishing and film production.[11] She has said that in setting up ROADS, she wanted to find a way of crossing over from the artistic and creative worlds into tangible products.[12]
There are 18 Eau de Perfum,[13] 5 candles[14] and more than 50 books[15] for sale under the ROADS label around the world.[16]
Philanthropy
[edit]The Lir Academy
[edit]Trinity College Dublin discontinued its acting degree in 2007, leaving Ireland with 'no high-level full-time actor training'.[17] In response, Ryan founded[18] The Lir,[19] Ireland's National Academy of Dramatic Art, which she announced in 2009.[20]
The Lir is part of Trinity College Dublin and has an association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[21] It welcomed its first students in 2011, its opening attracting press coverage from the New York Times.[22] Ryan funded a purpose-built premises for the Lir,[23] which is located in Grand Canal Dock in Dublin.
The Lir offers conservatoire training for actors along with degrees in stage management and technical theatre as well as Masters in Fine Art for playwriting, theatre directing and stage design.[24]
UNICEF
[edit]Ryan announced in 2011, at the United Nations General Assembly, that her family would donate $14 million to help some of the most vulnerable children in Sri Lanka.[25] This was the largest single private donation ever made to UNICEF, for which Ryan received the UNICEF Ireland's children's award from former Irish president Mary Robinson in 2012.[26]
The donation was used to rebuild the health and education infrastructure in four towns in the North of Sri Lanka[27] that had been destroyed by the Sri Lankan Civil War.
She continues to work with UNICEF, giving keynote speeches on their behalf and acting as a member of the UNICEF International Council.[28]
Other
[edit]Ryan has donated to Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin[29] and Temple Street Children's University Hospital,[30] both in Dublin.
She also provided funding to One in Four,[31] a charity in Ireland which helps people affected by childhood sexual abuse.[32]
Filmography
[edit]Acting
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Doctors | Milly Moreton | TV series |
| 2007 | Food[2] | Cordelia/Brigitte | Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, London |
| 2007 | How About You | Maria | Feature film |
| 2007 | Fair City | Frieda Garvey | TV series |
| 2007 | The Trial of Tony Blair | PM's Assistant | TV film |
| 2008 | Casualty | Cheryl Reisman | TV series |
| 2008 | The Tudors | Martha | TV series |
| 2019 | Vivarium | Mom | Feature film |
| 2019 | The Professionals | Agent Sophia Elias | TV series |
| 2020 | The Silencing | Dr Patel | Feature film |
| 2020 | Mr. Malcolm's List | Lady Margaret | Feature film |
| 2021 | Wild Mountain Thyme | Maeve | Feature film |
| 2021 | Magpie Murders | Alice | TV series |
| 2021 | Harry Wild | Vicky Boynes | TV series |
| 2021 | The Cordelia Dream | Woman | Theatre, Irish Repertory Theatre, New York |
| 2022 | Double Threat | Natasha | Feature film |
| 2023 | Night Train | Holly | Feature film |
| 2024 | Aristocrats | Judith | Theatre, Irish Repertory Theatre, New York |
| 2024 | The End | Mary | Feature Film |
Producing
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dreams of a Life | Associate producer | |
| 2015 | Being AP | Executive producer | |
| 2016 | We are Moving | Executive producer | |
| 2017 | Song of Granite | Executive producer | Selected as the Irish entry for the Best Foreign Film in the 90th Academy Awards |
| 2017 | Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami | Executive producer | |
| 2019 | Rialto | Executive producer |
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.independent.ie/style/the-scent-of-success-ryanair-heiress-danielle-ryan-means-business/31238577.html
- ^ a b "Theatre review: Food at BAC". Britishtheatreguide.info. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Books: Michael Fitzpatrick recalls Maeve Binchy". New York Irish Arts. Retrieved 7 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Emily Blunt, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken Appear in 'Wild Mountain Thyme' Trailer". Rolling Stone. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Magpie Murders". IMDb. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Harry Wild". IMDb. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "The Professionals". IMDb. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Danielle Ryan". IMDb. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Andrew Legge wraps sci-fi 'L.O.L.A.', first image revealed (exclusive)". ScreenDaily.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "ROADS". Roads.co. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Bill (23 April 2014). "Talented Ms. Ryan - Image Magazine". IMAGE.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "COLLECTION: AMERICAN APPAREL X SHAUN ROSS". F Word Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Eau De Parfums — Roads". Roads.co. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Candles — Roads". Roads.co. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Summary — ROADS". Roads.co. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Stockists — Roads". Roads.co. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ John Downes (17 January 2007). "Trinity suspends acting degree course". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Gavin Daly (8 July 2018). "Clown Academy can laugh again as Trinity wipes out losses | Ireland". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "ACN | Noticias de Venezuela y el mundo". Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Plans for theatre academy unveiled". Independent.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "About Us | The Lir Academy". Thelir.ie. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Patrick Healy (26 August 2011). "Ireland Gets Its Own Acting Academy at Trinity College Dublin - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Genevieve Carbery (22 October 2011). "Dramatic first night: Lir Academy to train theatre hopefuls". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Courses | The Lir Academy". Thelir.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "The Cathal Ryan Trust invests $14 million in UNICEF programmes focusing on education | Press centre". UNICEF. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Proud family accept award for record €11m donation". Independent.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "UNICEF Philanthropic partners promote education The Cathal Ryan Trust". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Danielle Ryan Keynote". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Annual Report" (PDF). Cmrf.org.
