“Joke’s on you, mam!”
Siobhán McSweeney, star of hit sitcom Derry Girls, took the BAFTAs by storm last night after she accepted her award for best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme.
The Cork actor’s speech had the audience in bits as she breathlessly listed off gag after gag while accepting her award on the podium.
“So I’ve been warned to not do a political statement or to be boring or like really, really sad and stuff. So I’m gonna start with a funny bit,” began the 43-year-old.
“As my mother lay dying in the Bon Secours hospital in Cork, one of the very last things she said to me was would I not consider retraining as a teacher. If she could see me now getting a BAFTA for playing a teacher. Joke’s on you, mam!”
McSweeney won the award for her role as Sister Michael, the principal of the show’s Our Lady Immaculate College. She won out to fellow contenders Daisy May Cooper (Am I Being Unreasonable?),
Diane Morgan (Cunk on Earth), Lucy Beaumont (Meet the Richardsons), Natasia Demetriou (Ellie & Natasia) and Taj Atwal (Hullraisers).
Our first award of the night for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme goes to Siobhán McSweeney for Derry Girls 🌟#BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises pic.twitter.com/RoYgkkc5oI
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 14, 2023
Siobhán McSweeney’s BAFTA speech.
“Lisa McGee, thank you. Who knew that getting drunk and making each other laugh for decades would pay off? Thank you for giving me sister Michael and not listening to me when I said I could play all the girls’ parts.
“To the people of Cork for supporting me despite the fact I’m not Cillian Murphy. I know that has been very difficult for you.
“To the people of Derry, thank you for taking me into your hearts and your living rooms. I am daily impressed with how you encompass the spirit of compromise and resilience despite the indignities, ignorance and stupidity of your so-called leaders in Dublin, Stormont and Westminster.
“In the words of my beloved Sister Michael, ‘it’s time they started to wise up’.”
Derry Girls was at the double last night as creator Lisa McGee also picked up the award best drama script.
It was also a great night for Sharon Horgan‘s Apple TV+ show Bad Sisters, which took home two awards on the night. The show won best Drama Series and star Anne-Marie Duff won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the tormented Grace Williams.
Check out Siobhán McSweeney’s full speech below.
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