Initially famous for playing Orla O'Connell on the BBC series Ballykissangel, she later portrayed Cruella de Vil on the ABC series Once Upon a Time and Roisin Connor on the ITV series Trial and Retribution.
Before beginning her television acting career, she trained at the famous Bristol Old Vic theatre school.
She penned a popular blog for The Dubliner magazine.
She was raised in Dublin, Ireland, as a member of the wealthy Smurfit family. Her marriage to Douglas Baxter lasted from 2000 until 2015. They had three children named Evie, Ridley, and Flynn.
She and Richard Armitage both played recurring roles on the ITV series Cold Feet.