- ^ "New emergency department opens at Dublin's Temple Street Hospital". Newstalk.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "One in Four Ireland - Homepage". Oneinfour.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Sexual abuse: Thinking the unthinkable". Irishexaminer.com. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
External links
[edit]Danielle Ryan
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Early life
Family background
Danielle Ryan was born on 1 November 1983 in Dublin, Ireland, to Captain Cathal Ryan and Tess de Kretser. She has an elder brother, Cillian, and a younger half-sister, Claudia.[1] Cathal Ryan, an Irish pilot and one of the early board members of Ryanair, trained as an aviator in Sri Lanka during the early 1980s and became one of the airline's first pilots after its founding in 1985.[16] Her mother, Tess de Kretser, is of Sri Lankan descent and worked as an air hostess, where she met Cathal Ryan; the couple married in 1982 but divorced when Danielle was a year old, after which she was primarily raised by her father in Ireland.[17][18] Ryan is the granddaughter of Tony Ryan, the Irish billionaire who founded Ryanair in 1984 and built it into Europe's largest low-cost airline.[19] Tony Ryan died on 3 October 2007 at age 71 following a battle with cancer, leaving an estate that included significant shares in Ryanair and other assets.[19] Her father, Cathal, passed away shortly after on 20 December 2007 at age 48, also from cancer; his estate was valued at €249.7 million upon his death, which was distributed to his children, including Danielle, through probate proceedings finalized around 2008 when she was 24.[20][21] This inheritance provided Ryan with substantial wealth and exposure to the privileges of her family's aviation legacy at a young age. Growing up in Ireland amid the Ryan family's affluence, Danielle experienced a childhood marked by international influences due to her parents' careers, including time spent in Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Dublin, and London.[22] Her father's role in the aviation industry and her mother's Sri Lankan heritage shaped her early cultural perspectives, fostering an appreciation for diverse global viewpoints without directing her toward a specific career path during this period.[23][1]Education
Danielle Ryan received her secondary education at Our Lady's School in Rathnew, County Wicklow, Ireland.[1] During her time there, she developed a passion for theatre, encouraged by an inspiring English teacher and an artistic grand-uncle who fostered her creative interests.[24] In her teenage years, Ryan actively participated in extracurricular theatre activities, including local productions and school plays, which honed her performance skills and solidified her commitment to acting. At the family estate in Celbridge, she transformed an old barn into the 90-seater Old Barn Playhouse, where she directed works such as Yasmina Reza's Art and performed in Seán O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock at age 13; these endeavours also raised €1.5 million for charity through annual shows.[24] Despite the expectations tied to her family's substantial wealth from the Ryanair legacy, which might have steered her toward business pursuits, Ryan opted to dedicate herself to drama, a path supported by her family. Following secondary school, she briefly attended the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, enrolling in an anthropology program but departing after one year to pursue specialized acting training.[1][24] In 2003, Ryan gained admission to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, completing a demanding three-year BA (Hons) in Acting program that graduated her in 2006. The curriculum featured intensive conservatory training over the first two years, focusing on classical theatre techniques such as voice projection, physical movement, text analysis, and character development, followed by a year-long public showcase to connect students with industry professionals.[24][25] This rigorous preparation equipped her with the foundational skills essential for a professional acting career.[23]Career
Acting
Ryan graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London in 2006, marking the beginning of her professional acting pursuits.[5] Her stage debut came the following year in the production Food, a play co-created by Joel Horwood and Christopher Heimann, presented by theimaginarybody at Battersea Arts Centre. In this work, she portrayed the dual roles of Cordelia and Brigitte, delivering a performance described as stunning in its professional debut and contributing to the show's receipt of a Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; the production subsequently toured extensively.[26][27] Also in 2007, Ryan made her screen debut in the film How About You..., an Irish-British drama directed by Anthony Byrne and adapted from Maeve Binchy's short stories, where she played the role of Maria.[28] Early television appearances followed, including guest roles in the Irish soap opera Fair City as Frieda Garvey and in British medical dramas such as Casualty and Doctors.[23] She appeared in the historical series The Tudors (2008) as Martha, gaining exposure in an international production.[29] Ryan also featured in the Irish drama series Raw (2008–2013) on RTÉ One, portraying a character in the ensemble about young professionals in Dublin's hospitality industry, as well as supporting roles in films like Four Leaf Clover (2008) as Siobhan and The Callback Queen (2010).