Lola Petticrew's 10 Best Movies & TV Shows Ranked

Lola Petticrew, an Irish actor whose career has only recently gotten started, has had a recent run of movie and television performances that is setting up the actor for an impressive and celebrated filmography that fans will want to keep an eye on. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Petticrew began their professional career with the 2017 short film, Sparrow. Mainstream work came the next year, in 2018, when Petticrew appeared in small roles in Come Home and Next of Kin. While they would go on to have a notable movie career, it’s TV where Petticrew has made the biggest impact.

Petticrew has identified as queer and non-binary since they were 14, though they consider their work in Dating Amber, a coming-of-age dramedy about two closeted teens in 1990s Ireland, as the moment they learned to fully embrace their gender and sexuality (via TheQueerReview). For most of their career, Petticrew has appeared in Irish TV and movie productions, but in the 2020s, they’ve become a more constant presence in American and international productions. They’ve now amassed an impressive list of movie and TV roles and the sky seems to be the limit for the young actor.

10

My Left Nut (2020)

Lucy (3 Episodes, 2020)


My Left Nut is a three-part coming-of-age comedy drama based on an award-winning stage play. Released in 2020, it follows Mick, a schoolboy dealing with friendship, family, and grief while grappling with a personal medical issue, impacting his relationships and self-discovery journey.

Release Date

March 1, 2020

Cast

Gerard Jordan
, Sinéad Keenan
, Levi O’Sullivan
, Brian Milligan
, Lola Petticrew
, Jay Duffy
, Sade Malone
, Jessica Reynolds

Seasons

1

My Left Nut is an Irish comedy miniseries that aired in 2020 for one season. The series follows Mick Campbell (Nathan Quinn O’Rawe), a young teenager who wakes up to discover a swelling on his left testicle. Still reeling from the death of his father a year ago, this is the last problem Mick wants to deal with, and he must find a way to let his mother and his friends know what he’s been going through.

Collage of Pete Postlethwaite in Jurassic Park The Lost World, In the Name of the Father, and The Town.

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Squeamish medical discussions aside, My Left Nut is a charming and appropriately dramatic series with plenty of goofy laughs and truly sincere moments. Lolo Petticrew appears in the supporting cast as Lucy, Mick’s sister. Petticrew plays the quintessential sister character. Lucy is aggravating and a pest to Mick, but when the chips are down, she shows a loyalty and love for her brother which Petticrew makes completely believable.

9

She Said (2020)

Young Laura

She Said is based on the 2019 book of the same name by reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, played by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan. The film traces Kantor and Twohey’s investigation for the New York Times into sex abuse allegations levied at Harvey Weinstein, eventually exposing his history of alleged sexual abuse. Lola Petticrew appears as the young version of Laura Madden, who’s played in the present by Jennifer Ehle.

Laura Madden is a 1990s Miramax London assistant who alleges she was abused but was never asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. It’s with Madden’s help that the reporters finally get the first-hand account they need. It’s no easy task to mimic an older actor’s performance, but Lola Petticrew is fantastic as a young version of Ehle, matching the actress’s way of speaking and affectations perfectly. It’s an uncomfortable scene, but Petticrew is incredible in it, bringing all the pain and anger that the real women suffered.

8

Wolf (2021)

Judith/Parrot

Wolf is a 2021 psychological drama starring George MacKay as a young man named Jacob, who believes himself to be a wolf. After attacking his brother, Jacob is sent to a psychiatric hospital where he meets other people his age who also believe themselves to be animals. These patients include Cecile (Lily-Rose Depp), Rufus (Fionn O’Shea), Annalisa (Karise Yansen), and Judith (Lola Petticrew). Judith believes herself to be a parrot.

Petticrew once again shows a boldness in her performance, and willingness to act “weird”.

There is a touch more squeamishness and horror than some fans may be ready for in Wolf, but that rawness is necessary for the social allegory of the film about the danger and futility of trying to hammer out behavior some want to call aberrant. Petticrew once again shows a boldness in their performance, and willingness to act “weird”. They manage to make something that could be laughable, moving, elevating the rest of the cast around them.

