Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I wanted to give a current look at the city I’m so proud of & the people who make it
Derry Girls’ Jamie-lee makes TV docu
DERRY Girls star Jamie-lee O’donnell is so proud of her home city she has made a documentary about it.
The Real Derry explores her upbringing in a Catholic community and how things have changed in the last few decades.
And the actress, who plays Michelle Mallon in the hit comedy series by lisa Mcgee, says she can’t wait for people to see it.
Jamie-lee added: “I’ve always wanted to do something like this, a documentary about my hometown and to give people a current look at the city I’m so proud of and the people who make it. “It was a learning experience and, to be fair, with the history of Derry you could probably do a
Netflix series so we just tried to get in as much as we could without overwhelming anybody.
“I just really hope people appreciate and enjoy it and understand what we were trying to do. I’m so excited for everyone to see it!” The 30-year-old, who also stars in Channel 4 drama Screw, visits her old school St Cecilia’s College, where the students of today reflect on the city’s regeneration.
They also discuss why many young people still feel they need to leave Derry to gain new skills and experiences.
Jamie-lee said: “It was really nice to be back and interesting to see how things have changed and learn about what’s on the young people’s minds at the moment in terms of their future and issues in Derry now.
“I was really impressed by them and thought they were really intelligent. They were lovely and a really great representation of people who have grown up in Derry.”
She also tours the Museum of Free Derry and joins a rehearsal of a leading Protestant flute band.
Jamie-lee said: “I really enjoyed exploring different parts of the city and going back to places like my old school where I haven’t been for a long time. It was almost like reintroducing myself to places.”
She also enjoys a night out with her Derry Girls co-star Saoirse-monica Jackson and explores mental health issues with Tiktok star Mammy Banter, otherwise known as local woman Serena Terry. Fifty years on from Bloody Sunday, the programme also looks at what the future may bring for the city, in particular for the younger generation who still live with the impact of the Troubles.
When asked if she has said goodbye to her Derry Girls character Michelle forever, Jamie-lee said: “She has certainly been a big part of my life in recent years but I don’t know what Lisa has up her sleeve if anything so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
It was really nice to be back and interesting to see how things have changed... JAMIE-LEE ON RETURN TO HER OLD SCHOOL