Interview: Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson (2024)

Jordan has created a quirky, Blackadder-esque tone, and assembled a fantastic cast. There’s Tony Hale (Veep, Being the Ricardos) as the flustered housekeeper Sirisco, Zosia Mamet (The Flight Attendant, Girls) as the ambitious noblewoman Pampinea, Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education, Emma) as the put-upon servant Licisca, and Jackson as Pampinea’s devoted servant girl Misia. Together, they bring the delicious script to life.

This marks Jackson’s return to broad comedy after three seasons of the hit Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, where she played Erin Quinn. After the critically acclaimed show ended in 2022, she moved on to more serious roles in Paramount’s period thriller The Doll Factory and the big-budget Marvel movie The Flash.

But, much like the Spice Girls, all anyone wants to know is if Jackson and her Derry Girls castmates will ever reunite for another series. Sadly, there are no concrete plans at the moment. Nicola Coughlan, who played Claire Devlin and is now seen as Penelope Featherington in the global hit Bridgerton, is hesitant to return, fearing it might spoil the original. However, creator Lisa McGee has hinted at the possibility of a Derry Girls movie, saying ideas are “currently forming in my head.” This would be music to Jackson’s ears, who recently joked she’d act out the phone book if McGee turned it into a script.

While the potential return of Derry Girls is uncertain, Jackson isn’t resting on her laurels. She’s filming the gangland thriller This City Is Ours in Liverpool with Sean Bean, and on a personal note, she’s planning her wedding. Last summer, her boyfriend of three years, DJ Denis Sulta (real name Hector Barbour), proposed. Though Jackson is keeping the proposal details private, she’s excitedly planning to tie the knot next summer.

For now, let’s dive back into The Decameron, an addictive show set to capture the world’s attention like the plague it’s set in. Here, Saoirse shares her experiences from The Decameron set and reveals which classic horror franchise she’d love to star in.

Saoirse, on paper, this series could be faced as a bit of Debbie Downer glumfest! But in reality, it’s a ribald romp full of backstabbing, deceit, and sauciness! We loved it!

I’m glad to hear. It’s certainly got a very specific unique tone to it. Every character is so well rounded, well-crafted, and executed so well by each cast member. Everyone’s really made it their own and offers a different brushstroke of comedy which I think just works well.

Absolutely. It reminds us of the classic BBC comedy Blackadder, in that it’s set in a particular historical period, but its characters are played in a very modern way.

I can see what you’re saying about Blackadder, but it does feel like a beast of its own. I don’t know how our writer would feel about me saying this, but I think the series is camp because of what our amazing Italian costume department and spectacular art department have created, the way some parts are shot, and the actors’ performance style. For me, it has an old eighties movie vibe to it, which I absolutely love.

Well, who doesn’t love a bit of camp! When you first got approached to do the show, did you know from the outset that there would be such a broad comedic vibe?

I’d seen Kathleen Jordan’s previous show Teenage Bounty Hunters when I was going through the audition process, so I knew it’d have a funny tone to it. But I think this is the first job I’ve ever taken where I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I think the whole cast felt the same.

That’s brave of you all!

We were given a loose sketch and story arc for each of our characters and from that we got a gauge of the tone. For me, it was the scene in the pilot where Lucisca beats a fish to death that gave me a good sense of what the show was about. I immediately got it!

Yes, it’s quite a moment. Tanya Reynolds played it hilariously!

The show has this really dark magic undercurrent to it and I was constantly surprised by the way that Kathleen Jordan plays with genre and comedic tone. I think that this is the perfect example of someone creating something that is its own beast. In the current TV industry, if a certain type of show works, then we’ll see every streamer that year release something similar. Whereas, I find it quite remarkable that this kind of show has been made because it is so very different. And that’s brilliant.

Was that the reason this part was important for you to land?