[30] Throughout the 2010s, Ryan transitioned from supporting parts to more prominent roles across film and television. Notable film credits include What Richard Did (2012), an Irish coming-of-age drama directed by Lenny Abrahamson that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her career gained further momentum with leading and key supporting roles in genre films: she played the School Mom in the sci-fi horror Vivarium (2019), starring opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots, which premiered in the Critics' Week section at the Cannes Film Festival; Dr. Patel in the action thriller The Silencing (2020), directed by Robin Pront; and Maeve in the romantic comedy Wild Mountain Thyme (2020), alongside Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan.[27][31] On television, Ryan continued building her profile with roles such as Alice in the mystery series Magpie Murders (2022) on BritBox, directed by Peter Cattaneo. More recently, she has taken on the recurring lead role of Detective Sergeant Vicky Boyle in the Acorn TV crime drama Harry Wild (2021–present), appearing across multiple seasons, and Ana Dao in the fantasy drama Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale (2022).[27] Ryan's evolution as an actress has seen her progress from ensemble and supporting characters in Irish and British productions to internationally recognized leads, exemplified by her performance as Lady Margaret in the period romance Mr. Malcolm's List (2022) and as Mary in The End (2024), an apocalyptic musical directed by Joshua Oppenheimer and starring Tilda Swinton, which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Ryan attended the event.[27][32] Additional stage work includes the role of Judith in Aristocrats (2017) by Brian Friel at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York and Woman in The Cordelia Dream (2008) at the Irish Repertory Theatre.[27]Producing
Danielle Ryan entered film producing in the early 2010s, co-founding Roads Entertainment in 2013 with producer Alan Maher after meeting him during his tenure at the Irish Film Board.[4] The venture, integrated into her ROADS luxury group, leveraged her industry connections from acting to finance and develop independent Irish films and documentaries for international distribution. Ryan's approach emphasized creative oversight and funding for projects that highlighted underrepresented stories, often in partnership with entities like Screen Ireland (formerly the Irish Film Board). She had prior involvement in projects like the horror feature Citadel (2012), directed by Ciarán Foy, supporting debut directors in genre cinema.[33] Another significant credit was the documentary Being AP (2015), directed by Anthony Wonke, chronicling Formula One driver Anthony Davidson's career; the film received backing from BBC Films and Northern Ireland Screen, showcasing Ryan's facilitation of cross-border co-productions.[33] These works demonstrated her focus on diverse narratives, blending commercial viability with artistic ambition in independent Irish filmmaking. Ryan's producing portfolio expanded with high-profile documentaries in the late 2010s. She served as executive producer on Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017), directed by Sophie Fiennes, which offered an intimate look at the musician and performer's life and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews.[34][35] That same year, she executive produced Song of Granite, directed by Pat Collins, a poetic biopic of Irish singer Joe Heaney that was selected as Ireland's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.[36] The project, developed in collaboration with Harvest Films, underscored Ryan's commitment to preserving cultural heritage through cinema.[4] In 2019, Ryan executive produced the drama Rialto, directed by Peter Mackie Burns, which explored themes of masculinity and family; the film debuted at the Venice Film Festival and later screened at additional international events.[37] Her collaborations during this period frequently involved co-producers like Jessie Fisk and Alan Maher, who helped navigate funding and distribution for low-budget, talent-driven Irish projects.[38] Post-2020, Ryan continued supporting innovative independent works through international co-productions. She executive produced the sci-fi drama Lola (2022), directed by Andrew Legge, a Ireland-UK collaboration about two siblings inventing a time-intercepting machine amid the Troubles; the film won the Méliès d'Argent award at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival.[39][40] This effort, involving partners like Northern Ireland Screen and UK producers Compton Ross and Phil Hunt, highlighted her ongoing role in fostering emerging directors and cross-cultural storytelling in Irish cinema.[41]Business ventures
