Brenda Fricker, the Oscar-winning Irish actress celebrated for her roles in "My Left Foot" and "Home Alone 2," has died at the age of 81. Fricker was widely remembered for her portrayal of the "pigeon lady" in the 1992 holiday classic "Home Alone 2," where she befriended Kevin McCallister, a role that endeared her to a generation of filmgoers.
Her career was marked by significant dramatic performances, including her Academy Award-winning turn as Bridget Brown in the 1989 film "My Left Foot." Fricker's portrayal of the long-suffering mother of Christy Brown earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1990.
News of Fricker's passing comes approximately a year after she disclosed in an interview that she was largely confined to her bed due to ongoing health issues. She described experiencing daily pain and breathlessness, telling The Guardian that she had "never known tiredness ever in my life" and was "having a dreadful death" while anticipating living to be 100. During periods of sleeplessness, she found solace in watching "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."