At the end of the day… Saoirse-monica Jackson

When lockdown first began, I tried to keep myself as busy as possible. But after the first two weeks, I relaxed a bit. As an actor, you’re always comparing yourself to everybody else, worrying about why you weren’t seen for a part. So it’s been nice to reflect on the work you want to do.

We’ve been helping a man down the road whose wife passed away in November, so he’s on his own. We call down to him every evening. That’s been a highlight. He’s lived here his entire life. I feel more cemented in the community now, learning the history of the street, coming out to clap for the NHS. London is warmer.

I’m thrilled to be doing a digital play for the

Unprecedented series, all produced in lockdown. I’m in one by James Graham and I’m a massive fan of his work. I live in Hackney with Louisa Harland [Orla in

Derry Girls] and, to keep sane, we’ve been doing play readings at home: we’d just read James’s play The Angry Brigade when this came through, so I was ecstatic. It really encapsulates what it’s like to be 17 or 18 and stuck in the house – confusion and loss of prospects.

I’ve been doing the Couch to 5k challenge.

I thought I was going to be good at it, but I’m awful. I just did a 5k, but it was a mix of jogging and walking. We ordered a swingball to have a tournament in the backyard. And I’m reading all the things I always said I would. And I’ve been drawing, well, doodling.

One of my good mates Jordan Stephens has a new podcast out called Killing It. It’s about mental health and musicians, which I’ve found really interesting. So I’ve been racing through that. It’s nice to hear my friend’s voice. And I am obsessed with

Normal People. Marianne has the haircut of the woman from Fifty Shades Of Grey

– Dakota Johnson. She makes me wonder if I need to get rid of my blonde curls. But as far as cuts go, or anything permanent,

Derry Girls gets final say. I use that as an excuse sometimes on other projects when they’re trying to get me to do something drastic with my hair.

I’ve been cooking a lot more, and we’ve been trying to do themed nights. We had a Lebanese night, with fresh tabbouleh and Lebanese music, trying to make an evening out of it. But no baking. After winning the The Great Festive Bake Off [a Derry Girls special], I want to remain an undefeated champion. Mine looked the worst, but were obviously delicious. It’s the inside that counts, and all that jazz. I know Prue will be raging at me, but what can you do?

The whole Derry Girls team has a Whatsapp group and often call to check in on each other. I can’t express how well we’ve got to know each other, and each other’s families. We’ve had family on the show as extras. Through all this, you realise the people who are important to you.

I can’t wait to go back to the theatre. I’d just love to see a fun, feelgood musical. And to go back to Ireland. And I know that this is a long way off, but music festivals, too. That feeling, when you’re with your friends, walking towards it, and you can hear the music bouncing.

Headlong and Century Films’ ‘Unprecedented: Theatre From A State Of Isolation’ will be on BBC Four, 26-28 May