Derry Girls actress, four, has been diagnosed with leukaemia

A four-year-old star of the hit comedy Derry Girls has started a course of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Zoe Brown, who along with her twin sister Sophie played baby Anna Quinn in the teen sitcom, is 'still smiling' despite everything she's going through, says her mum Leah Brown.

Zoe is now being treated for the form of cancer, with mum Leah Brown saying Zoe is "still smiling" despite all she's going through. The child actress was diagnosed seven weeks ago after her mum noticed she was looking pale and took her to the doctors, reports Belfast Live.

Zoe has since received multiple bone marrow biopsies and is having chemotherapy alongside steroid treatments. "I think I was just in a daze, I still sort of am to be honest," said Leah.

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"I didn't have time to process it, to let it sink in, as the treatment started the next day (after the first biopsy). She's been in theatre so many times, she gets lumbar punctures to put chemo in her spinal fluid as well and that's done under anaesthetic.

"You never think your child is going to be in theatre at all and the last seven weeks, she has been in loads of times." The side effects of Zoe's treatment means she has sadly lost much of her long hair.

"I know that's not the main concern, but it's the saddest wee bit for her," she said. "Zoe just had the longest, thickest hair and it was the first thing anyone talked about when they saw her.

"We met other little girls up at the children's ward and they're beautiful and so lovely, they have no hair either, but they've made her feel better about the whole thing. "It's amazing up there though, it really is, the consultants and