In the early 1980s few Irish actresses dominated the small screen quite like Jeananne Crowley. She made her big break internationally with the role of Nellie Keane in the BBC’s acclaimed drama Tenko and she’s still a frequent sight on our screens

As Keane, Crowley played the role of a nurse caught in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the second World War. The role saw Crowley explore multiple facets of relationships, including an unrequited love for a fellow female prisoner. The show also proved to be a breakout platform for Stephanie Cole, who later starred in Open all Hours and Waiting for God.

Crowley moved on to very different yet challenging projects following her Tenko appearance. The film version of Educating Rita saw her assume the role of Julia, an initially unseen character in the stage version that was brought to life by Crowley on screen. The role gave her the opportunity to perform alongside Michael Caine and Julie Walters in the Pygmalion-inspired film that won a BAFTA for best film.

In the same year, Crowley had a regular role in Reilly: Ace of Spies, the series that was the launching ground for Sam Neill’s acting career. The series, inspired by the life of the first super-spy Sidney Reilly, was one of the last British dramas in which Crowley had a recurring role.

For the remainder of the decade and through the early 1990s, Crowley’s appearances on screen were far less regular, although she still had notable appearances in Doctor Who and the short-lived Shrinks.

The accomplished actress kept busy however, proving to be a prolific writer with The Irish Times and the Guardian, amongst others.

She also turned to stage, appearing in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia at the Gate theatre in 1999. In 2004, more than two decades after starring in a film inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s work, Crowley appeared at the Gate in Pygmalion.

Not all of Crowley’s appearances involving the Dublin theatre have been in traditional roles but they have, nevertheless, proved to be entertaining. Last December, at a party organised to celebrate Michael Colgan’s 25 years as artistic director of the Gate, Crowley launched into a rendition of Oh Lord, it’s Hard to be Humble during a speech by Colgan.

Crowley now lives in Cleggan, Co Galway, but is still actively writing both for the press and the stage. Her continued work with The Irish Times includes writing book reviews. She has also written two plays, complementing her extensive work on stage as an actress. One of these plays, Goodnight Siobhan, is entirely her own work, while she co-wrote a satire called Pickled.

The move to Galway has re-invigorated Crowley’s career. In an interview with the Sunday Independent in 2004, she said it was like finding her soul and this may be why we’ve been seeing more of the actress on our screens in recent years.

Crowley has become more frequently visible in recent years on Irish television, having roles in RTÉ dramas such as Proof and The Clinic. This resurgence in her career could well mean we will see plenty more of Jeananne Crowley in years to come.