Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher has spoken about a possible return to the long-running show, as she will be seen exiting the programme next week. The actress is best known for having played Nina Lucas in the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford, having joined as the niece of Weatherfield stalwart Roy Cropper in 2019.
But after six and a half years on the famous cobbles, it was confirmed last month that Mollie will be bowing out of the programme in order to take on her first stage role, playing Clarice Starling in the UK and Ireland tour of The Silence of the Lambs.
Stage debut and farewell scenes
It was earlier this month that Mollie was seen making her stage debut. Taking to Instagram, she shared a photo of herself on the red carpet and gushed: "Theatre debut complete @curve_leicester"
"The most brilliant rehearsal process with @nikolaifostertheatre @juliathomas967 @bentleighmarie and the brilliant writer @gina_gionfriddo_ I haven’t been on a stage since I left drama school 7 years ago, so it’s been amazing to learn from some of the best. I’m v excited to keep being able to learn and grow on stage."
While her stint in the theatre tour continues, it's next week that Corrie fans will see her last scenes as Nina. In new spoilers for next week's episodes, Nina is seen leaving the cobbles behind, as they reveal that she says goodbye to her friends before heading to Whitby with Roy.
Nina's reason for leaving
Speaking about Nina's reason for leaving Weatherfield, Mollie said in a new interview: "Nina is kind of at a point in her life where she just feels like everything is a bit mundane, and nothing is really going on. She’s still working at the cafe, but she hasn’t continued with any of her fashion projects.
"She sees her friends moving on, like Asha with Sienna and feels like everyone is moving forward except her. Then, she has this conversation with friends, and one of them is going to these cool gigs and really living life. She wishes she had something like that going on and the friend mentioned a job opportunity at an art gallery. She went for it, and then she got the job. It feels like the right thing to do."
Asked if she was pleased about how Nina left the street, the soap star shared: "It feels true to her character. It is a really positive move for Nina, there is no tragedy and she was able to go off happily to this new life? She is sad to leave Roy and her friends but she knows it is the right thing to do."
Hope for a return
But Mollie didn't want to take too many keepsakes, in the hope of returning to the role of Nina one day. She said: "I kept her coat, my favourite coat of hers, but I hope it isn't the end of Nina, and I didn't want to take her best things in case I ever get a call back.
"I don’t have any mementoes other than Nina herself. I felt like the way I developed Nina, a part of her came into me, and I think that’s what happens when you play a character for a long time. You genuinely change."
