Born in Ireland in 1966, Alison Doody is the daughter of Patrick, a real estate investor, and Joan, a beauty therapist. Educated in a convent, she was raised on a farm and grew up in a down-to-earth, loving family. She was introduced to the world of fashion very early on, her glossies having been noticed by many photographers. Later, she studied the Fine Arts in college, but at one point she felt the motivation was not there and decided to quit. She moved on, did some modeling, and then tried some TV commercial work. One day, a casting agent singled her out in a café where she sat with friends, and suggested her to try acting instead. So at the age of 19, Alison kissed her family goodbye and moved to England, where the business was. In no time she landed her first role. Her first interview was with the James Bond producers, who chose her among dozens of other girls to play in the latest film in the franchise, A View to a Kill (1985). Three years later, she broke in the movie industry big time when she met George Lucas and Steven Spielberg who were in London casting the third Indiana Jones movie. Alison got the role, and apparently had a blast acting against Harrison Ford and Sir Sean Connery, people she never ever dreamed she would meet, let alone work with. After the Indiana Jones roller-coaster, she shot a few more movies and did some publicity for l'Oréal's new range of hair products. In 1994 she retired from movies and went back to Ireland, where she married her childhood friend Gavin O'Reilly, who by then had become a dashing media dynasty heir. Together they had two daughters, Alanna and Lauren. In 2002, she was asked to cameo in the English comedy movie The Actors with Sir Michael Caine. There she regained a lust for the movie industry and realized how much she missed acting. Now that her beautiful daughters are at an age that leaves more time for mom to breathe, Alison is slowly coming back to movies. She shot a remake of King Solomon's Mines for the Hallmark Channel in 2004, with Patrick Swayze, and donned the Nazi outfit again for Benjamin's Struggle in 2005, an independent short-movie shot for educational purposes. In 2006, after a marriage that has lasted more than ten years, Alison and Gavin have separated. Now, Alison Doody is more than ever planning to come back to movies for good, although her top priority remains her two daughters for the time being.



Neighbour was the well-known singer, Enya. In 2000, she settled a libel action against the Mirror Newspaper Group of Dublin in Ireland, following the publication of a 1999 press article that erroneously claimed she had appeared nude or partially nude on screen. Before the case was due to get underway, a settlement was agreed and Edward Walsh for the Irish Mirror read an apology to the High Court, saying that it was quite untrue that she had ever appeared nude or partially nude in her film roles. He also stated that it is a well-known fact that throughout her career she has always adamantly refused to participate in scenes involving nudity, and that this refusal has cost her the loss of many lucrative roles. The Irish Mirror paid damages, although the actual amount is unknown. Miss Doody told the media that she was quite happy that it was over, and that her good name had been vindicated. She has been presented with the Prince's Trust Award for Charity, for her constant and generous support to children in need. She has turned down several acting offers throughout her career, including the role of Al Pacino's girlfriend in Carlito's Way (1993). She also refused parts in Kiss the Girls (1997), Batman Forever (1995), "Seinfeld" (1990), and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Is one of a number of actors to be photographed by Claire Newman-Williams, including Thomas James Longley, Ben Barnes, and Adam Garcia.