Tara Lynne O'Neill, who plays Mary Quinn in Channel 4’s Derry Girls, believes it is "really important" in the 100th anniversary year of the women's movement to have a whole female-led TV show.
The new comedy series, which is written by Derry native Lisa McGee and set in the city in 1994, has been the most successful comedy series for Channel 4 in years, with over 2.5 million viewers on average watching.
"When I was reading the scripts, I was laughing out loud on every page," 42-year Quinn told the Sunday Life newspaper.
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"That doesn't happen very often, so I knew it was something special. It's been brilliant - the support from the people in Northern Ireland and, of course, in England. It's been unbelievable that it's been able to cross the water.
"It's a surprise to everyone that it's translated so well, although I suppose not to Lisa McGee, who is well-experienced in writing."
Tommy Tiernan plays Mary's on-screen husband Gerry. "Tommy and I just had such a laugh, and then you've got Ian (McIlhenny) as my father" she said. "I've been directed by him in plays, but I've never worked with him as an actor.
"It was joyous to go to work with him and listen to stories and his dulcet tones as my daddy."
Derry Girls has already been commissioned for a second series for 2019. "Getting the second series took even the producers and Lisa by surprise," said O'Neill.
"Everything you do you want it to be good and you want it to be successful, but you don't have control of that, so it has just been amazing. It's also great because we all get to work together again at home. It's a great opportunity for us to showcase Northern Ireland and how amazing it is."
Aside from popular success, the sitcom has also enjoyed critical acclaim. "The series is a blast and a riot," said the UK's The Telegraph. "It manages to capture the specific nature of a time and place, while also being one of the funniest television shows I've seen in years."
The final episode of the current series of Derry Girls airs this Thursday night on Channel 4.
