Born in Hackney, North London in 1955, Irene graduated from drama school in 1979 and went on to work as an actress, tutor and director in community and educational theatre. In 1999, she co-founded a performing arts organisation to promote the inclusion of performers with learning difficulties in drama schools in the UK. During this time, she embarked on a PhD, gaining her doctorate in education from the University of Sheffield in 2010.

When her stepson George passed away from his third cancer at the age of 17, Irene began writing George’s story, and For the Love of George was published in 2014. At the same time, she and her husband founded the George Pantziarka TP53 Trust, to support individuals and families who suffered from the same gene disorder that had caused George’s cancers. All profits from the book go to the trust (for more information view www.tp53.co.uk).

In 2018, her second book, About Mother, a novel based on the character and life of her late mother was published.

In between writing, Irene does some copy editing and the occasional voice-over, as well as being a keen cook and gardener. Walking the family’s lively Border Collie keeps her fit. She lives with her husband in London and has a son at university and a married stepdaughter and young granddaughter.