7

Anne Boleyn (2021)

Jane Seymour (2 Episodes, 2021)

The three-part British miniseries, Anne Boleyn, is set in the final five months of the titular English Queen’s life, ending with her execution. Jodie Turner-Smith plays the queen alongside a cast of talented actors performing as some of the other notable figures during the time. Lola Petticrew appears in the main cast as Jane Seymour, another of King VIII’s (Mark Stanley) wives, who was married to the king after he killed Boleyn.

Anne Boleyn can get a bit soapy at times, and its three episodes mean that some critical parts of the story are rushed through, but it’s a fantastically well-acted series. In the beginning of the series, Jane and Anne share a kiss. Though a relationship between the historical pair has never been suggested, Petticrew and Turner-Smith’s chemistry is as palpable as any of King VIII’s with one of his wives.

6

A Bump Along The Way (2019)

Allegra

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A Bump Along the Way follows a middle-aged single mother who becomes unexpectedly pregnant, causing tension with her teenage daughter. As the pregnancy advances, the familial dynamics shift, leading to a reversal of roles between mother and daughter.

Release Date

October 11, 2019

Runtime

95 minutes

Cast

Bronagh Gallagher
, Lola Petticrew
, Mary Moulds
, Dan Gordon
, Zara Devlin
, Andy Doherty
, Gerard Jordan
, Paddy C Courtney
, Meghan Reid
, Gerard Bell
, Peter Young
, Brendan Farrell
, Orla Mullan
, Carleen Melaugh

Director

Shelly Love

In A Bump Along the Way, one of Lola Petticrew’s first film roles, Bronagh Gallagher plays Pamela, a heavy-drinking, hard-partying single mother of 44 who suddenly finds herself pregnant after a hazy one-night stand. While Pamela is ready and excited to take on the unexpected responsibility, her teenage daughter, Allegra (Petticrew), is mortified at her mother’s actions and not so sure about having to share a home with a much younger sibling.

The comedy and intentional immaturity of the film hides a kind-hearted and extremely perceptive view of mothers, daughters, and parenting. While the movie is definitely Gallagher’s, A Bump Along the Way would not work nearly as well without Petticrew’s hilarious and honest performance as the frustrated Allegra. They set the perfect tone, angry at her mother while also slowly coming to realize that there are other feelings to consider.

5

Three Families (2021)

Orla Healy (2 Episodes, 2021)

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Three Families is a dramatization exploring the real-life stories of three families impacted by Northern Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws before their repeal in 2019. Released in 2021, the film delves into the personal and emotional struggles faced by each family under these legal constraints.

Release Date

May 10, 2021

Cast

Genevieve O’Reilly
, Sinéad Keenan
, Owen McDonnell
, Lola Petticrew
, Kerri Quinn
, Dearbhla Molly
, Amy James-Kelly
, Colin Morgan
, Vanessa Emme
, Grainne Keenan
, Ger Ryan

Seasons

1

Three Families is a two-part television drama set in Northern Ireland between 2013 and 2019. The series focuses on the plights of families who are personally affected by the restrictive abortion laws of the time. In one of the stories, Orla (Lola Petticrew) is a 15-year-old girl who discovers she’s pregnant. When she goes to her mother, Theresa (Sinéad Keenan), hoping to get an abortion, her mother does everything she can to ensure her daughter is taken care of.

She’s a naive young girl, but she also has enough wisdom to understand that her plight is uncertain.

The series jumps from 2013 to 2015, showing how dealing with the abortion laws in Northern Ireland could drain bank accounts, time, and energy. Not to mention how traumatic of an experience it could be in general, considering how personal and often dangerous the situation could get. Petticrew is excellent as Orla. She’s a naive young girl, but she also has enough wisdom to understand that her plight is uncertain. It’s a well-rounded and moving performance from such a young actor.

4

Tuesday (2023)

Tuesday

Tuesday 2023 Movie Poster


Tuesday is a fantasy drama film by writer-director Daina O. Pusic, which initially premiered in 2023. Zora, while caring for her terminally ill daughter, Tuesday, is visited by Death – in the form of a parrot that can change its size. To help Zora cope with what’s to come, Death takes her on an emotional journey to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of life.

Release Date

June 14, 2024

Runtime

111 Minutes

One of Lola Petticrew’s biggest movie roles comes in the strange and risk-taking A24 fantasy drama Tuesday, which also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Zora. Zora is the desperate mother of Tuesday (Petticrew), a young girl suffering from an incurable, terminal disease. When Death arrives in the form of a parrot to take Tuesday, Zora beats it into submission and swallows it whole, causing a slew of problems across the country as animals and people stop dying.

