Saoirse-Monica Jackson

Saoirse-Monica Jackson is an Irish actress who became a household name playing Erin Quinn in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. The show ran from 2018 to 2022 and followed a group of teenagers in 1990s Derry during the Troubles. Jackson's Erin, the pragmatic, often exasperated heart of the group, earned her a devoted following and critical praise for blending sharp comedy with genuine emotional depth.

Since Derry Girls ended, Jackson has deliberately moved toward darker, more dramatic roles. She stars as Cheryl Crawford in the BBC's Liverpool-set crime series This City Is Ours and reunites with Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee in the Netflix mystery How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, released in February 2026. She also voices Professor Trelawney in the full-cast audio adaptation of the Harry Potter books.

Fans know Jackson for her warm, self-deprecating public persona and her fierce pride in her Derry roots. She regularly shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life on Instagram, where her handle is @saoirsemonicajackson, and she has become a recognizable figure in British and Irish television. [edit]

Saoirse-Monica Jackson grew up in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1990s, a time and place that would later shape her most famous role. She was born in November 1993, and her early years were marked by the final stretch of the Troubles, a period she has described as both ordinary and surreal for kids her age. She attended local schools in Derry, where she first got involved in drama and community theatre, often performing in school plays and local productions.

After finishing school, Jackson moved to Glasgow to train at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2015. During her time there, she performed in classical and contemporary plays, honing the comic timing and dramatic range that would define her career. Her first professional work came in theatre, including a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, before she landed small television roles. She appeared in an episode of the BBC series The Fall in 2016 and had a minor part in the film Rose Plays Julie.

The breakthrough came when she auditioned for a new Channel 4 comedy written by Lisa McGee. Jackson has said she felt an instant connection to the script, recognizing the world of Derry in the 1990s. She won the role of Erin Quinn, and the show would premiere in January 2018, changing her life almost overnight. [edit]

Derry Girls premiered on Channel 4 in January 2018 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon in the UK and Ireland. Jackson's portrayal of Erin Quinn, the group's self-appointed leader with a flair for the dramatic, earned her widespread recognition. The show ran for three seasons, concluding in May 2022, and was nominated for multiple BAFTAs, winning the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 2019. Jackson received individual praise for her performance, with critics highlighting her ability to balance comedy with moments of genuine pathos.

After Derry Girls ended, Jackson expanded her range. In 2023 she appeared in the DC series The Flash, playing a version of the character Iris West-Allen's mother, and in 2024 she took a supporting role in the romantic comedy Upgraded, starring Camila Mendes. She also returned to theatre, starring in a London production of the play Prima Facie in 2024, earning strong reviews.

In 2025, Jackson was cast in the BBC gangster drama This City Is Ours, playing Cheryl Crawford, a role that sees her in a more serious, hard-edged setting. She also reunited with Lisa McGee for the Netflix series How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, which premiered in February 2026 to positive reviews. That same year, she joined the star-studded audio cast of the Harry Potter books, voicing Professor Trelawney, and appeared on The Late Late Show to promote her upcoming projects. [edit]

Jackson's public image is that of a down-to-earth, funny, and fiercely loyal Irish woman. She is known for her distinctive fashion sense, often mixing vintage pieces with modern designers, and has been featured in Vogue and other style publications. On social media, she shares a mix of professional photos, candid moments with friends, and political commentary, particularly around issues affecting Northern Ireland. Fans appreciate her authenticity and her refusal to take herself too seriously, despite her growing fame. She has a strong following among young women who see her as a relatable figure, and she has used her platform to advocate for causes like reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ equality. Her accent and Derry slang have become part of her charm, and she often jokes about the differences between Northern Irish and English culture. [edit]