In 2013, Danielle Ryan launched ROADS, a luxury lifestyle brand inspired by global travel, cultural influences, and personal aesthetics, featuring a collection of 18 unisex perfumes, scented candles, and curated books.[42] The brand's perfumes draw from diverse themes such as art, literature, nature, and emotions, crafted in collaboration with renowned perfumers using high-quality, natural ingredients.[9] ROADS emphasizes artisanal production rooted in Irish craftsmanship, with its operations based in Dublin, while incorporating sustainable practices like vegan, phthalate-free formulations for its candles produced via solar energy.[43] The business strategy of ROADS centers on high-end, niche products that blend storytelling and minimalistic design to foster personal connections with consumers, positioning it as a creative collective rather than a conventional retail line.[44] By the 2020s, the brand had expanded from initial launches in select department stores like Selfridges and Barneys to a robust online presence and partnerships with over 30 international retailers, enabling global distribution of its fragrances and accessories.[15] This growth was supported by Ryan's use of family inheritance as startup capital, allowing independent development without external investors.[45] Ryan has navigated challenges in scaling ROADS, including communicating its multifaceted vision across fragrance, publishing, and lifestyle elements, as well as financial losses reported in the late 2010s amid expansion efforts that required personal loans exceeding €1 million.[44][46] Despite these hurdles, successes include international acclaim for its unique scents and strategic retail placements, demonstrating Ryan's ability to balance inherited wealth with entrepreneurial autonomy.[47] In 2022, Ryan co-established The Form Foundation, a Dublin-based organization that functions as a business-cultural hybrid by commissioning and promoting public art installations to enhance urban cultural landscapes.[48] The foundation collaborates with artists and institutions to create accessible, site-specific works, blending commercial curation with public engagement to support Ireland's contemporary art scene.[49] This venture extends Ryan's entrepreneurial focus on culturally inspired initiatives, integrating artistic production with sustainable community impact.[50]Philanthropy
Educational initiatives
Danielle Ryan founded The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art in 2011 through the Cathal Ryan Trust in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, establishing Ireland's first dedicated conservatoire for professional theatre training. The initiative, conceived to address the historical exodus of Irish talent to overseas drama schools, resulted in a purpose-built facility in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock that opened on October 24, 2011. Funding from the trust covered the development and construction of the academy, which emphasizes rigorous, industry-led programs in acting, stage management, and technical theatre.[51] Drawing from her own experience training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, Ryan contributed significantly to shaping the academy's curriculum, prioritizing practical skills in voice, movement, and performance to prepare Irish actors for national and international stages. The programs, including a three-year Bachelor in Acting with an annual intake of around 16 students, alongside postgraduate MFAs in directing and playwriting, focus on bridging educational gaps in Ireland's drama landscape by fostering homegrown expertise.[23][8][52] Ryan maintains active involvement as a board director, overseeing strategic development and supporting the academy through continued philanthropy via the trust, including contributions to student productions and access initiatives. Since its launch, The Lir has graduated hundreds of alumni across its programs, significantly enhancing professional theatre training opportunities in Ireland and reducing reliance on foreign institutions.[53][54][8]International aid
Danielle Ryan has been actively involved in international philanthropy through the Cathal Ryan Trust, which she represents, focusing on supporting vulnerable children in developing regions of Asia. In 2011, the trust announced a $14 million donation to UNICEF for children's education and health programs in post-conflict northern Sri Lanka, with Ryan serving as spokesperson and addressing the UN General Assembly on microfinance efficacy in aid delivery. This contribution held personal significance for Ryan, as her mother, Tess de Kretser, was born in Sri Lanka, where her parents first met.[55][23] The partnership with UNICEF emphasized education, health, and emergency aid initiatives to address the aftermath of the civil war and the 2004 tsunami, targeting communities in need of rebuilt infrastructure. Key projects included the construction of child-friendly schools to serve approximately 6,000 children and the rehabilitation of healthcare facilities benefiting around 25,000 young children, 5,000 pregnant women, and 5,000 lactating mothers. Specific outcomes encompassed a new 11-classroom school in Vavuniya equipped with water, sanitation, a computer lab, and library for over 200 students aged 6-16, as well as the Periyapandivirichchan Maternity Ward serving 11,000 women with expanded antenatal, labor, and examination facilities.[55][56] In recognition of these efforts, the Cathal Ryan Trust received UNICEF Ireland's Children's Award in 2012, presented by former Irish President Mary Robinson and accepted by Ryan. Follow-up activities included Ryan's personal attendance at project openings, such as the Vavuniya school ceremony featuring community events with Clowns without Borders and the maternity ward inauguration. The trust has since monitored impact via UNICEF reports and committed additional funding, bringing total contributions to over €11 million for redevelopment in northern Sri Lanka.[57][56][1] In 2017, the trust entered a multi-year partnership with UNICEF to support programs for adolescent girls in Peru, focusing on education, health, and protection in vulnerable communities.[58]Domestic charities
