The world renowned playwright, screenwriter and creator of the hugely popular Derry Girls series joins the likes of John Hume, Phil Coulter and Winston Churchill in receiving the Council’s highest accolade, which recognises and expresses gratitude for outstanding service and contribution to life in the Council area.
Mayor Sandra Duffy said the title was a fitting recognition of her career in the TV and film industry and the hugely important role Lisa has played in putting Derry~Londonderry on the international map, boosting civic pride and promoting tourism: “Lisa McGee is one of our most loved and admired screenwriters. We are hugely proud to confer this honour on her and to formally acknowledge her remarkable career that has seen her create and produce a wide range of TV and film material, that has achieved international acclaim. While Lisa is mainly known for her fantastic Derry Girls series, she has also been hugely successful for a number of other major TV credits including the BBC3’s The Things I Haven’t Told You, the BAFTA nominated Being Human and the popular Channel 4 sitcom London Irish and Raw, to name but a few.
Born and reared in Derry~Londonderry, Lisa McGee, is extremely proud of her roots and has never forgotten her home city. We are all so proud of Lisa McGee and the way in which she has depicted the city of Derry~Londonderry and its people in her work. She has successfully captured the city and its people, their unique humour, warmth and resilience and we are over the moon to be in a position to recognise her work in this way. It is a fitting tribute that she is the first woman to be conferred with the Freedom of the City and District title.”
Lisa McGee, an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, is the creator, writer and executive producer of the acclaimed Derry Girls. She co-created, co-wrote and was executive producer on The Deceived with her husband Tobias Beer and was creative director, executive producer and wrote an episode of the BBC monologues on poverty Skint. Her other TV credits include London Irish, Raw, Being Human, The White Queen and Indian Summers.