Dierdre Friel
Dierdre Friel
BFA in Acting, Rutgers University.
AEA, SAG-AFTRA
She/Her
As an actress and a native New Yorker, Dierdre began her career on the stage, co-starring opposite Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Pace in Terrence McNally’s Golden Age for the Manhattan Theatre Club, Our Lady of 121st St written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Phylicia Rashad, and on Broadway in Alan Mencken’s Leap of Faith with Raul Esparza. She has done many developmental readings, world premiere productions, and worked extensively in regional theater, as well.
Friel was recently seen opposite Ray Romano, Laurie Metcalf, and Sebastian Manescalco in Romano’s directorial debut SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS; released by Roadside Pictures, as well as opposite Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini in the critically acclaimed comedy SECOND ACT; released by STX Entertainment. Other film credits include: PRETTY BIRD alongside Paul Giamatti, Kristen Wiig, and Billy Crudup; opposite Melanie Lynskey in LITTLE BOXES; opposite Billy Crystal in HERE TODAY; and in the Sundance Short HELP ME UNDERSTAND, among others.
On television, she has notably starred as “Greta” on AppleTV’s “Physical” and “Ella” on NBC’s critically acclaimed medical drama “New Amsterdam.” Other television credits include: “The Sopranos” for HBO,“Search Party” for TBS, “Tales of the City,” “The Good Doctor,” and “Little America,” to name a few.
As a teaching professional, she has had the opportunity to work with prestigious programs like: the Rutgers Theater Conservatory, Disney Theatrical, and New York University. She has worked with students across the U.S. and all over the world helping to build theater programs and foster self expression.
Dierdre has a deep passion for the arts and what it can do for people. As both an actor and an educator, she strives to give each student the language and awareness to evaluate and elevate their own craft. She studied and received her BFA cum laude from the Mason Gross School of the Arts acting conservatory at Rutgers University. She also had the opportunity to be counted among the first group of actors to study at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London.
