Derry Girls’ Saoirse-Monica Jackson on a simple act of kindness that changed her life

Do you have a favorite show or movie when you want to escape?

Obviously, I love female-driven things because they’re relatable, and then I can immediately imagine myself as these other characters most of the time. So it’s definitely escapism. I can sit down and watch them all at once, like close the curtains for the day and just forget anything else is going on. Apparently I can’t do that too often anymore. I am an adult.

Is there a song you play when you need to get rid of a bad mood?

There’s a song by Tame Impala called “Elephant” that I always listen to and it instantly puts me in such a good mood. I’m just listening to it consistently at the moment. Oh, I’ll tell you what song always puts me in a good mood: Sophie Ellis-Baxter, “Murder on the Dance Floor”. You can’t feel small when you listen to it. I don’t buy it.

What was the last great book you read?

I’m in the middle now All women in my brain. i saw [actor] Jodie Comer shared this the other day so I’m reading it now. Before that I read a book called Snowflake by the Irish writer Louise Nealon. It was great. I love that strong female friendship that you really feel when you’re young. These girls meet in college, and the main character can’t figure out if she’s really, really good friends with this girl, if she’s jealous, or if another girl is chasing her. It’s a great image of that strong female friendship that happens. It also has beautiful images like rural Ireland. This is just beautiful writing.

What do you wear when you want to feel the most confident?

I have a pair of lilac knee high boots that my mum bought me a good few years ago. They go just below the knee and are my favorite color. They just make me great. And the shorter the skirt with it. I’m just clip-clop down the street with a spring in my step like Daphne from Scooby-Doo.

You mentioned earlier that sleep helps you reset, but are there any foods or treatments that help you rest better?

I am not a brilliant dream. As soon as I got up, I got up. I need to get used to going to bed. I always think of sleep as just mental because you have to pretend you’re doing it before you actually do it. I used to have a terrible habit of just watching TV until you fell asleep on the couch and then going to bed, which obviously wasn’t for me. It’s really hard work. So now it’s just a matter of pampering yourself better, like putting on some nice pajamas and making your bed. Nice book.

What’s your favorite low-cost treat after a busy day?

I think it really varies depending on what the weather is like. I don’t think there’s anything better than a pint after a long day, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it regularly. I like to come home and have something sweet. Right now I love matchstick smoothies. I love them because they last for ages and I love how cold they are. Since they take a long time to eat, I also find them quite refreshing. You can get a good half hour of comedy without rushing through the whole defrosting and eating process. I’m a sweet tooth. I grew up with my grandparents so I like all the shit. The worse the sweet, the more I like it.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a woman in your life?

After the first or second season Derry girls, I met an acting coach and she asked me how I felt about being on a TV show with such recognizable characters. I told her, “Yes, that’s great. I’m just worried that I can’t act my age or that I’m always seen as Erin Quinn.’ She told me that I have to accept that so many people will always be schoolgirls forever, so being in comedy like this gives you a ticket into their world. I never understood what she meant until now. I feel like this nugget of advice gives me the tools to enjoy this experience so much more.

Anna Myaslein is the deputy editor Glamour.