Alisha Weir

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Alisha Weir
Born2009 (age 14–15)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2017–present

Alisha Weir (born 2009)[1] is an Irish actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as the title characters in the films Matilda the Musical (2022), and the horror film Abigail (2024).

Early life[edit]

Alisha Weir grew up in Dublin, Ireland.[1] Her father manages a car dealership.[2] She attended Our Lady's School.[3] Her two older sisters took drama classes, which Weir joined when she was old enough.[4]

Weir will do her Junior Cert exams in 2025.[2]

Career[edit]

When the musical Once returned to Dublin's Olympia Theatre in 2017, Weir played Ivanka. She also performed a rendition of the Justin Timberlake song "True Colors" on The Late Late Toy Show.[5] She made her feature film debut in the 2018 thriller Don't Leave Home and her television debut as Laura in the 2019 crime drama Darklands.[6] She appeared in productions of Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and Oliver!.[2]

Weir was eleven when she was cast as the titular Matilda Wormwood in the film adaptation of Matilda the Musical for Netflix.[5]

Weir played the lead role in the 2024 horror film Abigail. The film was released on April 19, 2024.[7] She learned ballet for the role and performed her own stunts.[2][8] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called her performance "mesmerizing" and "so frightening and sardonically funny as the pint-sized bloodsucker that Bela Lugosi must be turning over in his grave from jealousy."[9]

Weir will voice the lead role in the animated feature The Land of Sometimes with Jessica Henwick and Ewan McGregor.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Weir lives with her parents in Knocklyon, South Dublin. They own a dog.[2]

Weir enjoys films such as The Parent Trap and The Black Phone. She considers actress Saoirse Ronan to be one of her acting idols.[8]

Credits[edit]

Film and TV[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Don't Leave Home Siobhan Callahan
Day Out Rachael Short film
2019 Darklands Laura 5 episodes
2020 Two by Two: Overboard! Primrose (voice)
2022 Matilda the Musical Matilda Wormwood
Fia's Fairies Fia (voice) Main role
2023 Wicked Little Letters Nancy Gooding
2024 Abigail Abigail
TBA The Land of Sometimes[10]

Stage[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Once[11] Ivanka Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Annie[12] Molly National Concert Hall, Dublin
2018 The Wizard of Oz[8] Munchkin
2019 Oliver![2] Chorus

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 Dublin Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Artist – Irish Matilda the Musical Won [13]
2023 London Film Critics' Circle Young British/Irish Performer of the Year Nominated [14]
Irish Film & Television Awards[citation needed] Lead Actress – Film Nominated

In April 2024, Weir was listed among Forbes 30 Under 30.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Britt, Tabitha (22 December 2022). "All About 'Matilda the Musical' Actress Alisha Weir". People. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Barter, Pavel (28 April 2024). "Matilda star Alisha Weir: I'm back at school, I want to do my Junior Cert". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Matilda Movie Premiere". Our Lady's School. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Ester N (19 November 2022). "Alisha Weir on being Matilda: 'I burst into tears because I just couldn't believe it'". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Coyle, Colin (17 January 2021). "Dublin actress Alisha Weir, 11, lands lead role in Netflix Matilda". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Dublin teen poised for stardom after a lead role in Netflix's 'Matilda the Musical'". IrishCentral. 3 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  7. ^ Donaghy, Gerard (14 January 2024). "Young Irish actress Alisha Weir teases upcoming horror from directors of Scream". The Irish Post. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Grobar, Matt (19 April 2024). "Meet Alisha Weir, The 14-Year-Old Breakout Star Of Universal's Vampire Flick 'Abigail'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  9. ^ Scheck, Frank (18 April 2024). "'Abigail' Review: Dan Stevens and Melissa Barrera in an Exuberantly Over-the-Top Vampire Horror-Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b Yossman, K.J. (8 May 2024). "Jessica Henwick, Alisha Weir Join Ewan McGregor in Animated Feature 'The Land of Sometimes'". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ Donaghy, Gerard. "Teenage Irish actress Alisha Weir makes prestigious Forbes list of top European talent". The Irish Post. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Young Dublin Matilda star Alisha Weir to grace red carpet at Irish premiere". SundayWorld.com. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ Neglia, Matt (15 December 2022). "The 2022 Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  14. ^ Ritman, Alex (21 December 2022). "'Banshees of Inisherin', 'Aftersun' Top London Critics' Circle Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  15. ^ Guerin, Harry (9 April 2024). "Irish star Alisha Weir, 14, on Forbes 30 Under 30 list". RTÉ TEN. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

External links[edit]