Very much so. Kathleen Jordan has such a weird and dark, spooky, funny mind which is something I love. Old thrillers and horror films are my thing and I felt like there was an undercurrent of that in the script. The relationships between Lacisca and Filomena (Jessica Plummer) and between Misia and Pampinea were so well crafted and it was so interesting to watch the power dynamics that play out between those close female friendships. There was so much a dichotomy between those two sets of characters. It was such a fantastic depiction. I turned 30 this year, and it’s a time when you look back to your twenties and you have a bit of a clear-out phase. What I realised affected me the most as a younger woman, and which had more damaging effects which took me longer to recover from were certain female relationships I’d had myself. So I thought it was quite an interesting thing to explore. Pampinea’s cohesive control over Misia is full manipulation. I was also fascinated with the idea that a character’s self-esteem lies in somebody else’s hands. I thought there was a lot of comedy in that. Desperation is hilarious.

You and Zosia make quite a double act.

We had a fantastic relationship. I was so excited to work with Zosia as I loved her as Shoshanna in Girls. She carries such vulnerability and strength, but is so sweet at the same time. I loved that she was cast against type as a villain as opposed to something like the wide-eyed and excitable character she played in Girls.

She looks a total hoot.

She is one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever met in my entire life. She feels like a movie star as soon as you meet her. She has that air about her. But she’s just such a kind person. We had a fabulous relationship. I think she’s as much an actor nerd as I am. We both loved our movies and TV and got on like a house on fire. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed working with an actor as much as I did with Zosia. Doing that two-hander with her was, creatively, such a fruitful experience.

What were the rest of the cast like? Was it easy for you to bond as an ensemble?

It was quite a peculiar one because it was an American production, so we were all cast by Zoom. I had met Tanya Reynolds briefly before, and I had mutual friends with Douggie McMeekin (Tindaro) but I hadn’t met the rest of the cast and I don’t think any of them really knew each other either. The cast were flown out to Italy a few weeks before shooting to get to know each other but as luck would have it, I couldn’t go because I was busy on a job in Dublin. I was like, ‘Oh my God, they’re all going to be best friends, plaiting each other’s hair and exchanging bracelets before I get out there.’ But in the end, it was fine and they welcomed me with open arms and we had a great time.

The cast are all quite odd in a way, they all have their own kind of performance kook which we lived for.

Particularly with this show, it required a cast of strange, quirky misfits. Kathleen Jordan made the perfect choices. We all got on very well together. I can’t speak highly enough of all of them. They were kind, warm, and generous people and actors, and we had some amazing experiences together over seven months.

The show is set during the Black Death. We went through a plague of our own a couple of years ago. Did it kind of bring back any memories of your lockdown experience? What did you get up to during that?

Well, some of the themes of the show are about a sense of panic and people’s selfishness, and that is kind of true of what I saw around me in the real world during the pandemic. Not in my personal, home environment, in the world outside. But then I also saw a lot of generosity. I spent most of my time during that time alone drawing and doing a bit of writing. But to be honest, I was mainly drinking rose wine.

Weren’t we all.

I wish I could say I was teaching myself Spanish or reconnecting with old friends. But no, I was sitting out the backyard and drinking rosé.

It was a scorcher of summer back then too, which no doubt made the rosé drinking a lot more fun.

Yes, it was good weather and I definitely made the most of it. That time couped up tough did teach me that whatever I put my mind to, I had a commitment to it because I didn’t grow bored of that at any stage. There was just never enough rosé. Never enough food. It continued through the two lockdowns for me. So at least I’m consistent.

You recently turned 30, did you have that kind of life crisis moment where you thought, ‘Eek, I getting older’.

My 30s have been okay. I think as you get older, you develop more worries as you gain more responsibility. You reflect on your life more. I heard somebody quote Chaka Khan recently, who said something along the lines of, ‘I’m so glad I can’t remember everything I’ve done in my life because I probably kill myself.’ I’m glad I can’t remember much of mine as there are definitely things I’ve done that are best forgotten in the blurry haze of my twenties. In my 30s, I’m much more chill. I’ve got great people around me and feel very grateful that I’m doing the job that I do. I really enjoy my work, it feels like every new job I get is a massive privilege. I can never count on what’s coming next, so I’m grateful just to be still doing this.

You had a role in the big-budget and very underrated superhero film The Flash, what was that experience like?