Danielle Ryan has supported several Irish health organizations through personal and trust-based donations, focusing on improving pediatric care facilities. In 2016, she and the Cathal Ryan Trust provided funding for the refurbishment and extension of the Emergency Department at Temple Street Children's University Hospital in Dublin, enhancing patient capacity with additional isolation rooms, emergency beds, and improved waiting areas.[59][60] This contribution, made in collaboration with the Health Service Executive, addressed critical infrastructure needs for young patients.[61] Ryan has also contributed to social welfare initiatives addressing child sexual abuse. In 2017, she provided financial support to One in Four, an Irish charity that assists survivors and works with individuals exhibiting sexually harmful behaviors, helping to sustain their prevention and outreach programs.[62] Her involvement extended to awareness efforts, aligning with the organization's mission to break the silence around childhood trauma. These efforts stem from the inheritance Ryan received from her father, Cathal Ryan's estate, valued at approximately €250 million, of which €35 million was directed to charitable causes, including domestic health and welfare projects under her personal oversight through the Cathal Ryan Trust.[63] Overall, her contributions to Irish domestic charities have totaled millions, emphasizing hands-on management of initiatives in health and social services.[11]Personal life
Marriage
Danielle Ryan married Richard Bourke, a former barrister and her childhood sweetheart, on February 25, 2012, in a private ceremony in London's Knightsbridge district near Harrods.[64][23] The event, attended by close family and friends, was reported to have cost approximately €100,000 and reflected the couple's preference for understated elegance despite Ryan's prominent family background.[64] The marriage has remained low-profile, with Bourke supporting Ryan's career in acting and producing while avoiding the spotlight himself.[23] They occasionally appear together at professional events tied to Ryan's work, such as film festivals and business launches, emphasizing their collaborative dynamic in creative endeavors.[1] Shared interests include arts patronage, as evidenced by their co-founding of The Form Foundation in 2022, a Dublin-based organization that enriches Ireland's public art landscape by collaborating with local institutions and international artists.[65][66] Additionally, travel plays a role in their personal life, often aligning with Ryan's international professional commitments.[1] Ryan and Bourke have two children, daughter Carla (born circa 2010) and son Ethan (born circa 2012), though public details about their family remain limited to protect privacy.[1] As of 2025, no public records or reports indicate separation or additional children.[67]Residence and interests
Danielle Ryan maintains her primary residence in Dublin, Ireland, a choice that underscores her deep-rooted connection to her homeland amid extensive international commitments. In a September 2024 interview, she emphasized this decision, stating, "Ireland is where I choose to be. It’s where the opportunity is," highlighting her preference for local opportunities over relocation.[48] This commitment is reflected in her shared life with husband Richard Bourke, with whom she co-founded initiatives centered in the city.[67] Her personal interests encompass travel, which inspired the naming and ethos of her lifestyle brand ROADS, evoking journeys and the "road less travelled" as a metaphor for exploration and creativity.[15] Ryan also engages in public art patronage through The Form Foundation, a Dublin-based organization she established with Bourke in 2022 to enhance Ireland's public art landscape by collaborating with local institutions and international artists.[65][66] This work aligns with her advocacy for Irish culture, promoting accessible artistic experiences that celebrate national heritage.[48] In recent years, Ryan's activities have included attending the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and participating in Dublin's cultural scene, such as the Oasis reunion concert in August 2025.[10]Filmography
Film roles
Danielle Ryan began her film career in the mid-2000s with supporting roles in independent features before gaining prominence in international productions during the late 2010s. Her acting credits span a variety of genres, from psychological thrillers to romantic dramas, often portraying complex supporting characters. She has also contributed as a producer through her company Roads Entertainment on several Irish films.| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | How About You | Maria | Anthony Byrne | Supporting role in Irish-British comedy-drama.[3] |
| 2015 | Jen | Jen | Julian Allder | Lead role in independent film.[3] |
| 2019 | Vivarium | Mom | Lorcan Finnegan | Supporting role in sci-fi horror film.[68] |
| 2020 | The Silencing | Dr. Patel | Robin Pront | Supporting role in action thriller.[3] |
| 2020 | Wild Mountain Thyme | Maeve | John Patrick Shanley | Supporting role in romantic comedy.[3] |
| 2022 | Mr. Malcolm's List | Lady Margaret | Emma Holly Jones | Supporting role in period romance.[3] |
| 2024 | The End | Mary | Joshua Oppenheimer | Role in apocalyptic drama.[3] |