They play schoolgirls in the hit Channel 4 show, but how old are the cast of Derry Girls really.
The world is on tenterhooks anticipating the release of Derry Girls series 3. And while it will no doubt have us doubled over in laughter at the antics of the girls and the wee English fella, there is also an air of sadness that it is the final season.
The hit Channel 4 series follows the lives of Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James as they navigate their teenage years (and all the drama that comes with that) in the heart of Derry. While the main cast play teenagers so well that it reminds you of yourself at that age, you may be shocked to find out just how much older the cast are than their on-screen counterparts.
Of course, actors often play younger, particularly for shows about teenagers. The stars of The Inbetweeners, for example, were also much older than the boys they were playing.
Read more: Meet the cast of Derry Girls series 3
But sometimes the actual age gap is shocking when we're so immersed in their fictional lives. While we don't think they look a day over 15, here are the real ages of the cast of Derry Girls:
Erin Quinn
Erin is a wannabe writer and a bit of a drama queen. She's kind of the leader of the gang, and a lot of the action takes place in her house.
Derry native, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, may be playing a teen who is desperate to grow up but in reality, she is beyond her school years. The fresh-faced actor is actually 28 years old, 12 years older than Erin was at the beginning of the series.
Michelle Mallon
Michelle lets on she's the most mature of the group - but like the rest of them, she doesn't really have a clue. Her wit and humour as the rebel of the group have fans more than impressed with actress Jamie-Lee O'Donnell's iconic performance.
Like Saoirse-Monica, Jamie-Lee is also a Derry Girl at heart. But she is actually 30 in real life.
Orla McCool
Orla is Erin's first cousin and the daughter of Aunt Sarah - she lives in a world of her own, a true individual, and rolls her own way in everything she does. Orla is said to be 15 when the series began in 2018.
Actor Louisa Harland in reality is 28 years old. Her childlike innocence that is portrayed in her characterisation of the teen would have us fooled any day!
Clare Devlin
This one may shock you the most...
Clare is a nervy kid, a bit of a telltale, and does a fair amount of whining while her more adventurous mates push the boundaries. The schoolgirl also came out as gay at the end of series 1.
Played by Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan, she is actually double the age of her character. Nicola is 35 years old (but we would still ID her at a bar!)
James Maguire
Poor James is Michelle's cousin and is absolutely tortured for being English. He is the only lad in the all-girls school - so he is often one to stand out.
Dylan Llewellyn, from Reigate in Surrey, loves his involvement in the show and reckons Derry has become a second home. While his character James is around 15/16 years old when the series began, Dylan is actually 29 years old.
Read more: Lisa McGee stunned as The Simpsons pays tribute with Derry Girls reference
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