The new Netflix comedy-thriller How to Get to Heaven From Belfast arrived on the streaming platform on February 12, 2026, and viewers are already hooked on the chaotic adventures of three lifelong friends. The eight-part series comes from Lisa McGee, the creator of the beloved sitcom Derry Girls, and marks her return to television with a darker, twist-filled story.
At the heart of the show are three actresses—Róisín Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne—who play childhood friends thrown into a dangerous mystery. Their on-screen connection has become a major talking point among fans, with many praising how natural and believable their friendship feels. According to the cast, that bond was never forced. It was there from the very beginning.
The Instant Connection Between the Three Leads
For Róisín Gallagher, who plays the free-spirited TV writer Saoirse, the decision to join the project was simple. The Belfast-born actress had heard whispers that McGee was working on something new, and the title alone was enough to grab her attention.
“I heard through the grapevine Lisa was writing something new, and from the moment I heard the title, I thought — who do I need to call to be part of this?” Gallagher shared in an interview with The Irish News .
When the three actresses finally came together for a read-through in London, something clicked immediately. Gallagher described it as an instant feeling that the dynamic was going to work .
“It was there from day one. That’s a testament to the incredible casting and Lisa’s understanding of these dynamic, really funny, really unique people and what happens when they come together,” Gallagher told Stellar magazine .
Sinéad Keenan, who plays the stressed-out mother Robyn, agreed that the casting directors and McGee understood exactly what they were looking for. The Dublin actress noted that once the three of them sat down together, the chemistry was obvious .
Caoilfhionn Dunne, who portrays the caring but anxious Dara, added that the physical connection between the three actors developed naturally. “We all just started moving in sync, early on,” Gallagher recalled. “No workshops or games — we just tuned into each other” .
Lisa McGee on Finding the Right Mix
For the creator herself, watching the three actresses come together was a moment of relief and excitement. McGee had been a fan of all three women individually before casting them. She had worked with Keenan multiple times in the past and had admired Dunne’s theatre work as well as Gallagher’s performances in The Dry and The Lovers .
But bringing them together for a chemistry read was the real test. McGee admitted it can be nerve-wracking asking actors she admires to participate in chemistry reads, but all three were eager to take part .
“The minute they sat down, we were like, ‘Oh, I just believe you’re friends, you just look like you’re about to start arguing’ you know? I just believed them as a group, and you could tell they had that chemistry, which is half the battle,” McGee explained to IFTN .
The writer also revealed that seeing the actors embody their roles gave her more ideas for the characters as filming progressed. Dunne’s physical comedy skills, in particular, became an asset McGee could write toward. “Caoilfhionn is so good physically, like she can just fall over. I could just watch Caoilfhionn run away from stuff for all day. That you can’t write,” McGee said .
Who Are Saoirse, Robyn and Dara?
The series follows three women in their late 30s whose lives have taken very different paths. Saoirse (Gallagher) is described as a clever but chaotic TV writer. She is engaged to a man in London but often forgets she even has a fiancé because she is so focused on whatever is happening right in front of her . Gallagher called her character a “scatty-brained, creative whirlwind of a woman” who is fiercely loyal to her two oldest friends .
Robyn (Keenan) appears to have the perfect life from the outside. She is a glamorous Belfast mother of three with a beautiful house and a loving husband. But underneath the surface, she is perpetually stressed and feels something is missing. Keenan described her as “highly strung, passive-aggressive — but there’s a good heart underneath it all” . McGee told Keenan that Robyn always wanted to grow up and marry well, but she is still not quite fulfilled .
Dara (Dunne) is a dependable carer who struggles with inhibition. Dunne described her character as “a religious gay woman — an optimist who’s afraid a lot of the time. She wants to be needed, and that keeps her going” .
The three women are brought back together when they receive an email informing them of the death of Greta, the estranged fourth member of their childhood friendship group. Strange events at the wake send them on a wild, dangerous, and hilarious journey across Ireland as they try to uncover the truth about the past .
Working With a Stellar Supporting Cast
The leads weren’t the only ones who brought chemistry to the set. The series is packed with familiar Irish and UK talent, including Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted, Death in Paradise), and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones).
Gallagher admitted she was nervous about working with O’Hanlon, who plays the eccentric Donegal hotelier Seamus. Growing up watching him on Father Ted, she worried she wouldn’t be able to stay professional .
“I was straight onto the family WhatsApp when I found out he was cast,” Gallagher said. “He’s a total gentleman, a joy to be around. But when he flips into character, you don’t know what he’s going to do next. Every take was different. It was magic” .
A Story About Messy, Real Friendship
What sets How to Get to Heaven From Belfast apart from other thrillers is its focus on female friendship in all its messy, complicated reality. Dunne pointed out that viewers don’t often see women in their late 30s going on adventures together on screen .
For McGee, writing these characters came from years of observing her own friendship group. She believes audiences connect with the women because they feel real.
“Women are ridiculous and funny and make really bad decisions. Everything is years and years of me listening to my group of friends and remembering stuff,” McGee told IFTN. “It’s seeing yourself and your friendship group reflected back is why that that works” .
The writer also noted that she wanted to take what would traditionally be male roles in action or thriller shows and give them to middle-aged women, just to see what would happen. “They’d be like a really shit A Team. They’d make everything worse, and they’d be in the mom wagon that would be falling apart,” she joked .
Viewers Are Loving the Dynamic
Since its release on February 12, the show has earned a strong response from audiences. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an impressive 93 percent rating from critics .
Viewers have taken to social media to share their thoughts, with many praising the chemistry between the three leads. One fan wrote, “Just binged-watched #howtogettoheavenfrombelfast absolutely amazing!! Fab cast, fab story, fab, fab, fab.” Another compared the show to hit thrillers, saying, “So far #HowtoGettoHeavenFromBelfast (new on Netflix) is giving Bad Sisters meets Sweetpea with a hefty serving of Derry Girls. I’m in” .
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Where to Watch How to Get to Heaven From Belfast
All eight episodes of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast are now streaming on Netflix. Each episode runs for approximately 60 minutes .
For viewers in the United States, the show dropped at 12 am Pacific Time on February 12, meaning it was available by 3 am on the East Coast. Audiences in the United Kingdom and Ireland could start watching from 8 am, while viewers in the rest of Europe gained access by 9 am. In Australia, India, and other global markets, the series is also available on Netflix, so subscribers can check their local libraries .
The series was primarily filmed in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, with additional scenes shot in County Antrim, Dublin, and London .
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