Saoirse-Monica Jackson stole our hearts as Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, but the Northern Irish actress has been living her own romantic comedy behind the scenes. After keeping her relationship private for years, she finally married her longtime love, Scottish DJ Denis Sulta, in a three-day Celtic celebration. Paul Mescal girlfriend Gracie Abrams made their red carpet debut at the 2026 BAFTAs, with the couple now sharing a home in London. Here is everything you need to know about Saoirse-Monica Jackson in 2026.
Who Is Saoirse-Monica Jackson? The Derry Girls Star Explained
Saoirse-Monica Jackson was born on November 24, 1993, in Derry, Northern Ireland. She grew up in Derry and Greencastle, County Donegal, where her parents ran a village pub. She attended St Cecilia’s College in Derry before training at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester.
Jackson shot to fame playing Erin Quinn, the drama-loving, diary-keeping teenager, in Channel 4’s hit sitcom Derry Girls. The show ran for three series from 2018 to 2022 and became a cultural phenomenon. She also starred as Cheryl Crawford in the BBC Liverpool gangster series This City Is Ours, which aired in 2025.
The Secret Love Story: How She Met Denis Sulta
Jackson’s love story began in an unexpected way. She met Hector Barbour, the Glasgow-born DJ known professionally as Denis Sulta, at a mutual friend’s party during the pandemic. He made quite the first impression — he was dressed as Santa Claus.
“One of our first dates was a walk along the canal by Broadway Market,” Jackson told British Vogue. “It was that stage where there were vendors on the street, so we grabbed a couple of drinks and a bite to eat and basically just told each other our entire life stories.”
The couple went public with their romance in September 2021, sharing cosy snaps from a Scottish getaway. Fans were stunned by the pairing. One tweet read: “There are some random celebrity couples out there but Denis Sulta and Erin from Derry Girls takes the cake.”
The Engagement: A Donegal Beach Proposal
Denis proposed during a trip to the beach in Donegal. The couple were in their Dryrobes and Crocs at the time. Despite a slight drizzle, it was a movie-magic kind of moment — a pod of dolphins and a sea lion also made an appearance.
He had a custom-made ring from Blair and Sheridan in Glasgow, bringing something from his native Scotland with him. The couple announced their engagement in February 2024.
“The best part was that he wrote everything down that he said to me,” Jackson told Vogue. “As anyone who has been proposed to will tell you, you sort of just black out and leave your body, you don’t remember it, so I’m so glad I’ll always have those words, and that I’m able to read it back now.”
The Wedding: A Three-Day Celtic Celebration in Kerry
The couple tied the knot in August 2025 at Dromquinna Manor, just outside Kenmare in County Kerry. They chose to celebrate in Ireland to honour their shared Celtic heritage, hosting 160 guests for a traditional three-day affair.
“Once we’d decided to do it at home, we started praying to our grannies, aunties, the saints and Sinéad O’Connor for nice weather,” Jackson joked. Jackson’s Derry Girls co-star Jamie Lee O’Donnell served as one of her bridesmaids.
The Reversible Tartan Wedding Dress
Jackson’s wedding dress was a showstopper. Designed by Annie Doble of Annie’s Ibiza, the gown featured a corseted bodice with puffed sleeves and an asymmetric skirt with a dipped hem at the back. The dress was reversible, with a tartan layer on the inside that came as a complete surprise to her new husband.
“We wanted both of our cultures and our families and friends to be at the centre of it,” she told Vogue. She added Celtic brooches inspired by her mother’s wedding dress. The tartan honoured her new mother-in-law’s gown, blending Irish and Scottish traditions seamlessly.
Surprises Galore: Darth Vader, Elphaba and Sausages
The wedding was filled with unexpected touches. Jackson’s father changed into a Darth Vader costume in the evening. A singer dressed as Elphaba from Wicked performed. An Irish storyteller entertained guests.
“Dancing went well into the early hours, we were in bed at 4.30am, but some were out until 7am so there were a few sore heads the next day,” she said.
The Sausage-Burying Tradition for Good Weather
One of the most bizarre wedding traditions came from TikTok. Jackson revealed on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show that she buried a full 12-pack of sausages to ensure good weather for her outdoor ceremony.
“I think it was my younger cousin had seen on TikTok that people had started to bury sausages. She said it was a tradition in the south, so I just went with it,” she explained.
She admitted, “I know it was a waste, but it was a full 12 pack. And it did stay dry! We gathered all the Child of Prague’s and stuff, so, it worked!”
The Honeymoon: Barbados Beach Getaway
Eight months after their wedding, the couple finally headed off on their long-awaited honeymoon. They kicked things off in Barbados in May 2026.
Denis shared a carousel of photos on Instagram, captioned: “Honeymoon Part 1: Barbados ❤️ the trip of a lifetime, with the most amazing person. Oistins fish fry, monkeys, beaches & loads of shellfish dinners.”
The hotel staff went above and beyond, sprinkling rose petals on their bed and arranging towels in the shape of a heart and two swans. At a restaurant one evening, the couple were treated to a chocolate brownie with a giant sparkler on a plate that read ‘Happy Anniversary’ in chocolate sauce.
Who Is Denis Sulta? The DJ Husband Explained
Denis Sulta is the stage name of Hector Barbour, a Glasgow-based DJ and producer of house and dance music. He was born and raised in Anniesland in the West End of Glasgow.
His mother is a Scottish broadcast journalist who was also a presenter of the 1980s pop show The Tube. His father also works in the broadcast world as a TV producer and director. According to MixMag, he puts his influences in music down to his father, who has two degrees in the subject.
The DJ regularly performs at clubs and festivals such as Reading and Leeds. He originally worked as a DJ at a series of after-parties at obscure locations before gaining wider recognition.
Life Together in Liverpool
As of 2024, the couple reside in Liverpool. Jackson has embraced her adopted hometown while continuing to work on various acting projects. The pair keep their relationship mostly private, but occasionally share glimpses of their life together on social media.
What’s Next for Saoirse-Monica Jackson
After Derry Girls concluded in 2022, Jackson has continued to build her career. She starred as Cheryl Crawford in the BBC gangster series This City Is Ours, which aired in 2025. She also appeared in the 2024 Netflix series The Decameron.
She is currently filming Season 2 of This City Is Ours. “The scripts are so exciting – the stakes are higher, the jeopardy really ramps up,” she told Vogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Saoirse-Monica Jackson married to? She married Scottish DJ Denis Sulta, whose real name is Hector Barbour, in August 2025 at Dromquinna Manor in County Kerry.
What is Saoirse-Monica Jackson’s wedding dress? She wore a custom reversible gown by Annie Doble of Annie’s Ibiza. The dress featured a tartan underlayer to honour her husband’s Scottish heritage and Celtic brooches inspired by her mother’s wedding dress.
How old is Saoirse-Monica Jackson? She was born on November 24, 1993. She is 32 years old in 2026.
Is Saoirse-Monica Jackson in This City Is Ours? Yes. She plays Cheryl Crawford in the BBC Liverpool gangster series, which has been renewed for a second season.
What was the sausage tradition at her wedding? Jackson buried a full 12-pack of sausages to ensure good weather, a trend she saw on TikTok. She joked that it worked because the day stayed dry.
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