The Coleraine-born writer of the novel Hamnet has spoken about the ‘family’ involved in creating the smash movie which won Best Film (Drama) at the Golden Globe awards.

Maggie O’Farrell was speaking to BBC Radio 4 following the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 11, which also saw Ireland’s Jessie Buckley pick up the award for Best Actress for her role in the film.

The north coast author, who won several awards for her novel about William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, said in the interview: “The film world isn’t really my world.

“I’m very used to the book world. It’s just – I think what’s very different about winning an award like this – is it signifies a really communal effort.

Coleraine-born Hamnet author Maggie O'Farrell.

placeholder image — Coleraine-born Hamnet author Maggie O'Farrell.

“You know, it’s a kind of family. It’s the Hamnet family, and we all made the film together, and everybody’s been recognised, which is just really, really lovely.

“It’s pretty buoyant, I have to say. Everybody’s really excited. And Jessie, of course, Jessie Buckley was singled out for her best efforts, which was really fantastic to see. So everybody’s pretty happy. I can certainly say that.”

Maggie O’Farrell was born in Coleraine in 1972 and lived in Portstewart. Her father taught economics at the then New University of Ulster in Coleraine. The family moved around when she was a child, so she spent her childhood in Dublin, Wales, and Scotland.

She is a highly acclaimed novelist and memoirist based in Edinburgh, best known for her historical fiction and emotionally resonant storytelling.