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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Sophie Collins

Inside Derry Girls star Jamie Lee O'Donnell's family life - private boyfriend, age and stardom

Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell has been making headlines since her appearance on the Late Late Show last Friday night for calling out presenter Ryan Tubridy when he asked her age live on air.

The fiery Northern actress shot to fame for her role in the Irish comedy based in Northern Ireland and has since also played the leading role in a Channel 4 drama, Screw.

The show, which aired in early January, sees the young actress play a prison officer named Rose, who is a new recruit on a team of officers who oversee an all-male prison.

READ MORE: What did RTE's Ryan Tubridy say to Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell? All the quotes from awkward moment on Late Late Show

Jamie is best known for playing the role of Michelle Mallon in Derry girls, which premiered its third and final season last week.

She stole the hearts of the nation in the first two seasons of the show and it was no different following a hilarious opening to the new season three.

So, here is all you need to know about the Irish actress:

Childhood

Jamie was born in March 1992, in Derry city to a large family and attended St Anne's Primary School, St Cecilia's College, and North West Regional College throughout her education.

She developed her love for acting at a young age, taking on roles in her school plays.

When she graduated, she jumped into the world of professional acting and began studying performing arts at De Montfort University in Bedfordshire.

She started going on auditions both here and in the UK and was living between Ireland and England while taking on roles in theatrical productions before making her on-screen debut.

She also worked as a dancer for promotions and pantomimes before landing her first big role.

Career

O'Donnell began her career in 2012 when she landed her first significant role as Eva Maguire in 6Degrees.

She continued in this role of the main character until 2015 and afterward took part in the film Urban & the Shed Crew, by Candida Brady.

Then in 2018, she starred in a theatre production I Told My Mum I Was Going on an RE Trip, by Julia Samuels.

She was cast in the role of an underage girl who decides to have an abortion.

The following year, she joined the cast of Girls and Dolls, a play by the Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, as well as performed in Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

It was after this that she landed the role of Michelle Mallon in Derry Girls, a sitcom by Channel 4, which garnered fans from across the globe.

Jamie Lee O'Donnell's family life in Derry, on screen stardom and what's next for the Irish actress (Channel 4)

She also played the leading role in a Channel 4 drama, Screw which aired in 2022.

The show, which hit screens in early January, sees the young actress play a prison officer named Rose, who is a new recruit on a team of officers who oversee an all-male prison.

Relationship

Jamie has been dating DJ Paul McCay since 2016 after they reportedly met through mutual friends in Derry.

The two started out as friends, before they began dating a few months later, and have since moved in together.

They are notoriously private about their lives off screen, and share very little detail with the world.

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