Golden Globe win for actress with Carndonagh roots

It’s not every day that a Golden Globe win can be traced back to Carndonagh, but that was the case on Sunday night, January 12.

The English actress Erin Doherty, whose grandfather hails from Carndonagh, picked up a prestigious Golden Globe Award for her performance in the hard-hitting Netflix drama Adolescence at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California.

Erin, who grew up in Crawley and now lives in Brighton, won the award for Best Supporting Female Actor for her portrayal of clinical psychologist Briony Ariston. Her character supports a teenage boy accused of murdering a female classmate, offering a calm but powerful presence at the heart of the series.

Adolescence, which also stars Stephen Graham, has been widely praised for its resolute exploration of misogyny, radicalisation, and the dangers of harmful online content. The drama has sparked national conversations, including debates and discussions in schools across the UK and Ireland.

Already an acclaimed performer, the 33-year-old previously earned widespread recognition for her role as a young Princess Anne in The Crown. More recently, she received an Emmy Award in September 2025 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in Adolescence.

The series itself enjoyed major success at the Emmy Awards, winning Best Limited Series, while Stephen Graham took home the award for Best Actor and Owen Cooper won Best Supporting Actor. Adolescence received five Golden Globe nominations in total.

During her Golden Globe acceptance speech, Erin paid tribute to mental health professionals, saying it was an “honour” to portray a therapist on screen and acknowledging the vital role they play in society.

Closer to home, North Inishowen has been quietly celebrating the actress’s success. Erin has long spoken with pride about her Donegal roots and the influence of her grandfather, Michael “Mickey” Doherty, who hailed from Carndonagh.

The actress has previously said that her grandfather’s “booming” Donegal accent sparked her fascination with speech and performance, helping to ignite her early interest in acting. 

She frequently speaks about her love of Inishowen, and last year, Erin revealed plans to return to her grandfather’s hometown with her father and sister, telling the Irish Examiner: “That’s where we’re from, and I’ve always been so proud to have that heritage.”

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With a Golden Globe and Emmy now under her belt and a current nomination for a SAG-AFTRA Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, it seems likely that celebrations in Inishowen are far from over.