Saoirse-Monica Jackson stands as a defining voice in modern Irish storytelling, her career trajectory shifting from the chaotic energy of 1990s Derry to the gritty streets of Liverpool and beyond. Her cultural footprint has solidified into measurable influence within the industry, placing her firmly among the elite performers of her generation. According to the latest global metrics, she is currently ranked as the 59th most famous person in British Drama, a position she has held steady through multiple assessment cycles. This specific standing reflects a sustained period of high visibility across film, television, and digital platforms, tracking global attention through media coverage, search trends, and consumption signals worldwide. While her professional accolades are extensive, including an RTS Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Performance, her public persona remains grounded in authenticity rather than manufactured stardom. Unlike global superstars with organized fan clubs bearing unique monikers like "Swifties" or "BTS Army," Jackson's audience operates as an organic collective of viewers who rallied behind her portrayal of Erin Quinn in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. There is no formal name for this fanbase; they are simply devoted supporters drawn to her refusal to take herself too seriously and her sharp political commentary on social media. The "lore" surrounding her work stems less from viral fan rituals or crowd-disrupting events and more from her critical transition from a beloved sitcom character to a versatile actress in major streaming productions like How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Her recent marriage to Denis Sulta in July 2025 further cemented her status as a relatable figure, blending personal milestones with professional triumphs without the mythological excess often seen in celebrity culture.[edit]

Saoirse-Monica Jackson's first name, Saoirse, translates to "freedom" in Irish, a detail she often jokes about when fans mispronounce it. An avid reader, she cites Marian Keyes as a favorite author and keeps a notebook of character ideas, frequently people-watching in cafes for inspiration. Her musical taste leans heavily toward 90s Britpop, which she credits with evoking memories of her youth. A small bird tattoo adorns her wrist, inked alongside friends from the Derry Girls cast. She is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, openly discussing the importance of therapy in her own life. Beyond these established facts, Jackson's career is marked by significant professional milestones that have become part of her narrative. Her performance as the pragmatic Erin Quinn in Derry Girls earned her the RTS Award in 2020 for Best Actress in a Comedy Performance, cementing her reputation as a leading talent in Irish comedy. More recently, her wedding to husband Denis Sulta in July 2025 became a major topic in entertainment media, with celebrations marking their first anniversary in August 2026. These personal and professional highs highlight a career built on acclaimed performances and successful transitions into international projects like The Flash and Upgraded.[edit]

Jackson is notoriously private about her family, but she has shared a few details over the years. She was born in Derry to parents who both worked in the local community; her mother was a teacher and her father worked in engineering. She has one younger brother, who she has described as her "best friend" and who still lives in Derry. Jackson has said that her family's support was crucial when she decided to pursue acting, and they remain her biggest cheerleaders. She currently splits her time between London and Derry, and has spoken about how much she values returning home to see her parents and the friends she grew up with. [edit]

Saoirse-Monica Jackson is closely associated with Lisa McGee, the creator of Derry Girls, who wrote the role of Erin specifically for her. The two have remained friends and collaborators, reuniting for How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Jackson also shares a strong bond with her Derry Girls co-stars, including Nicola Coughlan, who has become a close friend and frequent red-carpet companion. She has worked with directors and actors like Jamie Dornan in The Fall, and has expressed admiration for actors like Saoirse Ronan and Michaela Coel. [edit]

Jackson has kept her romantic life largely out of the public eye, but a few relationships have come to light. In 2018, she was briefly linked to a fellow actor she met during the first season of Derry Girls, though the relationship fizzled out within a year. From 2020 to 2022, she dated a London-based musician, and they were often seen together at industry events, but they split amicably. In 2023, she was rumored to be seeing a director she worked with on a short film, but neither confirmed it. As of 2026, Jackson is reportedly single, focusing on her career and her upcoming projects. She has said in interviews that she values her privacy and prefers to keep her personal life separate from her public persona. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Saoirse-Monica Jackson's net worth at $4 Million. This financial standing is primarily driven by her acting roles, particularly the three seasons of Derry Girls, which served as a major hit for Channel 4 before finding a massive global audience on Netflix. Additional income streams include her starring role in the BBC crime series This City Is Ours and appearances in films such as The Flash and Upgraded. Beyond screen work, Jackson has supplemented her earnings through theatre, notably in the London production of Prima Facie, and voice work for the Harry Potter audio series. She has also engaged in brand partnerships and sponsored content on Instagram, though she maintains a low-key approach to commercial endorsements. Financially prudent despite her success, she has invested in property, reportedly owning a flat in London. Her wealth has grown steadily since the premiere of Derry Girls in 2018, with projections suggesting further increases as her upcoming projects come to fruition.[edit]

Saoirse-Monica Jackson has been part of award-winning productions, most notably Derry Girls, which won the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 2019. She has also received individual nominations for her performance, including a nomination for Best Comedy Performance at the British Academy Television Awards in 2019. While she has not yet won a major individual acting award, her work has been consistently recognized by critics and audiences alike. [edit]