Entertainment
Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell blasts ‘misogynistic’ question as chat show host repeatedly asks her age
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Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell was at the centre of an awkward moment on Friday as she labeled a chat show host’s question about her age ‘misogynistic’.
The actress appeared on Ireland’s national talk show The Late Late Show on Friday night to speak about the final series of Lisa McGee’s iconic sitcom.
After three fantastic series and one incredible cameo, fans are preparing to bid farewell to Derry girls Clare, Orla, Erin, Michelle and James at the end of this season.
Jamie-Lee, who plays fiery teenager Michelle, appeared on the show to speak about the new series but things went awry when the presenter asked the actress for her age.
Ryan began by conceding it ‘might be a rude question’ and said ‘you don’t have to answer,’ before adding: ‘Can I ask how old you are?’
Jamie-Lee jokingly quipped back that she was 117 years old and was ‘very, very wise’.
Jamie joked she was 117 years old as she attempted to avoid the question (Picture: RTE)
Despite Jamie-Lee swerving the question, Ryan pushed again and repeated: ‘Would you consider telling me what age you are?’
At which point Jamie-Lee gave an answer – starting with ‘this gets on my nerves a wee bit’.
‘It’s always quite misogynistic even if it’s not intentionally misogynistic, because men don’t get the same scrutiny,’ she began.
Ryan jumped in to defend the questioning, saying he ‘would definitely’ have asked a male actor the same question if he was playing a teenager in a show, to which Michelle said she’d simply have to take his word for it.
The host explained that he only asked the question because Jamie-Lee is playing a teenager and does it ‘so well,’ insisting there ‘was a compliment in there’.
Ryan insisted there was a ‘compliment’ in the question (Picture: RTE)
Jamie-Lee thanked him and started to continue but Ryan again jumped in to say she didn’t have to answer and they could ‘move on to something else because I can read a mood when I see it’.
To which a smiling Jamie-Lee quipped: ‘I was going to give you a hilarious anecdote but go ahead.’
Jamie-Lee’s calling out of the question has been praised on social media, with one person taking to Twitter to write the host had been ‘put in his box’ by the actress.
‘Ryan Tubridy hoping the ground opens up beneath him as Jamie-Lee O’Donnell calls him out on his misogynistic question on her age, she was well able for him,’ another said.
Others argued the question was fair as Jamie-Lee is an adult playing a teenager in the series, with one person describing it as an ‘attempt to make a storm in a teacup.’
Despite only one episode airing so far, series three has the potential to be the best yet, with fans buzzing with Liam Neeson’s shock cameo as an RUC detective.
The show’s stars have been on the promotional run for the new episodes, with Siobhán McSweeney also appearing on the Late Late recently to speak about her role as Sister Michael as well as Graham Norton’s Holding TV adaption.
Fans are preparing to bid farewell to the Derry Girls at the end of this series (Picture: Channel 4)
And Saoirse-Monica Jackson, who plays Erin, appeared on The One Show last week where she joked the Derry Girls cast soothed Liam’s nerves ahead of his big cameo.
‘We were there for him to give him acting notes,’ Saoirse quipped.
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‘He was very nervous, he always is.’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to RTÉ for comment.
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