Louisa Harland

Louisa Clare Harland is an accomplished Irish actress, widely recognized for her portrayal of Orla McCool in the acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, as well as for her leading role in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell.

Born and raised in Dundrum, South Dublin, Harland grew up alongside her two older sisters, Katie and Ellie. She developed a passion for acting early on, participating in the Ann Kavanagh Youth Theatre in Rathfarnham. Her dedication to the craft led her to train at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Harland's career took off after she secured a recurring role as Kayleigh in the second season of the RTÉ One drama Love/Hate in 2011. She further showcased her talent in feature films, appearing in Rob Burke's Standby (2014) and Woody Harrelson's Lost in London (2017).

In 2017, Harland's career reached new heights when she was cast as Orla McCool, the quirky cousin of Erin Quinn (played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson), in Derry Girls. The series premiered in January 2018 and quickly garnered both critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. A second season followed in March 2019, and a concluding third season, along with a special episode, aired in 2022, solidifying Harland's status as a prominent figure in contemporary Irish television.