Irish actress wins big at British soap awards

Irish actress, Jessica Regan, took home the title of Best Newcomer at Saturday night’s 2015 British soap awards.

Jessica plays the character of Dr Niamh Donoghue in the BBC’s long-running daytime series, Doctors.

Regan was born in Kilkenny, grew up in Tipperary and found her feet in Cork.

“All my family are from Cork. Cork was sort of every summer, every Christmas. I’m Cork by proxy. I didn’t feel at home until I finally got to go to university in Cork. The Granary is responsible for all the nonsense in my life. It was my stable.”

The lovely @ItsJessRegan collecting her award last night at the @SoapAwards #bbcdoctors pic.twitter.com/Nus8rGYPHG

— BBC Doctors (@BBCDoctorsSoap) May 17, 2015

Not only that, the actress has built up an impressive role of credits on stage and screen over the last few years.

They include a stint on EastEnders, a role opposite Ian McKellen in the pilot episode of The Academy and playing Tuzza Azzara in Richard Eyre’s acclaimed version of Luigi Pirandello’s Liolà at the National Theatre alongside fellow Irish actors, Rosaleen Linehan and Eileen Walsh.

She says she couldn’t believe how good the fit was when she was called to audition for Doctors last year.

“They were looking for an Irish doctor, female, 30 to 33 years of age. She’s meant to be a bit clumsy and a bit hyper. I was like, that’s me"

She and co-star Ian Midlane (Al Haskey) were also shortlisted for the Best On-Screen Partnership award but lost out to Laurie Brett and Adam Woodyatt (Jane and Ian Beale in EastEnders).

Congrats Jessica!