Mollie Gallagher has explained why she couldn't continue in her role as Nina Lucas on Coronation Street while also taking on the part of Clarice Starling in the stage adaptation of Silence of the Lambs. The actress, who has played the goth character for seven years, admitted she initially hoped to do both but realised it was impossible.
Why dual roles were impossible
'Originally I really wanted to find a way to do both,' she said. 'It sounds ridiculous hearing it now, but I'd seen theatre runs where different actors take on different stints, but I realised pretty quickly that could never work.'
Discussing the dilemma, she added: 'It's so hard. Because obviously, being on Corrie has been my dream, but also you want to explore other things and to be offered something as great as this, and not be able to do it would be devastating.'
Transition from TV to theatre
Speaking to Radio Times, Gallagher discussed the shift between television and theatre, noting it is only her second professional job. 'So I don't know if this ever goes away for anybody, but there is a big feeling of imposter syndrome. I've not done professional theatre and I feel like I'm very much in the unknown, and at least with TV you can watch yourself back and kind of go from there.'
On playing the iconic Clarice Starling, she said: 'Sometimes you can go, "Well, I wouldn't do that, Mollie wouldn't be able to do that," but Clarice can do that. She has to be grounded, no kind of airy fairy behaviour, it's the opposite of that. But luckily I got my big mirror out and I started doing the lines and I was like, "Oh, this is cool, she does sit in me."'
Exit from Coronation Street
Gallagher's departure from the ITV soap was revealed in June, with her final scenes airing at the end of August. A Corrie spokesperson said: '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.'
She previously assured fans that Nina's story 'isn't over' and that the character won't be killed off, saying: 'I would not have been able to deal with that!' She added: 'I was really passionate about portraying this alternative character. We kept her quite similar the whole time, which was important to me. I never wanted Nina to lose her goth look and who she is – I think the audience have always really appreciated that.'
Fellow soap stars in the cast
Gallagher is not the only former soap star in Silence of the Lambs, with EastEnders' John Partridge and Corrie and Emmerdale alum Oliver Farnworth also in the production. She said of working with them: 'They're the two actors I work with the most. We get on very well, which is what you want! They're brilliant actors as well. It's nice, because it's this little soap bubble. We've got EastEnders, Emmerdale, Corrie – and Ollie did Corrie as well. They've been in the industry for years so it's nice to learn from them and get some advice. I'm very lucky.'
She also noted: 'I've also enjoyed talking to Ollie about his Corrie days – it was quite a few years ago now that he was in the show, so there are some similarities with my time but also some differences.'
