Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Cast of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast – Meet the Friends and Faces in the Mystery

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Created by Lisa McGee.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast premiered on February 12, 2026.

Distributed by Netflix.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast TV Series Review

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a dark comedy mystery created by Lisa McGee.

The story follows three childhood friends who reunite after hearing shocking news about their missing friend.

As they search for answers, they uncover secrets, lies, and unexpected twists.

The show blends humor with suspense, keeping viewers curious and entertained.

The performances feel natural and emotional, especially from the three leads, who share strong chemistry.

The writing is sharp and full of witty dialogue.

Overall, it is funny, mysterious, and heartfelt, making it a great choice for fans of character-driven drama.

CR Rating: 8/10.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast Actors

Roísín Gallagher as Saoirse Shaw

Roísín Gallagher - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: 1987.

Bio: Belfast-born actress who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before building a strong career across stage and screen.

She is known for emotionally grounded, sharply observed performances that blend wit with vulnerability.

Role: Gallagher plays Saoirse Shaw, a television writer and one of three estranged childhood friends reunited after a shocking death.

Saoirse brings sharp humour, intelligence, and an instinct for uncovering the truth as the trio become entangled in a dark mystery.

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: The role leans on Gallagher’s gift for sardonic warmth, critics singled out her timing and empathy in press coverage.

Notable works: The Dry, Irish theatre, TV guest work and rising indie credits.  

Sinéad Keenan as Robyn Winters

Sinéad Keenan - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: December 27, 1977.

Bio: Sinéad Keenan is an Irish actress with a long-standing career across television, film, and theatre.

Born in Dublin, she trained at Trinity College Dublin before moving into professional acting. 

Role: Keenan plays Robyn Winters, one of three childhood friends reunited by tragedy.

Robyn is an overwhelmed mother of three, juggling domestic strain with unresolved feelings about the past.

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: Keenan brings lived-in domestic realism to the role; interviews mention how she helped shape scenes about maternal pressure.

Notable works: Doctor Who, Little Blue Boy, stage work, and multiple Irish TV dramas.  

Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara Friel

Caoilfhionn Dunne - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: 1984.

Bio: Irish actress born in Dublin and trained at the Gaiety School of Acting.

She has built a respected career across Irish and UK stage and television, earning praise for performances marked by emotional restraint and quiet strength.

Role: Dunne plays Dara Friel, the practical and compassionate member of the trio who works as a carer.

Dara often acts as the emotional anchor when tensions rise, grounding the group with empathy and level-headed reasoning.

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: Casting deliberately grouped three actresses of similar generation to explore how friendship ages.

Notable works: In View, Traders, Irish stage and TV credits.

Bronágh Gallagher as Booker Bradley

Bronágh Gallagher - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: April 26, 1972.

Bio: Northern Irish actress and singer born in Derry, Northern Ireland.

She first gained international recognition with her breakout role in The Commitments and has since built a steady career across British and Irish film and television.

Role: She plays Booker Bradley, a formidable local presence whose blunt honesty and deep community ties both assist and challenge the three central friends.

Booker’s knowledge of the area and its history adds texture and authenticity to the unfolding mystery.

Episodes: 7 eps.

Interesting facts: Her casting brings instant regional credibility and a familiar face for Irish viewers.

Notable works: The Commitments, Pulp Fiction, Music career as a solo recording.

Darragh Hand as Liam

Darragh Hand - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: N/A.

Bio: Irish stage and screen actor known for his grounded, naturalistic performances across Irish television and theatre.

Trained in drama and active in Dublin’s theatre scene, Hand has built a reputation as a dependable supporting performer who brings subtlety and authenticity to ensemble casts.

Role: Hand plays Liam, a local figure whose path intersects with the trio’s investigation into their childhood friend’s mysterious death.

Liam represents part of the tightly woven social fabric of Belfast, where long memories and quiet loyalties complicate the truth. 

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: Hand’s local authenticity helps the series keep its Irish setting feeling lived-in.

Notable works: TV and theatre credits in Ireland.  

Natasha O’Keeffe as Greta

Natasha O’Keeffe - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: December 1, 1986.

Bio: English actress born in Brighton, England.

She trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is known for portraying complex, enigmatic women with emotional intensity.

Role: She plays Greta, the estranged childhood friend whose reported death sparks the central mystery.

Though absent in the present timeline, Greta remains the emotional and narrative core of the story.

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: Casting a slightly out-of-town presence for Greta underlines how distance and identity play into the mystery.

Notable works: Peaky Blinders, Misfits, other TV roles.  

Michelle Fairley as Margo

Michelle Fairley - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: July 11, 1963.

Bio: Northern Irish actress born in Coleraine, County Londonderry.

She trained at the Ulster Youth Theatre before building a distinguished career on stage in London and across major UK television productions.

