Louisa Clare Harland (born ) is an Irish actor. She is known for her roles as Orla McCool in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls (2018–2022), as Nell Jackson in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell (2024), and as Anna Walsh in the RTÉ series The Walsh Sisters (2025).
Early life and education Louisa Clare Harland was born in . She grew up in Dundrum, Dublin, and has two older sisters, Katie and Ellie.
She was part of the Ann Kavanagh Youth Theatre in Rathfarnham, and later trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
Career Television and film Upon graduation, Harland landed a recurring role as Kayleigh in season two of the RTÉ One series Love/Hate in 2011. She later appeared in films Rob Burke's Standby (2014) and Woody Harrelson's Lost in London (2017).
In 2017, it was announced Harland had been cast as Orla McCool, the eccentric cousin of Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. The first series aired in January 2018, receiving critical and commercial acclaim, and the second in March 2019. A final third series, as well as a special, aired in 2022.
On 26 June 2020, Harland and her fellow Derry Girls costars performed a sketch with Saoirse Ronan for the RTÉ fundraising special RTÉ Does Comic Relief, with proceeds from the night going towards those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That same year, Harland appeared in the film Boys from County Hell.
Harland plays the lead role of Nell Jackson in the 2024 Disney+ series Renegade Nell.
Radio In March 2021, Harland performed with Sam Otto in an adaptation of the play Endless Second, by Theo Toksvig-Stewart, for BBC Radio 4. That May, she performed in an adaptation of the debut novel Snowflake, by Louise Nealon, for BBC Radio 4. In February 2026 she appeared as Louisa May Alcott in an adaptation of her short story Transcendental Wild Oats for BBC Radio 4.
Personal life As of 2023, Harland was in a relationship with English actor Calvin Demba.
she was living in Ladbroke Grove, London.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 Standby Julie 2017 Lost in London Stella 2018 Sunday Tide Violet Short film 2020 Boys from County Hell Claire McCann 2022 BabyDolls Barbara Short films Noah Kerry 2024 Joy Rachel 2025 Odd Socks McBride (voice) Short film Hamnet Rowan 2026 A Woman's Work Jolene Harper Ramona Short film. Post-production Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Love/Hate Kayleigh Series 2; 4 episodes 2016 Doctors Caz Ellison Episode: "Peanut" Harley and the Davidsons Secretary Mini-series; episode: "Race to the Top" 2018 Finding Joy Tara Episode: "Letting Go" 2018–2022 Derry Girls Orla McCool Main role. Series 1–3; 19 episodes 2019 Handy Finnoula Episode: "Pilot" 2020 The Deceived Cloda O'Donnell Mini-series; 3 episodes 2023 Big Boys Midwife Kerry McFall Episode: "The Night When" 2024 Renegade Nell Nell Jackson Lead role. 8 episodes 2025 The Walsh Sisters Anna Walsh Lead role. 6 episodes
Audio Year Title Role Notes 2021 Whistle Through the Shamrocks Mammy Podcast; 6 episodes2026Transcendental Wild OatsLouisaBBC Radio 4
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2018 Cotton Fingers Aoife Aberaeron Memorial Hall, Aberaeron 2019 Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. Niamh Royal Court Theatre, London2023Dancing at LughnasaAgnesOlivier Theatre, National Theatre, London Ulster American Ruth Davenport Riverside Studios, London2024Long Day's Journey Into Night CathleenWyndham's Theatre, London
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