From the beginning of her professional acting career, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell came out of the gate swinging. Her very first TV role was in the series 6 Degrees in which she played Eva Maguire. From there, she went on to play Michelle Mallon in Derry Girls, which has become her biggest role to date. The show has helped to establish Jamie-Lee as an international star and she’s ready to continue building on the foundation she has laid.
At this point in her career, she is most widely known for her TV work, but that won’t be the case for long. In more recent years she has begun acting in movies and there is no doubt that she will be able to bring the same charisma to the big screen. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.
1. She’s A Real-Life Derry Girl
Jamie-Lee may not have a lot in common with her character from Derry Girls, but being from Derry is something they both share. She has expressed that she is proud of her Derry roots. This shines through when she is on screen in Derry Girls as she is able to connect with what the characters would be thinking and how they would act.
2. She’s Always Loved To Perform
Ever since Jamie-Lee was a child, she always gravitated toward any opportunity she got to perform. Whether it was a small show in front of her family or the chance to be in a school play, she couldn’t resist the thrill that came along with being creative and entertaining others. This led Jamie-Lee to perform in many plays while in school before she went on to train professionally as she grew up.
3. She’s A Formally Trained Actress
Jamie-Lee’s path to professional acting is a little different than most. After initially auditioning without any serious formal training, she took some time to study acting at De Montford University. This helped lead her to land her first TV role in 2012 and her career is still going strong more than a decade later.
4. She Has Theater Experience
Most actors would agree that there’s something special about acting on a stage. Although her on-screen work is what Jamie-Lee is best known for, she is also very comfortable on the stage. In her early years, Jamie-Lee divided her time between acting in theatres and working as a dancer before landing her first major TV role in 6Degrees.
5. Dealing With Fame Can Be A Little Overwhelming For Her
Fame tends to be a by-product of being part of a popular TV show, but it’s something that Jamie-Lee wasn’t quite prepared for when she was cast in Derry Girls. She has stated that she is incredibly intimidated by fame and didn’t expect to get to the level she is at. One aspect she didn’t think about was how it would affect her family when she is being recognized every day when out in public.
6. She’s Done Some Voice Acting
Jamie-Lee is the type of actress who is always looking to learn new things and expand her skillset. One of the ways she’s done that is by getting into voice acting. She is part of a comedy fiction podcast called Unwanted. It will be intriguing to see if she decides to do more voice work down the line.
7. She’s In A Relationship
Life tends to be a lot easier when you find the right person to do it with, and Jamie-Lee has certainly found that. She is in a relationship with DJ Paul McCay, and the two live together in Derry. Balancing a relationship can be difficult for people who work in the entertainment industry, but luckily Jamie-Lee is with someone who truly understands the grind of being in the entertainment industry.
8. She Always Tries To Stay Positive
Being an actor means having to constantly deal with rejection. No matter how talented an actor is, there will always be roles that they simply aren’t a good fit for. This is something Jamie-Lee has had to learn over the course of her career, and she now knows not to let rejections get her down. She understands that all she can do is give each audition her best effort, and the rest is out of her hands. When things don’t go her way, she does her best to stay positive and maintain an optimistic outlook on the future.
9. She Loves Christmas Time
Christmas is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, and Jamie-Lee would certainly agree. She has claimed that she loves Christmas and it’s her favorite time of the year. Jamie-Lee looks forward to wearing her Christmas jumpers and going for drinks with her friends and family during the holiday season.
10. She’s A Fairly Private Person
Despite spending their work lives in front of the camera, many actors and celebrities are very private people and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell is no exception. She isn’t the type to share every detail of her life with the world. Instead, she lives a low-key lifestyle, choosing to separate her personal and work life.
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