Ann Skelly

Ann Skelly (born 6 December 1996) is an Irish actress. She received IFTA nominations for her performances in the film Kissing Candice (2017) and the miniseries Death and Nightingales (2018). She is also known for her roles in the crime drama Red Rock (2015–2019), the film Rose Plays Julie (2019), and the HBO series The Nevers (2021).

Early life and education
Skelly was born in Dublin and moved to County Wexford as a toddler, first to Ballycanew, then to Oylegate, and later to Kilmuckridge. She went to Coláiste Bríde in Enniscorthy and was homeschooled during her Leaving Cert. She attended the Irish Film Academy's weekend acting classes as a teen. She later trained at Bow Street Academy, graduating in 2017.

Career
Skelly began her acting career in 2015 when she made her television debut in the serial crime drama series Red Rock as Rachel Reid. She made guest appearances on many television programs, most notably Rebellion (2016) and Little Women (2017). Skelly played the lead character named Candice in the drama movie Kissing Candice directed by Aoife McArdle, she was nominated for the Best Actress in a Lead Role – Film and Rising Star in 2018 Irish Film & Television Awards.

In 2018, Skelly starred alongside Jamie Dornan and Matthew Rhys in the historical drama miniseries Death and Nightingales, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by author Eugene McCabe, where she played the lead character named Lady Ethelfled, a stepdaughter to Billy Winters and a daughter of Catherine Winters, she was nominated for the Best Actress in a Lead Role – Drama in 2021 Irish Film & Television Awards. From 2018 to 2019, she had a recurring role in the historical drama series Vikings as Lady Ethelfled, the daughter of Lord Cuthred and was the wife of Prince Aethelred. She starred in the 2019 drama film Rose Plays Julie directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy, which was released on 3 October 2019.

Skelly was cast to play the main role in the sci-fi drama series The Nevers, where she played the lead role of Penance Adair.

Personal life
In 2021, Skelly entered a relationship with Scottish actor Iain De Caestecker.