Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher has admitted it was "really sad" to leave the long-running show, as she was asked whether her exit will be permanent. The actress, who played Nina Lucas, made her debut as the niece of Weatherfield stalwart Roy Cropper in 2019 and quickly became a regular fixture on the ITV soap.
From Cobbles to Stage
Gallagher became a standout star after the show tackled a horrifying hate crime storyline that claimed the life of Nina's boyfriend, Seb Franklin. The powerful narrative earned her the National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance. After six and a half years, it was confirmed last month that she would bow out of the Salford-based programme to make her stage debut as Clarice Starling in the UK and Ireland tour of The Silence of the Lambs.
A Corrie spokesperson told Digital Spy: "Mollie has created a unique and well-loved character in Nina over the past six and a half years, and everyone will be sorry to see her go. It is fantastic for Mollie that she has been given this incredible opportunity to play such an iconic role and we wish her all the best for the theatre tour."
Emotional Farewell
Speaking on This Morning on Monday, July 13, Gallagher opened up about her exit, revealing she started rehearsals for her next role just three days after filming her final scenes. "I don't like change, I struggle with change. It was really sad. [It was] three days before I started rehearsals, and in a way it was helpful because it was so quick," she said.
Her final scenes on Corrie will air at the end of August, but the exit storyline remains under wraps. However, Gallagher hinted that the door is being left open for Nina to return, stating: "I believed it's not the end of Nina's story. I love Corrie, and I really hope it's not the end. I don't think it is."
New Role in The Silence of the Lambs
Gallagher will star in the world stage play premiere of the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, alongside former soap stars John Partridge (EastEnders' Christian Clarke) as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Oliver Farnworth (Corrie's Andy Carver and Emmerdale's John Sugden) as Jack Crawford, and Sam Jackson as Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill). The adaptation by two-time Pulitzer finalist and Tony-nominated playwright Gina Gionfriddo visits Salford's The Lowry from Tuesday, October 6 to Saturday, October 10.
