‘Glenroe’ actress ‘felt obliged to carry on’ despite depression

Actress Mary McEvoy has battled depression for most of her adult life — but never once dropped her “tough little woman mask” as she struggled on.

Mary, still best known for playing Biddy in the long-running RTÉ series Glenroe, said she always felt obliged to carry on as if things were normal for her.

She said: “It’s the brittle world of showbusiness, it’s just not done. You don’t let your guard down. The game must be played and the rules observed. If we are to be honest about it, it’s the same everywhere in society. If you feel your heart is breaking, you just keep it to yourself and carry on.