From Derry to Barcelona: why the actress sought a fresh start
Jamie‑Lee O’Donnell, the actress from Derry known for her role as Michelle in Lisa McGee’s comedy Derry Girls, has described how an "intense" course of therapy prompted a series of life changes, including selling her home, relocating to Barcelona and cutting ties with her family.
Speaking on the Dish podcast with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, the 39‑year‑old said the work she did in therapy forced her to confront issues she felt were affecting many areas of her life. On air she described the process as “pretty intense and really tough” and said that after completing therapy she wanted “a new start”.
“All the healing's done. I had to go no contact with my entire family. It's just one of those things,”
The decision to move to Spain was part instinct and part deliberate planning, she said, adding that she had sold her house and left Ireland to begin a different chapter. The actress told the programme she relocated to Barcelona in February 2025 and characterised herself as "hyper independent", explaining that when she decides to do something she researches it and goes ahead.
Career context and recent work
Best known for playing the bold, brash and outspoken Michelle in Derry Girls, O’Donnell has since appeared in other television productions, including Screw and Leonard and Hungry Paul. She is also reported to be involved in wider projects, with one source noting she is set to appear in the forthcoming BBC six‑part comedy Hopley Hall and has a role in Rebel Wilson’s new film Girl Group.
Her candid comments mark a departure from the kind of reticence she said she displayed in previous years about discussing personal therapy publicly. In conversation she reflected on cultural attitudes in Northern Ireland, saying there can be a tendency to adopt a "get on with it" approach rather than talk about emotional struggles — a perspective she said she understood given its role in survival, but which ultimately became unhelpful for her.
Local reactions and wider conversation
O’Donnell’s openness about therapy and family estrangement touches on themes that resonate locally: mental health, the changing visibility of personal recovery, and how public figures from smaller communities navigate private decisions in public life. Her choice to disclose that she is “no contact” with her family is a personal one, and she framed it as part of a necessary process to move forward after confronting long‑standing issues from childhood.
She also emphasised that, having spoken about it publicly, she has seen similar experiences among others — suggesting that adult estrangement is not as unusual as some might assume.
- Age: 39
- Moved to Barcelona: February 2025
- Notable roles: Michelle in Derry Girls; appearances in Screw and Leonard and Hungry Paul
- Upcoming work: Reported involvement in BBC comedy Hopley Hall; appearance in Rebel Wilson’s Girl Group
For many in Derry and beyond, O’Donnell remains a recognisable figure whose career began with a show that placed the city at the centre of a hugely popular television portrayal of life during the Troubles. Her account of seeking professional help, making substantial life changes and reassessing familial relationships will add to discussions about how public figures manage private recovery while under media attention.
She told interviewers that therapy allowed her to "put it to bed for now" and to look forward — language that reflects a personal reckoning and the choice to make compensatory changes in her life. Whatever the long‑term personal outcome, the revelations underline how decisions about family relationships and mental health can carry particular resonance for those from tight‑knit communities such as Derry.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Therapy | Described as intense and personally transformative |
| Major life change | Sold house and relocated to Barcelona for a fresh start |
| Family | Decided to go no contact with entire family after therapy |
The remarks were made in a broadcast interview and have been reported in national media; O’Donnell’s frankness is likely to shape further public conversation about mental health, recovery and how those from Northern Ireland manage private lives in the public eye.
