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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Entertainment
Abbie Meehan

Channel 4's Derry Girls cast real ages revealed - with one 'teen' star actually 35

With just over 24 hours to go until Erin and the Derry Girls gang are finally back on our television screens, fans have been spamming social media with sentimental posts about the final season of the show.

Debuting back in January 2018, Lisa McGee's hit sitcom Derry Girls has become a cult favourite across the world as walking tours, extensive murals and Comic Relief specials were created as a result of the show's popularity.

The cast gathered together in Derry for the live, exclusive premiere of the show at the Omniplex cinema on Strand Road, with an afterparty for cast and crew at the city's Guildhall.

READ MORE - Channel 4's Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee on whether there could be a movie

Fans crowded the street to catch a glimpse of the cast on the red carpet, as Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Nicola Coughlan, Dylan Llewellyn and Louisa Harland all celebrated their successes.

One question that got us thinking, however, was how close are the cast to the ages of their high-school characters? Actresses like Nicola and Jamie-Lee are now even more recognisable in dramas like Bridgerton and Screw, where they play older female characters.

So, how old are the Derry Girls gang in real life? Find out more below:

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Dylan, Jamie-Lee, Saoirse-Monica and Louisa in the show. (Channel 4)

Saoirse-Monica Jackson - Erin Quinn

The main character in Derry Girls, book-smart Erin Quinn began the series at just 16-years-old, as she attended Our Lady Immaculate College alongside her friends.

But in real life, the actress who plays Erin, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, is actually 28 years of age, born in November 1993.

Her high-school days were past her over a decade ago, but she does a great job of playing a boy-crazy, academic pupil in Northern Ireland.

Nicola Coughlan - Clare Devlin

The 'wee lesbian' of the series, anxious Clare Devlin is played by Nicola Coughlan in the Channel 4 show, and is around the same age as pal Erin.

Now even more recognisable as Penelope Featherington in Netflix period drama Bridgerton, Nicola has went from strength to strength in her acting.

But she is probably the furthest from high-school among friends, as the actress turned 35-years-old back in January this year, born in 1987.

Louisa Harland - Orla McCool

Irish actress and most recently starring in Boys from County Hell, Louisa plays ditzy pupil Orla McCool, cousin of Erin and is described as the most dreamy-eyed, slightly eerie kid of the group.

Louisa, in real life, is far from GCSE age as the actress is currently 29-years-old.

However, Dublin-born Louisa has that aura that many actors and actresses lust over, as her age is not noticeable at all in her appearance.

Jamie-Lee O'Donnell - Michelle Mallon

The loud-mouth of the group, and close friend of Erin, Orla and Clare, Michelle is played by the ever-sarcastic Jamie-Lee O'Donnell.

Currently playing a prison officer on Channel 4 drama Screw, Jamie-Lee has shown that she can turn her hand to many things in TV, from high-school shenanigans to serious jail-time.

But Jamie is also in the 30 club alongside Nicola, as she turned 30 in March of this year, born in 1992.

Dylan John Llewellyn - James Maguire

Dylan plays curly-haired Englishman James in Derry Girls. (Channel 4)

Honorary member of the Derry Girls, and cousin to Michelle, Dylan Llewellyn plays English student James, who is horrendously picked on by practically every cast member on the Channel 4 show - just for being English!

The curly-haired boy is usually dealing with the fall-out of the gangs antics, as much of the blame gets placed on him, including even the most audacious of circumstances, like England invading the Irish.

Dylan also played teen Martin 'Jono' Johnson in Hollyoaks, and is currently 29-years-old, born in September 1992 - not long till 30, Dylan!

The third and final season of Derry Girls will begin on Channel 4 next week, with the first of six episodes screened on Tuesday, April 12, at 9.15pm.

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