British Comedy Guide
Derry Girls. Image shows from L to R: Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), James Maguire (Dylan Llewellyn), Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Orla McCool (Louisa Harland), Clare Devlin (Nicola Coughlan). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions
Derry Girls

Derry Girls

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2018 - 2022
  • 19 episodes (3 series)

A warm, funny and honest look at the lives of ordinary people living under the spectre of the Troubles, all seen through the eyes of a local teenager. Stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Nicola Coughlan, Louisa Harland, Dylan Llewellyn and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 521

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Character guide

Derry Girls. Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Erin Quinn

Erin has grand ambitions to become a famous writer and has serious ideas above her station. She considers herself to be very liberal and worldly; in reality she's quite easily shocked and has never ventured further than Buncrana (a popular holiday destination).

Her family drive her mad, her friends are an embarrassment, and the boy she likes doesn't even know she exists. She's constantly trying to elevate her social status without much success.

Derry Girls. Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Michelle Mallon

Sweary and unashamedly offensive with a filthy sense of humour, man-hungry Michelle loves a good time. Her big mouth often lands her and the others in trouble.

Derry Girls. Clare Devlin (Nicola Coughlan). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Clare Devlin

Played by: Nicola Coughlan

Clare is clever, ambitious and, when faced with an authority figure, an enthusiastic grass. Nothing is more important to her than academic achievement, and she would probably sell her granny for a better grade. Her friends are a constant source of frustration. During the first series she came out as homosexual.

Derry Girls. Orla McCool (Louisa Harland). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Orla McCool

Played by: Louisa Harland

Erin's cousin Orla lives next door to Erin, with her mother Sarah. Whimsical and unpredictable Orla dances to her own tune, and thinks nothing of reading her cousin's diary or borrowing her knickers.

With an unflinchingly positive and optimistic view of life, she's very comfortable in her own skin and confident with her (often quite insane) opinions.

Derry Girls. James Maguire (Dylan Llewellyn). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

James Maguire

Played by: Dylan Llewellyn

Michelle's cousin James, "The English Fella", has just moved to Derry and is the ultimate outsider. Poor James is completely out of his depth and struggling to understand his new world.

Amid concerns that his English accent may cause trouble for him at the boys' school, he is forced to attend the all-girl Our Lady Immaculate College. But he quickly discovers the boys' school would have been a much easier ride.

Derry Girls. Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Sister Michael

The eternally unimpressed headmistress of Our Lady Immaculate College, Sister Michael is the ultimate authority figure as far as the gang are concerned. Tough, terrifying and always two steps ahead of everyone.

Derry Girls. Ma Mary (Tara Lynne O'Neill). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Ma Mary

Mary, Erin's mother, is the uncompromising but caring matriarch of the Quinn/McCool clan. She is the hard-working heart of the family, strict - but not always fair.

Derry Girls. Da Gerry (Tommy Tiernan). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Da Gerry

Played by: Tommy Tiernan

Gerry is Erin's long-suffering father. Outnumbered and outmanoeuvred by the women in his life, Gerry often feels like he's playing catch up.

Gerry longs for a quiet life and avoids confrontation. Unfortunately he happens to live with a man who seems to resent his very existence - his father-in-law, Joe.

Derry Girls. Granda Joe (Ian McElhinney). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Granda Joe

AKA: Joe McCool.  Played by: Ian McElhinney

The fearsome Granda Joe doesn't scare easily and is a very well respected man in his community. His love for his daughters and granddaughters is surpassed only by his contempt for his son-in-law.

Derry Girls. Aunt Sarah (Kathy Kiera Clarke). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Aunt Sarah

AKA: Sarah McCool.  Played by: Kathy Kiera Clarke

Sarah McCool is Orla's ditzy mother - though her sister and next door neighbour, Mary, does most of the difficult parenting work. She has a laid back attitude to everything except her own appearance.

Derry Girls. Jenny Joyce (Leah O'Rourke). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Jenny Joyce

Played by: Leah O'Rourke

Jenny Joyce is the class swot at Our Lady Immaculate College. Always attempting to impress those in authority and improve her grades, she would never hesitate in grassing the gang up when they've done something naughty.

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