The actor and presenter on saying goodbye to Derry Girls, her role in Disney’s new superhero comedy Extraordinary, and why she’s been given her own ‘infant’ table on Pottery Throw Down
The actor and presenter Siobhán McSweeney, 43, grew up in the village of Aherla, County Cork. After completing a science degree at University College Cork, she moved to London to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Her breakthrough role was as Sister Michael in the sitcom Derry Girls. She is currently hosting The Great Pottery Throw Down and next appears in the Disney+ superhero comedy series Extraordinary.
You were on crutches during last year’s Pottery Throw Down after a bike crash which broke your leg in two places. You seem thrilled to be back and crutch-free for the new series…
That’s because I’m on strong painkillers [laughs]. No, I’m genuinely excited. Gladstone Pottery [in Stoke-on-Trent, where the series is filmed] isn’t built for crutches and I was in so much pain. I had to miss a few episodes and felt like I’d let everyone down. So it’s absolute bliss to be back. I’m not that good an actor to fake how much fun we have.