A young Dublin actress has been praised following her debut on BBC show Best Interests.
The emotional series aired on BBC last night and is already proving to be a big hit with viewers.
16-year-old Niamh Moriarty stars alongside Sharon Horgan, Michael Sheen, and Alison Oliver in the four-part BBC series.
Niamh plays Marnie in the nuanced legal drama which centres around a family driven apart by having to make choices no parent would ever want to face.
Viewers were full of praise for the teenage actress after the first episode aired last night.
One person took to social media and said: "Best Interests was superb. Although my daughter does not have a life-limiting condition she is severely disabled & we’ve done the blue lights to the hospital, the being bedside 24/7, the agony, and the blaming ourselves.
"That and all the little details which resonated with me meant this
was like seeing parts of my own life on screen. Everyone involved should be very proud."
Another wrote: "Well Done to Niamh Moriarty in her new series Best Interests. It is a heart breaking story."
Parents Andrew and Nicci have two daughters, Katie, who is played by Alison Oliver and Marnie, who is played by Niamh Moriarty. Marnie has a life-threatening condition and doctors believe it is in her best interest to be allowed to die.
They argue that she is in pain and the treatments are becoming too invasive, but her loving family disagrees.
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They believe Marnie has made it so far, that she has a life worth living. Her parents start a fight that will take them through every stage of the legal process as they struggle to contemplate this huge decision.
The series showcases one example of the many complex issues facing the disabled community and the fact that this series shines a light on matters is something that Niamh holds close to her heart.
Speaking about her role in the show, the Irish actress said Jack Thorne is a brilliant advocate for diversity.
Advocating for on-screen diversity and disability inclusion is something incredibly important to the Irish actress.
Niamh was diagnosed with a form of Cerebral Palsy in her legs called Spastic Diplegia at the age of three and uses a wheelchair.
Her goal is to encourage disabled actors who may feel they do not fit in the industry and hopes to change this narrative through her work. Niamh also wants to encourage a disabled audience, young and old, to be the change they want to see.
Niamh said: "I was delighted to have the opportunity to work on this series with BAFTA Award-winning Jack Thorne, who is a brilliant advocate for diversity."
She praised the production team for making her feel so at home.
"My trailer was the only wheelchair-accessible trailer in the UK at the time of filming! That really sparked something in me and made me determined to advocate for change.
"Thankfully a lot is changing now with the brilliant work of Jack Thorne, TripleC, and the TV Access Project. It’s a change that I can’t wait to be a part of."
Best Interests continues on BBC 1 tonight at 9 pm.
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