Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell has revealed she is no longer speaking to her family after undergoing intense therapy. The 39-year-old actress, known for playing Michelle Mallon in the Channel 4 sitcom, shared that the therapy was "pretty intense and really tough" but she is proud of completing it.
Therapy led to a new start
Speaking on the Dish podcast with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, Jamie-Lee explained that after finishing therapy, she felt ready for a fresh start. She sold her house and moved to Barcelona, a decision she described as "mental" but one that has "worked out really well."
She said: "All the healing's done. But then it was like, right, now time to sort of have a new start for myself. So I just sold my house and just went, hmm, Barcelona. I know, it's mental."
No contact with family
As a result of her healing journey, Jamie-Lee admitted she has gone no contact with her entire family. She noted that this is not uncommon among adults, saying: "It's just one of those things, you know. And the more I've talked about it and been honest about it, I'm seeing it's, unfortunately, not the most unusual thing for adults."
Pride in Derry Girls
Reflecting on her career, Jamie-Lee expressed gratitude for being part of Derry Girls, a show with universal appeal. She said fans often ask for photos, and she doesn't mind because she is "really proud" of the show. She added: "There's so many older men that will be like, 'Listen, my daughter or my granddaughter - she'll love this, she'll think I'm class, can I please get one?' I'm like, 'Of course!' And it's really nice."