Tuesday is a mediation on death and the cycle of life, and these heady topics don’t make the film seem overstuffed. Though the tone, style, and ideas feel like they should clash, they all blend together for something enjoyable. Petticrew feels wiser than their age as the titular Tuesday, sorrowfully peering at her mother through thick spectacles, and slowly realizing she’s more equipped to handle her impending death than her mother ever will be.

3

Bloodlands (2021-2022)

Izzy Brannick (10 Episodes, 2021-2022)

Bloodlands is a BBC series set in Northern Ireland that stars James Nesbitt as DCI Tom Brannick, an investigator who solves crimes in the area and does his best to hide a dark secret from his past. Lola Petticrew stars in the main cast as Izzy Brannick, Tom’s daughter who is studying medicine at Queen’s University in the city. Bloodlands has to get through a lot of heavy plot before it begins coloring its characters, but once it does, the show comes alive.

There’s a clear frustration with her father, but Petticrew makes sure to not make Izzy seem too precocious, never failing to remember she’s young.

It’s an affecting and harsh show that doesn’t shy away from painting its characters with a grimly realistic brush. The relationships between the main cast are where Bloodlands truly succeeds, with everyone bringing a weary charm to their roles. Petticrew in particular plays the beleaguered daughter very well. There’s a clear frustration with her father, but Petticrew makes sure to not make Izzy seem too precocious, never failing to remember she’s young.

2

Dating Amber (2020)

Amber

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Dating Amber is a 2020 film directed by David Freyne, set in 1990s Ireland. It stars Fionn O’Shea as Eddie and Lola Petticrew as Amber, two teenagers who pretend to be a couple to avoid suspicion about their sexuality. The film explores themes of identity, friendship, and societal expectations while providing a heartfelt portrayal of their journey during a tumultuous time.

Release Date

June 4, 2020

Runtime

92 Minutes

Cast

Fionn O’Shea
, Lola Petticrew
, Sharon Horgan
, Barry Ward
, Simone Kirby

Director

David Freyne

Dating Amber could be considered Lola Petticrew’s break-out performance. In the 2020 Irish LGBTQ+ coming-of-age movie, Petticrew co-stars as Amber Keenan, a closeted lesbian who is best friends with Eddie Cotter (Fionn O’Shea), who is also closeted. The friends live in The Curragh, Ireland, and to avoid the jokes and sneers of classmates and the community, the pair decide to fake a relationship with one another to hide their true sexual preferences.

Dating Amber was originally titled Beards.

It’s a romantic comedy where the best thing that the couple at the center can do is end up with two completely different people. Funny, touching, and poignant, Dating Amber shows the difficulties of growing up trying to hide oneself from others, even those one is closest to. It’s a sweet and charming performance from Petticrew, whose romance with a woman their character meets in Dublin is as believable as their character’s friendship with Eddie.

1

Say Nothing (2024)

Dolours Price (9 Episodes, 2024)

Say Nothing - poSTER


Say Nothing is a film examining the perspectives of Irish Republican Army members, delving into the intense commitment to beliefs, the transition from division to conflict, and the enduring impact of radical violence. The narrative reflects on the emotional and psychological burdens resulting from a culture of silence.

Release Date

November 14, 2024

Cast

Anthony Boyle
, Hazel Doupe
, Lola Petticrew
, Josh Finan
, Maxine Peake

Seasons

1

Say Nothing is a 2024 historical drama limited series made for Hulu based on the 2018 book of the same name by Patrick Radden Keefe. The series takes place over decades, following a group of people living through the Troubles in Ireland during the latter half of the 20th century. Say Nothing explores the people who worked inside the IRA, those counted among the Disappeared, and focuses specifically on the murder of Jean McConville, Judith Roddy in the series.

Petticrew stars as Dolours Price, a real-life figure. Price is an IRA volunteer, and among the many events she finds herself a part of include the 1973 Old Bailey bombing and McConville’s murder. Say Nothing is the biggest role of Lola Petticrew‘s career, and it’s her powerful and haunting performance that centers the series. She is capable and smart, but also emotional, and primed to fly off the handle.