How to Get to Heaven from Belfast cast includes Derry Girls star and legend of British sitcom
Several Derry Girls stars have reunited, and there are other faces you'll recognise
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast reunites the creator of Derry Girls with one of its main stars – plus a familiar face from Father Ted.
Lisa McGee’s new Netflix series follows Saoirse, Dara, and Robyn, three pals who reunite in the wake of their childhood friend Greta’s death.
However, from the moment they set foot in Greta’s hometown, something is very… off. So, the trio embark on a chaotic, hilarious quest to figure out the truth behind what happened to Greta – and reckon with their own dark secrets.
How to Get to Heaven has enlisted some major talent in its cast, from an Unforgotten star to one of Game of Thrones’ most recognisable faces.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast cast and characters
Roísín Gallagher plays Saoirse
Who is Saoirse?
Saoirse is one of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’s main trio. She’s a successful TV writer; more specifically, she created Murder Code, an enormously popular crime drama (with an egomaniac lead star).
She’s a bit all over the place and – much like her friends – stressed out most of the time.
Where you’ve seen Roísín Gallagher before
Roísín Gallagher’s stage career is more extensive than her TV and movie appearances, starring in 27 theatre productions since 2008.
However, you’ve definitely seen her on-screen before, whether it was her short stint in The Fall or her roles in The Dry and Lazarus.
Sinéad Keenan as Robyn
Who is Robyn?
Robyn, the sweariest and angriest of the main trio, is a mother-of-three who’s happily(ish) married.
She has no shortage of cutting remarks – even about her own friends – but she’s resourceful and smart, especially when they get into a tight spot.
Sinéad Keenan movies and TV shows
Sinéad Keenan will likely be best known for her performance as DCI Jessica James in Forgotten, a role she’s had since 2023.
Her television career stretches back to 1999, with appearances in Being Human, Poirot, and Silent Witness. Notably, she earned acclaim for her portrayal of Melanie Jones in Little Boy Blue, starring alongside Stephen Graham.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast cast: Caoilfhionn Dunne plays Dara
Who is Dara?
Dara completes the show’s main trio. She cares for her mother, but reluctantly allows herself to be whisked away by Saoirse and Robyn after Greta’s death.
Kooky, morally conscious (to a fault), and quick on her feet, she gets her friends out of some grave situations.
What else has Caoilfhionn Dunne been in?
Despite her limited filmography, Caoilfhionn Dunne has already been nominated for multiple awards. In 2014, she got a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Irish Film and Television Awards for her role in Love/Hate.
Dunne has also appeared in Ghosts, Chernobyl, and Saint Maud. Last year, she landed roles in three major shows: A Thousand Blows, Doctor Who, and Andor (the best series on Disney Plus).
Tom Basden as Seb
Seb’s role in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Seb is Saoirse’s fiancé. He’s an English TV director who works with his wife-to-be on Murder Code. While a tad neurotic, he’s well-intentioned.
Where you’ve seen Tom Basden
Basden starred in The Ballad of Wallis Island, one of the best movies of 2025.
Plebs fans will remember him as Aurelius, while he’s also starred in Here We Go, W1A, and The Wrong Mans. Notably, he played local newspaper editor Matt in Ricky Gervais’ After Life.
Michelle Fairley plays Margo in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Who is Margo?
Margo is Greta’s mother. She’s incredibly intimidating; uptight, steely, and – as Dara says – rather scary. Without getting too deep into the story, we can tell you she’s a psychotherapist.
Michelle Fairley’s career
Michelle Fairley played Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, appearing in some of the show’s most iconic (and infamous) scenes.
She’s also starred in Gangs of London since it began in 2020, and appeared in Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte spin-off and Small Things Like These.
Josh Finan as Jason
Jason’s role in the story
Josh Finan plays Jason, a mysterious individual with a big connection to Greta and the girls’ past.
If you want to know more… you’ll need to watch it!
Where you’ve seen Josh Finan
Finan has already earned plaudits for his performance in the BBC’s Waiting for the Out, one of the year’s best shows so far.
He’s also appeared in Black Mirror, Say Nothing, and Baby Reindeer, and he played Marco in The Responder.
Bronagh Gallagher as Booker
Who is Booker?
There’s very little we can say about Booker… apart from this: she’s a stern, calculating woman who’s connected to Greta’s death.
Bronagh Gallagher movies and TV shows
Gallagher has enjoyed a decades-long career, starring in iconic movies like The Commitments and Pulp Fiction. You may also recognise her from her TV roles in The Fitz, Accused, and Brassic.
Darragh Hand as Liam
Liam’s role in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Darragh Hand plays Liam, a Knockdara mechanic… who’s also one of the town’s police officers.
He strikes up a quick bond with Saoirse, despite her engagement – the question is, could it be something more?
Where you’ve seen Darragh Hand before
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is only Hand’s fifth credit. He debuted in 2009’s Wake Wood, later starring in Silent Witness, Grace, and Heartstopper.
Ardal O’Hanlon stars as Seamus
Who is Seamus?
Seamus is the quirky, upbeat manager of Knockdara’s hotel. Even when things get rough in the town (including a storm that forces every resident to take shelter under his roof), he always has a smile on his face.
Ardal O’Hanlon is a legend
Ardal O’Hanlon brought one of the funniest sitcom characters ever written to life on screen: Dougal in Father Ted.
In his own words, it was his “first proper job in television”, and it teed up a busy career. He’s since starred in My Hero, Skins, and Death in Paradise, among many other shows. He also appeared in two episodes of Derry Girls, playing Eammon.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast cast: Natasha O’Keeffe plays Greta
Who is Greta?
Natasha O’Keeffe plays grown-up Greta, whose death sets everything in motion in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.
Again, there isn’t much we can say about Greta’s role in the story without spoiling it.
Natasha O’Keeffe’s past roles
O’Keefe’s career took flight with two big TV shows: Lip Service and Misfits (she played Abby Smith in the final two seasons of the latter).
Since then, she’s played Lizzie Shelby in Peaky Blinders and appeared in Grantchester, Sherlock, and The Wheel of Time.
Emmett J. Scanlan as Owen
Who is Owen?
Owen is Greta’s husband and Knockdara’s chief inspector. Much like Greta’s mum, he’s pretty weird, and an ominous aura surrounds him anytime he’s on screen.
Did he play a role in her death, or is he hiding a different secret?
Emmett J. Scanlan movies and TV shows
Scanlan famously played Brendan Brady, a Hollyoaks ‘bad boy’ who appeared on the show between 2010 and 2013.
He also starred in The Fall, Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London, and Kin. This is his second collaboration with McGee after his brief role in Derry Girls (he played Mad Stab), and most recently, Scanlan played Paul in MobLand.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Feeney
Who is Feeney in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast?
Feeney is introduced in episode 6 of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Other than her having a connection to Greta, there’s nothing else we can say.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson’s roles after Derry Girls
Derry Girls fans should recognise Jackson immediately, considering she played Erin.
The sitcom catapulted her to fame, leading to roles in The Doll Factory, The Decameron, and This City is Ours.
Art Campion as Jim
Who is Jim?
Art Campion plays Jim, Robyn’s husband. Compared to Seb, who’s a bit meek, Jim is a normal guy who playfully bickers with his wife.
Where you’ve seen Art Campion before
Campion is another Derry Girls alumnus, having played Father Peter Conway in four episodes.
He also starred in Peaky Blinders and appeared in shows like Dead Still and London Irish. Blue Lights viewers may recognise him, too, as he played Sully.
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