Jamie-Lee O'Donnell

“We've been able to show the world the real Derry. Not the one from the news, but our one. Not a conflict zone, but a community. It's such a huge responsibility.”

“I have always been a very determined person.”

“Obviously the Troubles is such a massive and important part of our history and it's not something 'Derry Girls' shied away from either.”

“It's a survival instinct to find the lighter side of things, especially when the reality you're faced with is quite dark.”

“I grew up knowing women are hilarious. There was a lot of respect.”

“I've always wanted to be on stage.”

“I love putting on the Christmas jumpers and big coats and going out for Christmas pints. Or brandy - Christmas is the time of year I'd be up for having a brandy.”

“I imagine a lot of people from my background would feel like this too - when the tides start to turn, it feels like your identity is shifting as well.”

“I love Christmas. I don't have any children, so more than the day itself, it's about the build-up.”

“I think people should be more proud of themselves. Why not?”

“Maybe it's no wonder many people think there's a mental health crisis in Derry, something experts recognise as linked to Troubles-related trauma.”

“At the start I had a lot of women messaging me and asking me out and thinking I was gay, some of them were saying they were so glad to see a gay actor on TV. It's weird how people assume.”

“I do think more should be done for people from less financially secure backgrounds to come into the arts and feel comfortable and welcome. Like, it's their right to be there because it's everybody's right.”

“Derry Girls' is about more than just growing up in Derry.”

“I didn't go to drama school. It wasn't in the pay grade of my family at all. I looked into some of the schools and the top ones were just so expensive. And it's a shame because I sometimes feel that you have to work twice as hard if you come from a working class background.”

“I remember believing that I just wouldn't get work, so I just consciously had to practise other accents, but I enjoyed doing it.”

“There are times that I have to say no to a photograph, like at 8:30 A.M. when I'm out to buy bread and I look like absolute roadkill.”

“I just try to stay as creative as possible, and also allow myself downtime between jobs if I feel I need it; if I feel I'm getting a bit burned out.”

“I've always wanted to do my own little tribute to Derry and a tribute to the community and to the people who made me who I am and who were really my backbone growing up.”

“Everybody tries to do the Derry accent, and if I'm outside of Ireland, people always give it a wee go. It's really, really hard to do. But I've heard some brilliant ones.”