Justine Mitchell
Justine Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973 (age 52–53) Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
Justine Mitchell is an Irish actress. She is best known for playing Elaine Lynch in the Irish thriller series Smother.
Early life
Mitchell was born in Dublin in 1973 to Denis Mitchell, Barrister, then senior counsel, queen’s counsel, and later a Judge in Bermuda: he was formerly an RTE journalist who was big inspiration for her career and helped her with her first sketch. When she was 12 her family moved to Hong Kong where she was bullied for her Irish accent. She said theatre helped her stay calm during tough times and developed a posh English accent. After returning to Ireland she studied drama at Trinity College Dublin. She moved to London where she worked various jobs aside from acting including working for Brentford F.C.[1]
Career
Prior to becoming a popular tv star Mitchell had a very successful theatre career where she was the winner of the Irish Times Best Supporting Actress in 2002 and bagged the UK Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2015.[2] Her first big role came playing Elaine Lynch in the thriller series Smother.[3][4] She made a one off appearance in the sitcom Derry Girls where portrayed the adult version of Janette.[5] She is currently playing Sandra in the Irish thriller series These Sacred Vows.[6][7]
Personal life
Her favourite shows as a child were Anything Goes, Wanderly Wagon, and Mister Ed. She was heavily influenced by Linda Carter of Wonder Woman while her favourite ever show is I Love Lucy. In February 2026 she stated her current favourite show is Barry starring Bill Hader.[8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Painted Lady | Nurse | |
| 2003 | Goldfish Memory | Kate | |
| 2003 | Conspiracy of Silence | Assistant Floor Manager | |
| 2003 | Citizen Verdict | Jessica Landers | |
| 2003 | The Honeymooners | Fiona | |
| 2004 | Inside I'm Dancing | Doctor | |
| 2005 | A Cock and Bull Story | Tony's Director | |
| 2005 | Song of Songs | Laura | |
| 2005 | Imagine Me & You | Laura | |
| 2007 | I Want Candy | Wailing Daughter | |
| 2009 | Sleep With Me | Catrin | |
| 2011 | Siberia | Kelly | Short |
| 2011 | National Theatre Live: King Lear | Regan | |
| 2013 | The Stag | Linda | |
| 2021 | The Mauritanian | Cathy Taylor | |
| 2022 | Maryland | PC Eddowes | |
| 2025 | Hamnet | Joan |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures | Lucy Martin | Episode; Seasons of Fear |
| 2005 | New Tricks | Scarlet | Episode; Old and Cold |
| 2006 | Afterlife | Claire | Episode; Your Hand in Mine |
| 2006 | Doctors | Clare Wharton | Episode; One Part TLC, Two Parts Shoe Leather |
| 2008 | Waking the Dead | Una Doyle | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Psych Ward | Valerie Johnson | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Wild at Heart | Julie Kagona | Episode; #5.2 |
| 2010 | Your Bad Self | Woman | 6 episodes |
| 2012 | Harry & Paul | Various | Episode; #4.2 |
| 2013 | The Suspicions of Mr Whicher | Sister Anne | Episode; The Murder of Mr Whicher |
| 2014 | Amber | Maeve Flynn-Dunne | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Pure | Connie | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Cheat | DI Bould | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | Finding Joy | Maeve Morris | 2 episodes |
| 2020-2021 | Trying | Lizzie | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Derry Girls | Adult Janette | Episode; The Reunion |
| 2022 | Conversations with Friends | Paula | 5 episodes |
| 2022 | A Spy Among Friends | Eleanor Philby | Episode; No Man's Land |
| 2021-2023 | Smother | Elaine Lynch | 18 episodes |
| 2023 | The Crown | Sarah McCorquodale | Episode; Aftermath |
| 2024 | The Dry | Aine Harrington | Episode; Camping |
| 2024 | Industry | Rose Winter | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Storyland | Ruth's Mother on Phone | Episode; Shush |
| 2024 | Bad Sisters | Eileen Ryan | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Black Doves | Emma Yarrick | 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Lynley | Beth Larwood | Episode; Careless in Red |
| 2026 | How to Get to Heaven from Belfast | Rossa | 2 episodes |
| 2026 | These Sacred Vows | Sandra | 3 episodes |
References
- ^ "'It's easy to get mugged by your brain' - Smother actress Justine Mitchell on learning to trust her heart". independent.ie. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ "Justine Mitchell". onyrapidarts.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
- ^ "Justine Mitchell on the Season Finale of 'Smother'". newstalk.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "RTE Smother's Justine Mitchell says the idea of being spiked like her character Elaine is 'terrifying'". rsvplive.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Lia Williams out, Justine Mitchell in for Alma Mater at the Almeida". westendtheatre.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Details announced for new RTÉ drama series These Sacred Vows". scannain.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "India Mullen, Justine Mitchell, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Jason O'Mara To Take 'These Sacred Vows' For RTE". deadline.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "My TV: Smother's Justine Mitchell talks telly". rte.ie. Retrieved February 16, 2026.