Louisa Clare Harland (born 1993 or 1994)[2] is an Irish actress. She is known for her roles as Orla McCool in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls (2018–2022) and the titular character of the Disney+ series Renegade Nell (2024).
Louisa Harland | |
|---|---|
 Harland in 2021 | |
| Born | Louisa Clare Harland[1] 1993 or 1994 (age 30–31) Dublin, Ireland |
| Alma mater | Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Notable work | Derry Girls |
Early life
editBrought up in Dundrum, South Dublin,[1] Harland has two older sisters, Katie and Ellie. She was part of the Ann Kavanagh Youth Theatre in Rathfarnham.[3] She trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.[4]
Career
editTelevision and film
editUpon graduation, Harland landed a recurring role as Kayleigh in season two of the RTÉ One series Love/Hate in 2011.[5] She later appeared in films Rob Burke's Standby (2014) and Woody Harrelson's Lost in London (2017).[6]
In 2017,[7] it was announced Harland had been cast as Orla McCool, the eccentric cousin of Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. The first series aired in January 2018, receiving critical and commercial acclaim, and the second in March 2019.[8][9][10] A final third series, as well as a special, aired in 2022.[11][12][13]
On 26 June 2020, Harland and her fellow Derry Girls costars performed a sketch with Saoirse Ronan for the RTÉ fundraising special RTÉ Does Comic Relief, with proceeds from the night going towards those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] That same year, Harland appeared in the film Boys from County Hell.[15]
Harland plays the lead role of Nell Jackson in the 2024 Disney+ series Renegade Nell.[16]
Radio
editIn March 2021, Harland performed with Sam Otto in an adaptation of the play Endless Second, by Theo Toksvig-Stewart, for BBC Radio 4.[17] That May, she performed in an adaptation of the debut novel Snowflake, by Louise Nealon, for BBC Radio 4.[18]
Personal life
editHarland lives in Ladbroke Grove, London.[19] She is in a relationship with English actor Calvin Demba.[20]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Standby | Julie | |
| 2017 | Lost in London | Stella | |
| 2018 | Sunday Tide | Violet | Short film |
| 2020 | Boys from County Hell | Claire McCann | |
| 2022 | BabyDolls | Barbara | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Love/Hate | Kayleigh | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Doctors | Caz Ellison | Episode: "Peanut" |
| Harley and the Davidsons | Secretary | Mini-series | |
| 2018 | Finding Joy | Tara | Episode: "Letting Go" |
| 2018–2022 | Derry Girls | Orla McCool | Main role |
| 2019 | Handy | Finnoula | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2020 | The Deceived | Cloda O'Donnell | 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Big Boys | Midwife Kerry McFall | Episode: "The Night When" |
| 2024 | Renegade Nell | Nell Jackson | Lead role |
Audio
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Whistle Through The Shamrocks | Mammy | Podcast |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Cotton Fingers | Aoife | Aberaeron Memorial Hall, Aberaeron[21] |
| 2019 | Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. | Niamh | Royal Court Theatre, London[22] |
| 2023 | Dancing at Lughnasa | Agnes | Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London[23] |
| Ulster American | Ruth Davenport | Riverside Studios, London[24] | |
| 2024 | Long Day's Journey Into Night | Cathleen | Wyndham's Theatre, London[25] |
References
edit- ^ a b "INTERVIEW: Derry Girls Saoirse Jackson and Louisa Harland: 'I never won anything on Sports Day but now I'm on a mural!'". Derry Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ^ "Derry Girls stars are way past GCSE age". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
- ^ "Louisa Harland discusses working on Derry Girls — District". Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Louisa Harland". Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Berry, Darragh (29 January 2019). "PIC: Orla From Derry Girls Was A Massive Character In Love/Hate But You'd Never Guess In A Million Years". Lovin.ie. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Hannon, Shane (29 April 2020). "Improv with Woody Harrelson, Derry Girls, and the OTB Culture HOF - Louisa Harland". OTB Sports. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Casting announced for new Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls | Channel 4". www.channel4.com.
- ^ "Derry Girls Press Release". Channel 4.
- ^ Power, Ed (5 March 2019). "Derry Girls, series 2 episode 1 review: the girls are back, still uproarious, and still on the pull". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
- ^ "Why Derry Girls actress was in tears after Channel 4 staff saw her working in pub at Christmas party". Belfast Telegraph. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Thao, Phillipe (29 September 2022). "'Derry Girls' Season 3 Returns in October, Love". Netflix Tudum. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Derry Girls announce extended special finale". British Comedy Guide. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "WATCH: Derry Girls wraps filming on final season, drops teaser trailer". IrishCentral. 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Derry Girls cast fangirl over Ronan in hilarious sketch". RTE. 26 June 2020.
- ^ King, Jordan (6 August 2021). "Boys From County Hell". Empire.
- ^ Mitchell, Harriet (10 February 2024). "Happy Valley boss's new crime show confirms release date". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Drama: Endless Second". Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Drama: Snowflake". Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Sigee, Rachael (28 March 2024). "Louisa Harland: 'I get very defensive over the LGBT community'". iNews. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Trainor, Julie Ann (23 April 2023). "'I love London but I miss home so much' – Derry Girls star Louisa Harland on life, love and her latest project". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 August 2023.(subscription required)
- ^ "NHS70: Cotton Fingers". National Theatre Wales. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Louisa Harland". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Louisa Harland". National Theatre. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (3 October 2023). "Woody Harrelson, Louisa Harland, Andy Serkis to Headline David Ireland's Social Satire 'Ulster American'". Variety. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Akbar, Arifa (3 April 2024). "Long Day's Journey Into Night review – Brian Cox upstaged by Patricia Clarkson's morphine fiend". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
Louisa Harland, for her part, is so effective as the family maid, Cathleen, that you want more of her. She lifts every scene she is in, turning a functional role into a comic highlight.
