Geraldine Hughes

Geraldine Hughes
Geraldine Hughes in New York City in March 2009
Born	1970 (age 46–47) Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Education	University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1984–present
Net worth	$500,000 (2015)
Height	5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)

Geraldine Hughes (born 1970) is an Irish actress. Born in West Belfast, Hughes has appeared in films such as Duplex, Rocky Balboa and Gran Torino. She also played Mary Todd Lincoln in Killing Lincoln. More recently, she performed a solo play written by herself, Belfast Blues.

Hughes grew up in the Divis Flasts in Belfast, Ireland, during The Troubles. To get herself through the tough times, Hughes participated in her school's drama club. She loved school, saying it made her feel safe and she enjoyed the structure it provided. It was where she escaped from The Troubles. After being chosen for her role in the film Children of the Crossfire, Hughes spent her first summer in the United States. She had no acting experience beyond her school's drama club before accepting her role as Mary in the movie.

Hughes comes from a working class family in Belfast, Ireland. She grew up in a Catholic household. Because she lived during The Troubles, Hughes experienced life in a war zone. Belfast Blues is a play she wrote detailing her real life experiences from her life in Belfast. As a child, Hughes never spoke of the horrors she witnessed in Belfast. Her performances of this play are dedicated “to all the children who live in places of conflict.” Hughes left Belfast at the age of 18. She lived in Los Angeles for 16 years then moved to New York City. Family comes first for Hughes as she regularly returns to Belfast for visits.

Hughes married an American from Pennsylvania, Ian Harrington. He also "came from nothin'' as his family was very poor. He was the first to encourage Hughes to share her story.

In Belfast, Hughes attended St. Louise Comprehensive School in the '80s. Later, she attended the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with a private scholarship from those she worked with in the film Children of the Crossfire. While they paid her tuition, she paid her living expenses. Hughes graduated from the university with a BA from the School of Theater, Film and TV. And in 2009, Queens University in Belfast awarded Hughes an honorary doctorate for her contributions to the performing arts.