Everything you need to know about actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson
Those facial expressions!
Last updated 7th Oct 2024
Actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson is best known for playing the lead role in Derry Girls — the sarcastic Erin Quinn, with her hilarious facial expressions. The Channel 4 show was a huge success when it aired from 2018-2022 and has won countless awards, including a BAFTA.
The Northern Irish actress has since gone on to star in Netflix comedy series The Decameron, as well as working in the West End. She's even made a guest appearance on celebrity spin offs of The Great British Bake Off and Gogglebox. Let's take a deeper look into Saoirse-Monica Jackson's life and career...
Who is Saoirse-Monica Jackson?
Saoirse-Monica Jackson first rose to fame as part of the popular TV show Derry Girls. Before landing the role, the real-life girl from Derry made a name for herself in Harlan Coben mini series, The Five, in 2016.
She now plays Misia in Netflix's The Decameron — a medieval black comedy set during the bubonic plague pandemic in 1348 Florence. Saoirse-Monica is also no stranger to the stage, having appeared in the West End production of The Ferryman in London.
Where is Saoirse-Monica Jackson from?
Saoirse-Monica Jackson was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She also spent parts of her childhood in Greencastle, Donegal where her parents ran a pub.
How old is she?
Despite playing a school girl in Derry Girls (between 2018 and 2022) Saoirse-Monica Jackson is now 30 years old — meaning she was 24 when she took on the role.
She was born on 24th November 1993.
How did Saoirse-Monica become famous?
Saoirse-Monica first made waves in the TV industry at the age of 22 when she appeared in Harlan Coben's The Five on Sky. She played Sasha — and appeared in four episodes.
But it wasn't until Derry Girls hit screens in 2018 that the actress became a household name. Famed for the self-centred (but brilliantly funny) character she portrayed, a school girl navigating life in 1994 Northern Ireland.
What else has Saoirse-Monica been in?
The actress has also starred in 2023 superhero movie The Flash, 2024's Upgraded on Amazon Prime and a number of TV shows including Broken, World's Most Dangerous Roads and Skint (a collection of stories of poverty, created by Derry Girls writer, Lisa McGee).
In 2021, Saoirse-Monica Jackson appeared alongside co-star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell in a series of Celebrity Gogglebox.
The Derry Girls do Bake Off
In a 2019 festive special of The Great British Bake Off, the cast of Derry Girls brought laughter and kitchen chaos to the Bake Off tent. Saoirse-Monica received high praise from Paul Hollywood, who called her trifle 'a bit of a mess' but 'delicious'.
She joined Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn and Siobhán McSweeney for the hilarious spin off — which saw the castmates compete for the Star Baker title, with a series of festive baking tasks.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson explains how to pronounce her Irish name
In March 2024, Saoirse-Monica Jackson celebrated her Irish heritage by starring in a Guinness St Patrick's Day advert. In the short clip, we see her having to explain the pronunciation of her traditional name to tourists — something she's previously revealed happens a lot! The beautiful name, which is pronounced SEER-SHA, means 'freedom'.
Is Saoirse-Monica Jackson in a relationship?
Yes, she's currently engaged to Scottish DJ Denis Sulta (real name Hector Barbour) and they live together in Liverpool. The couple first announced they were dating in 2021 and the DJ proposed in 2023.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell and Nicola Coughlan
The cast of Derry Girls struck up some pretty close friendships over their years on the show — with the likes of Nicola Coughlan (now famed for her role as Bridgerton's Penelope Featherington), Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Jamie-Lee often sharing the love for one another on their socials.
Jamie-Lee and Saoirse-Monica have even holidayed together, with the pair heading to New York in 2022, as well as sharing snaps from their 'trip of a lifetime' to Romania for the show World's Most Dangerous Roads.
Is Saoirse-Monica on Instagram?
She sure is — you can find her on Instagram with her handle @saoirsemonicajackson.
