Sarah Bolger is stepping into the dangerous world of 1980s Hell’s Kitchen as she joins the cast of MGM+’s highly anticipated crime series THE WESTIES. The Irish actress, who has been building an impressive resume in recent years through standout performances in MAYANS MC and films like A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND, is set to bring her dramatic prowess to this gritty new project from Narcos creator Chris Brancato.
The 34-year-old actress will portray Bridget Walsh, a steely and calculating IRA operative with a troubled past who becomes entangled in the violent world of New York’s most notorious Irish gang. Her character serves as the girlfriend of Jimmy Roarke and is described as passionate about saving Ireland from British oppression, adding layers of political complexity to an already volatile narrative. Bolger joins an impressive ensemble cast led by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons, who takes on the role of crime boss Eamonn Sweeney, alongside Tom Brittney, Titus Welliver, and Jessica Frances Dukes.
This casting represents a significant career moment for Bolger, who has been steadily ascending in Hollywood’s ranks following her breakout role in Jim Sheridan’s 2002 film IN AMERICA. Her recent work has showcased remarkable range, from her compelling turn as Emily Thomas in the FX series MAYANS MC to her powerful performance in the thriller A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND. She’s also demonstrated versatility across genres with appearances in COUNTERPART, ONCE UPON A TIME, INTO THE BADLANDS, and films like DESCENDANT and END OF SENTENCE.
Set against the backdrop of early 1980s New York, THE WESTIES explores the true story of Hell’s Kitchen’s infamously brutal Irish gang during a pivotal moment in their history. The construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on their home turf promises unprecedented financial opportunities, but the Westies find themselves navigating treacherous waters. Despite being vastly outnumbered by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, their legendary brutality and cunning have earned them a place at the table through a fragile détente that threatens to shatter at any moment.
The series promises to deliver the same gritty authenticity that made Brancato’s previous work on NARCOS and NARCOS: MEXICO so compelling. Internal conflicts between the old guard and ambitious younger members create a powder keg situation that inevitably draws the attention of federal investigators already deep into probing Italian organized crime. This volatile mix of ambition, loyalty, and power provides the perfect backdrop for Bolger to showcase the dramatic intensity she’s been honing throughout her recent career.
For Brancato, who serves as executive producer and showrunner, THE WESTIES represents a passion project years in the making and his third collaboration with MGM+ following the critical success of GODFATHER OF HARLEM and the crime thriller HOTEL COCAINE. The eight-episode series has already begun production in Toronto, positioning itself as another potentially groundbreaking entry in the crime drama genre.
Bolger’s involvement in THE WESTIES signals her continued evolution as one of Ireland’s most promising international talents. Her ability to embody complex, morally ambiguous characters has become her calling card, making her an ideal fit for a series that promises to explore the darker corners of Irish-American identity and the brutal realities of organized crime. As she steps into the role of Bridget Walsh, audiences can expect another nuanced performance from an actress who has consistently chosen projects that challenge both herself and viewers’ expectations.
Taylor Swift just dropped the OPALITE music video and it`s giving major Irish vibes ☘️✨
The nearly 6-minute visual sees Domhnall Gleeson starring as Taylor`s love interest, playing two lonely souls who find each other. But here`s where it gets even better: eagle-eyed Swifties spotted cameos from Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, making this a full-on Irish affair.
Want the full breakdown of this transatlantic collaboration? Head to our blog for all the details on how this stunning video came together. Link in bio! 🔗
The creator of DERRY GIRLS just dropped a murder mystery set at an Irish wake, and honestly? It`s the genre mashup we didn`t know we needed 🕵️♀️
Lisa McGee is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix, and if you loved how she found humor in the Troubles (Protestants! Toasters! Cupboards!), you`re going to eat this up.
Three friends reunite for their childhood bestie`s funeral, only to realize her death isn`t what it seems. Cue an eerie adventure across Ireland that`s equal parts creepy and hilarious.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
British Vogue just put Jessie Buckley on their February cover and it`s not just a magazine shoot—it`s a coronation.
Shot by Jack Davison on the windswept Norfolk coast near her home, these images are pure cinema. Sky, sea, and a woman at the exact moment her entire life is about to change.
She`s the frontrunner for Best Actress. HAMNET is destroying audiences. She`s a new mother standing at the edge of the kind of fame that alters everything.
And Vogue captured it all—the grit, the greatness, the quiet mastery that got her here.
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
Caitriona Balfe has just landed her next major role in THE HOUSEKEEPER.
Set in a grand historic manor against Cornwall`s dramatic landscape, Balfe plays Danni, a housekeeper who falls into a forbidden affair with none other than writer Daphne du Maurier (played by Mackenzi Laird).
While we`re counting down to OUTLANDER`s final season premiere on Mar 6th, Balfe is already proving she`s so much more than Claire Fraser. 🔥
More Caitriona at irishfilmtv.com.
After over 20 years of mesmerizing us on screen, Saoirse Ronan is ready to call the shots—literally.
The four-time Oscar nominee is making her directorial debut with PAPER PLANE, an Irish short film she`s also writing, and honestly, this feels like the natural next chapter for someone who`s been acting since she was nine years old.
Details about PAPER PLANE are still under wraps, but with Ronan`s track record, expectations are sky-high. What are you most excited to see from her behind the camera? 🎬
More Saoirse at irishfilmtv.com.
Louis Paxton`s Sundance 2026 debut THE INCOMER stars Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, and Grant O`Rourke in a trio that`s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Think fish-out-of-water meets generational grief, wrapped in the warmth of fireside hot chocolate. Sometimes the scariest thing isn`t a legendary Fin Man—it`s letting go of the past.
Have you ever held onto something because changing felt like betrayal?
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
🎸 THE BEATLES ARE COMING BACK TO CINEMAS.
Four films. Four perspectives. One legendary band.
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
The first look just dropped via postcards hidden around Liverpool`s performing arts campus and honestly?
The hype is REAL. 🔥
Sam Mendes is directing all four films, each told from a different Beatle`s POV, and they`re ALL releasing on the same day—April 7, 2028.
Which Beatle`s story are you most excited to see? 👇
Irish talent is absolutely dominating the 2026 BAFTA nominations! 🇮🇪✨
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal both scored major noms for HAMNET, with Buckley up for Leading Actress as Agnes and Mescal recognized for Supporting Actor as William Shakespeare. The film has basically swept the nominations, breaking records left and right.
But that`s just the beginning. Andrew Scott landed on the longlist for BLUE MOON, Robbie Ryan got recognized for his stunning cinematography on BUGONIA, and even Cillian Murphy appears as a producer on the STEVE longlist.
From performers to cinematographers to production companies like Element Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures, Irish voices are everywhere in this year`s race.
The ceremony hits London on February 22nd. The world is watching Irish cinema right now, and what a moment to witness. 🎬🔥
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Aidan Turner is about to prove the pen is mightier than the sword 🗡️
Fresh from his scene-stealing turn as Declan O`Hara in RIVALS, Turner takes on one of literature`s most dangerously charismatic figures: the Vicomte de Valmont in DANGEROUS LIAISONS.
Mar 21 to Jun 6 at @nationaltheatre - more at irishfilmtv.com.
