Louisa Harland photo

Louisa Harland

Acting
1993-01-31
Dundrum, County Dublin, Ireland
Louisa Clare Harland is an Irish actress best known for her role as Orla McCool in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and the titular character of the Disney+ series Renegade Nell.

Brought up in Dundrum, South Dublin, Harland has two older sisters, Katie and Ellie. She was part of the Ann Kavanagh Youth Theatre in Rathfarnham. She trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

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.
Known For 10 titles
Hamnet (2025) subtitle poster
Hamnet
2025 Movie
as Rowan
Subtitles
Derry Girls (2018) subtitle poster
Derry Girls
2018 TV
as Orla McCool
Subtitles
Love/Hate (2010) subtitle poster
Love/Hate
2010 TV
as Kayleigh
Subtitles
Renegade Nell (2024) subtitle poster
Renegade Nell
2024 TV
as Nell Jackson
Subtitles
The Walsh Sisters (2025) subtitle poster
The Walsh Sisters
2025 TV
as Anna Walsh
Subtitles
Joy (2024) subtitle poster
Joy
2024 Movie
as Rachel
Subtitles
Lost in London (2017) subtitle poster
Lost in London
2017 Movie
as Stella
Subtitles
Boys from County Hell (2021) subtitle poster
Boys from County Hell
2021 Movie
as Claire McCann
Subtitles
Odd Socks (2025) subtitle poster
Odd Socks
2025 Movie
as McBride (voice)
Subtitles
BabyDolls (2022) subtitle poster
BabyDolls
2022 Movie
as Barbara
Subtitles