It was amazing, especially to see that level of production and those warehouses full of costumes. I fell in love with the art of costume during my days on Derry Girls. I had such a fantastic relationship with Cathy Prior, who designed our costumes, and taught me how clothes can really enrich your performance as an actor and help layer your understanding of the character. She would explain to me why I was wearing certain things, like a small bracelet, and that sort of sparked that passion in me. She’s still now one of my best friends. I was so excited going into these huge studio spaces. They were basically like huge factories where they were making not just costumes for The Flash, but all the other superhero movie costumes. It was out of this world. There were walls full of early sketch progressions and fabric samples. I loved it. It was amazing to see so many creatives under one roof.

Was it costumes that you were drawing in lockdown?

No, I just drew images that I had in my head. Basically, I had a packet of watercolour paints that was easy for me to use and easy for me to put away so I could get the rosé out.

What were you writing? We can reckon you could pen a side-splitting sitcom of your own.

To be honest, it was just the start of ideas and short stories. I wrote a lot of short stories, one of which I’ve redeveloped since. I was also toying around with some cartoon ideas. That was sort of fun for me to do. Maybe at some point, I’ll do something with them. Who knows?

When Derry Girls was streamed on Netflix a couple of years back, did you get more recognised around the world?

Yes, I couldn’t believe it. When I went to New York, people would come up to me and tell me they’d loved the show. I’ve never been there before, so it was cool for that to happen. But then being recognised in London is equally amazing and exciting as I’m not really from the UK. London still feels like a metropolis to me, even though I lived there for years. It’s one of my favourite cities in the world.

The cast of Derry Girls have all gone on to other things. Do you keep in touch with each other or have you kind of moved on?

Jamie Lee O’Donnell and I are really tight, and have probably developed a closer relationship than we had before. But we all had an amazing experience together so we’ll always have that together. I think we all wish each other so well.

You got engaged to your boyfriend DJ Denis Salta (Hector Barbour), have you chosen a date?

We’re finding it difficult to choose the right time. I’m in the middle of planning it now. We’re looking for venues and stuff like that. But it’s hard because both of us are so busy but it’s important that the two of us have to look at these places together. But I’m really looking forward to it. It’’s going to be special.

You both live together in Liverpool – is it a great city for the pair of you?

We love it there. It sort of makes sense for the two of us because Hector is Scottish, and I’m Irish, so it’s in the middle. Liverpool’s also often referred to in Ireland as the 33rd county, so we love up there. I feel like it’s got such a buzz and its own little ecosystem of culture. It’s so nice. But I think I’ll always miss London because I love it so much.

Were you in Liverpool for Eurovision? There was such a good vibe there last year.

I missed it as I was in Italy filming The Decameron. But I would have loved to have been there. Before I flew out, I had the weekend off before Eurovision week kicked off and there was this fantastic buzz building and it felt great! From what I hear, it was amazing and fantastic for the city to be hosting the event. I was delighted.

Starring in a lavish American production like The Decameron must be the dream? So many doors must open…

I’m so delighted to still be doing what I do and working with the great people I have. They bring the best in you. I just hope that I keep getting to work with these amazing people. I’ll see where the journey takes me. I’m enjoying it and I feel grateful and very lucky.

You said you love horror films… Is there a film or franchise you’d love to star in if it was rebooted?

I would love to do something dark like Death Becomes Her. Something that’s a little out there. I’d also love to a spooky like Silence of the Lambs, which I love because it plays a fine line between comedy and horror. I mean, Hannibal Lecter’s last line: ‘I’m having a friend for dinner tonight.’ It’s hilarious! I just love stuff like that and it’s so scary.

From what we see of you in The Decameron, you’ve got quite the skill of pulling off comedic faces and then switching to a more sinister one. Maybe you could be the first break-out female horror slasher…

That’d be so fantastic. I’m a self-proclaimed spook bag so I’ll take that – weirdly – as a massive compliment! I would love to be in one of the Scream sequels. That’d be my dream to be part of one of those legacy franchises.

We’d love to see that! How would you like to die? Sliced and diced? Axed to death? Thrown out a window?

I think I’d like to have an accidental death caused by myself when being stalked by the killer. It’d be funny! But what a waste of a chase.

The Decameron’s raucous party begins July 25th on Netflix.

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