Saoirse-Monica Jackson, best known for playing Erin Quinn in the hit Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, has revealed the intense anxiety she felt after the show first aired. The 30-year-old actress feared that her physical comedy performance, inspired by Jim Carrey and Rowan Atkinson, would ruin her career. 'I felt in a perpetual state of fear,' she said, adding that she was terrified she would never be cast again.
Jackson's concerns proved unfounded. Derry Girls became Channel 4's most popular comedy since Father Ted, broke viewing records in Northern Ireland, and became a global hit on Netflix. Since then, Jackson has landed roles in major productions, including the $190m DC superhero film The Flash, the Paramount+ period thriller The Doll Factory, and the Netflix series The Decameron, based on Boccaccio's 14th-century tales.
Reflecting on her early doubts, Jackson said the experience taught her a valuable lesson: 'If you half-arse a big decision, it’s never going to work.' She noted that the show's success was a reminder that her instincts were correct, despite her initial insecurity.
Jackson, who grew up in Derry and attended a Catholic girls' school similar to the one in the show, said Derry Girls will always hold a special place in her heart. 'There will never be anything like that,' she said, citing the show's cultural impact and the transformation of Derry into a tourist hotspot. She recalled a surreal moment when former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith praised the show in the House of Commons, calling it 'one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had.'
