Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, best known to millions of fans as the kind-hearted Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died at the age of 81 following a period of ill health.
Her death was confirmed by her agent, Phil Belfield, who paid a heartfelt tribute to the veteran actress.
"We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her," Belfield said.
"I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over."he added.
According to the BBC, Fricker died peacefully in Dublin after a period of ill health.
The broadcaster described her as one of Ireland's most celebrated actresses, whose distinguished career earned her international acclaim on both the big and small screens.
Fricker enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades, but she became a household name worldwide for her touching portrayal of the lonely Pigeon Lady who befriends Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, in the 1992 Christmas classic Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Her heartfelt performance remains one of the film's most memorable moments.
Long before charming audiences in the festive favourite, Fricker made history in 1990 when she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award. She received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in My Left Foot, starring alongside Daniel Day-Lewis.
Beyond Home Alone 2, Fricker appeared in numerous acclaimed films and television productions, including The Field, A Time to Kill, Veronica Guerin, So I Married an Axe Murderer and the BBC medical drama Casualty. Her versatility and emotional depth earned her widespread admiration throughout her career.
Following news of her death, tributes poured in from fans and fellow actors across the world, many remembering her warmth, generosity and remarkable talent. While generations of viewers will forever associate her with the compassionate Pigeon Lady, Brenda Fricker leaves behind a legacy defined by exceptional performances that continue to inspire audiences around the globe.