Neasa Hardiman began her career with a Double First Degree in Design from the National College of Art and Design Ireland. Her visionary student work won her a scholarship to Berlin's Universitaet der Kuenste, where she achieved a Master's in Film and Video Art. While studying in Berlin, Neasa, a fluent German speaker, exhibited widely.
Neasa was invited to return to Ireland by RTE, Ireland's public service broadcaster. She achieved a second Master's Degree in Aesthetics and Politics while devising and directing programming for RTE. With her strong visual sensibility and her distinctive academic formation, Neasa honed her skills as a sensitive, emotional storyteller with over twenty documentaries, winning international accolades. Her success led her to become the youngest director on RTE's flagship serial drama Fair City.
Neasa left RTE to debut as a independent writer/director. Her award-winning short films were selected for competition at A-list festivals across the world. She has since made numerous internationally successful television dramas. Neasa was awarded a BAFTA in 2017 for Happy Valley, as well as in 2010 for Tracy Beaker Returns.
Neasa's work is supported by Creative Europe, by the Arts Council of Ireland and by the Irish Film Board as an original voice in Irish film.
