Netflix has finally unveiled its sumptuous new period drama, House of Guinness, offering a total of eight episodes for viewers to devour, reports the Irish Mirror.

With stunning filming locations and costumes, the series penned by Steven Knight offers an immersive viewing experience.

Many are eager to learn whether the show is based on true events or simply a product of Knight’s imagination.

One of the most captivating characters in House of Guinness is the determined and sharp-witted Ellen Cochrane, portrayed by Niamh McCormack.

Here’s the lowdown on the character and whether she was a real historical figure, as well as McCormack opening up about her portrayal.

Was Ellen Cochrane a real person?

No, Ellen was not a real person but a character created specifically for the Netflix series.

However, according to History Extra, the House of Guinness character may have been inspired by the poet and activist Ellen O’Leary.

She penned poetry under pseudonyms for The Irish People, a newspaper of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

She also became a member of the Ladies’ Committee, a detail that echoes the House of Guinness character.

Another similarity between Ellen O’Leary and Ellen Cochrane is that her brother was the leading nationalist John O’Leary, akin to Patrick Cochrane (played by Seamus O’Hara) in the series.

Discussing her aspirations for the impact of House of Guinness, actress McCormack shared with Extra.ie: “I think they should have an appreciation for the women who fought for Irish independence, and for Ireland as a whole, and strong Irish women, who have been written out of history so much.”

Adding to this, the star of The Magic Flute said: “And I hope this shines a spotlight on how bold and brilliant the women of Ireland really are.”

In another chat with Netflix, McCormack revealed that her character was deeply involved in the “political chaos” of 1860s Dublin.

She further explained: “The Ladies’ Committee was her way of incorporating women into politics. At the time, women had no voice, no vote, and no real rights. So this was her stance: to modernise Irish politics and push for equality. She lives her life through those principles.”

After securing the role, the actress created a mood board for Ellen to envision her character before meeting with the show’s makeup designer Konnie Daniel.

She recalled: “There was this photo of an Irish woman with long ginger hair, leading a group of people with an Irish flag. I was really drawn to that image.

“Then I met Konnie, and she had the same vision – long ginger hair. It was amazing, like a dream coming to life.

“Ellen’s costume walks the line between masculinity and femininity. She presents a strong, masculine front to gain respect in a male-dominated world – but underneath, there’s a lot of softness. You start to see that by the end of the show.

“She’s strong, fierce, even scary sometimes – but she’s also a hopeless romantic. It’s a beautiful mix of the two.”

House of Guinness is streaming on Netflix now