Siobhan's ready for star role

(Except for not looking at Norton’s book before she got Holding lead)

- SHANE POWER

SIOBHAN McSweeney admits she hadn’t read Graham Norton’s debut novel Holding before filming – despite taking the lead role in the TV adaptation.

The 42-year-old is best known for playing formidable nun Sister Michael in Derry Girls, but she’s back on our screens tomorrow as a very different character.

Siobhan plays romantic lead Brid Riordan whose past is dredged up when skeletal remains are discovered near the sleepy Cork village where she lives.

The four-part series – filmed in West Cork – boasts a stellar cast of Irish talent including Brenda Fricker, Conleth Hill, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan and Pauline McLynn.

Siobhan said: “The premise of Holding is that a skeleton is dug up and there’s a mystery around who it is. Tommy was meant to marry Brid but he never turned up to the church on the day.

“So it’s the story of our local Garda trying to figure out what happened to him.”