Role: Fairley plays Margo, a formidable figure within the community whose long memory and guarded loyalties prove essential to the unfolding mystery.

Margo represents the weight of history in Belfast, and her interactions with the trio reveal how deeply the past shapes present choices.

Episodes: 7 eps.

Interesting facts: Fairley’s gravitas deepens the show’s darker beats; press noted her scene-stealing turns.

Notable works: Game of Thrones, Suits, acclaimed stage/TV work.  

Emmett J. Scanlan as Owen

Emmett J. Scanlan - How to get to heaven from Belfast

DOB: January 31, 1979.

Bio: Irish actor born in Dublin, Ireland.

He trained at the Gaiety School of Acting and has built a strong career across Irish and British television, often portraying intense, morally complex characters.

Role: Scanlan plays Owen, a local figure whose history and shifting loyalties complicate the trio’s investigation.

Owen exists in the grey space between ally and obstacle, and as the mystery deepens, his past connections threaten to surface.

Episodes: 8 eps.

Interesting facts: Scanlan’s casting was reported in press rollouts as a notable Irish movie/TV voice added to the show.

Notable works: Kin, Once Upon a Time in Dublin, various film roles.  

Jenn Murray as Jamie

DOB: 1986.

Bio: Irish actress known for her emotionally nuanced performances across film and television.

She trained in Dublin and quickly gained attention in independent cinema.

Role: Murray plays Jamie, a local ally whose personal history intersects with the trio’s search for answers.

Jamie becomes part of the widening circle affected by the resurfacing mystery, revealing how interconnected relationships in Belfast can shape and complicate the truth.

Episodes: 5 eps.

Interesting facts: Murray’s reputation in indie and festival cinema adds artful weight to even smaller scenes.

Notable works: The Fades, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Lovers, Various Irish independent film productions

Saoirse‑Monica Jackson as Feeney

DOB: November 24, 1993.

Bio: Northern Irish actress born in Derry, Northern Ireland.

She trained at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester before landing her breakout role as Erin Quinn in Derry Girls.

Role: Jackson appears as Feeney in a guest role.

Rather than a full cameo built purely on recognition, her appearance fits organically within the tone of the series.

Episodes: 4 eps.

Interesting facts: Jackson’s cameo delighted fans and was widely reported in press roundups.

Notable works: Derry Girls, The Doll Factory.

Tom Basden as Seb

DOB: November 30, 1980.

Bio: British actor, writer, and comedian known for his work on stage, television, and radio.

Trained at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Footlights, Basden has created and performed in numerous BBC comedies, including Plebs and Fresh Meat.

Role: Basden plays Seb, an outsider whose perspective punctures tension and provides occasional comic relief.

Seb’s interactions help reveal social clues about Greta’s life while balancing the series’ darker moments with levity.

Episodes: 5 eps.

Interesting facts: Basden’s comedy background helps the show balance dark beats with levity.

Notable works: Fresh Meat, Plebs, BBC comedies and stage work.  

Ardal O’Hanlon as Seamus

DOB: October 8, 1965.

Bio: A celebrated Irish comedian and actor best known for his warm, approachable style and subtle comedic timing.

He gained fame as Father Ted’s lovable Father Dougal and has worked extensively in Irish and UK stage and television comedy.

Role: plays Seamus, a community elder whose friendly, affable demeanor conceals a sharp awareness of neighborhood gossip and history.

Seamus serves as both a helpful guide and a sometimes frustrating repository of local lore, adding texture to the series’ depiction of the cul-de-sac.

Episodes: 5 eps.

Interesting facts: O’Hanlon’s presence signals the show’s willingness to mix warmth with mystery.

Notable works: Father Ted, stage and TV comedy. 

More Actors

• Josh Finan as Jason/Andrew.

• Leila Farzad as Marnie.

• Maria Laird as Young Robyn.

• Chara Aitken as Young Dara.

• Emma Canning as Young Greta.

FAQ – How to Get to Heaven From Belfast TV Series

What is How to Get to Heaven from Belfast about?

It follows three lifelong friends, Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, who reunite after learning their missing fourth friend is thought to be dead and set off on a strange investigation that mixes humour with mystery.

What genre is How to Get to Heaven from Belfast?

It is a mix of dark comedy, mystery and thriller, blending laughs, suspense and character drama.

How many episodes are in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast?

Season 1 consists of 8 episodes, all released together on February 12, 2026.

Where can I watch How to Get to Heaven from Belfast?

The show is available to stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide.

Conclusion

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a smart mix of dark comedy and mystery.

Created by Lisa McGee, it follows three friends reconnecting after shocking news about their past.

With sharp writing, strong performances, and emotional depth, the series delivers both laughs and suspense in an engaging, heartfelt way.

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