Now check out our favourite quotes from the Derry Girls:
"Hi, I'm a lesbian!" Clare
"Congratulations." Laurie
"Thank you." Clare
"How many of you are there?" Laurie
"Just me, I'm just the one lesbian, the rest are all straight." Clare
"How many tickets do you need? Laurie
"Oh I see, five please." Clare
"We can turn our jeans into hot pants any night of the week, we're talking about a free house here Clare, a free house. We're going to be drinking, dancing and riding." Michelle
"Quick question on the awl riding front there, who exactly will be we doing that with?" Erin
"Young, hot farmers, Donegal is coming down with them. Big strapping lads, ripped to fk from all the turf collecting." Michelle
"Ok I'm not buzzing about the sexism, but the fact the wants to thump James is a wee bit exciting." Michelle
"Why have you got a surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Jim across the road gave me the lend." Grandpa Joe
"I'll start again, what are you planning on doing with the surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Surf! It's something I've always fancied doing, ever since I saw that film, the one where the lads try to catch thon big fish." Grandpa Joe
"What film is that?" Da Jerry
"You know, the big fish, the musical fish!" Grandpa Joe
"The musical fish?" Da Jerry
"He hums a tune before he attacks people, they try to catch him, but their boat's too wee." Grandpa Joe
"Are you talking about Jaws?" Da Jerry
"That's the one!" Grandpa Joe
"Jaws made you want to take up surfing?" Da Jerry
"Aye!" Grandpa Joe
"This one's for Erin" Da Jerry
"Oh, private and confidential?" Ma Mary
"Will I stick the kettle on and we'll steam it open Mary?" Aunt Sarah
"That's actually a criminal offence Sarah." Da Jerry
"Your face should be a criminal offence!" Grandpa Joe
"Oh good morning Joe." Da Jerry
"I'm not going to steam open my daughter's mail, come on now Sarah, as if I have time for that…just her national insurance card." Ma Mary
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"12th November, why is that date familiar? I've booked to see Bjorn Again, I'll have to give this a miss." Aunt Sarah
"You're going to give your own engagement party a miss?" Ma Mary
"Well now to be fair, as ABBA tribute acts go they're the best in the country." Grandpa Joe
"They really are the genuine article." Aunt Sarah
"Except by definition they're not, they are a tribute act." Da Jerry
"And you're an aehole act!" Grandpa Joe**
"But things are just warming up, the real talent will be arriving soon. Trust me, any second now those doors are going to burst open and a load of rides are going to storm in here and snog the faces off us." Young Ma Mary
"That pony tail is going to bring my breakfast up!" Michelle
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"Oh Jesus, just hand me a spade and let me bury myself." Aunt Sarah
"Where's my Tayto?" Aideen
"There's wiser eating grass!" Michelle
"Don't say knickers in front of your father, he can't cope!" Ma Mary
"If she's not into walls, she's not into walls, Erin love" Aunt Sarah
"We're basically celebrities now, we're like The Corrs" Michelle
"I will buck a French lad so help me god" Michelle
"Ye must think I came up the Foyle in a bubble" Ma Mary
"Slainte, motherfers!" Michelle*
"Macaulay Culkin isn't a Protestant, ma!" Erin
"You don't look like a lesbian" Mae
"What were you doin' heading up Pump Street with a cream horn, pa?" Ma Mary
"Shift your short holes, let's go" Michelle
"I like my kneecaps, Michelle. They suit my knees" Clare
"No funny business with these Protestant lads, is that clear? I don't want anybody landing back here pregnant." Ma Mary
"I spent the summer in Killybegs and, seriously? Not a fucking word" Michelle
"Look, I wanted to be an individual but my ma wouldn't let me" Erin
"I've warned you before, Gerry. You say another bad word about Coronation Street and you may leave this house and never return" Ma Mary
"He's been footering" Granda Joe
"Aye, dead on Gerry. I'm going to give them a whole fiver, that's definitely happenin" Aunt Sarah
"You can't marry an Orangeman Michelle!" Erin
"It's a pity, cos I think there's something really sexy about the fact that they hate us so much" Michelle
"Foreigners fing love the Giant's Causeway" Michelle*
"You can't ring Childline every time your mother threatens to kill you" Michelle
"Protestants hate ABBA!" Orla
"The slightly taller fella, he says to me, says he 'Do you know who we are? And I says to him, says I 'Well I can't be sure now, maybe if you took off the balaclavas" Uncle Colm
"Is it just me, or is that gypsy an absolute ride?" Michelle
"Michelle you can't say that, they're called travellers now, you can't say gypsy anymore, it's insulting" Erin
"This is just wrong" Clare
"So are those ski pants Clare, but it didn't stop you pulling them over your hole this morning" Michelle
"Half-load goes against everything I stand for, you know that da" Ma Mary
"I feel a bit bokey" Michelle
"Howling like a banshee, it was" Uncle Colm
"If I was having an illicit rendezvous with my mistress, I'm not sure that the supermarket where my Father-in-Law is doing the big shop in, would be the best place for it really" Gerry
"Will we need our passports, Gerry?" Orla
"For Belfast, no I don't think so love" Gerry
"I can't find my purse!" Ma Mary
"I can see your purse right there" Gerry
"No that's my sterling purse! I'm talking about my punt purse! I can't find my punt purse Gerry, we are puntless!" Ma Mary
"Relax love, we've a good two or three hours before the rioting starts" Granda Joe
"This doesn't do my baps any justice" Michelle
"Winking! At your age?! Christ, I feel sick" Aunt Sarah
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