Mollie Gallagher Opens Up About Leaving Coronation Street
Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher has spoken out about the real reason she left the long-running ITV soap after six and a half years. The actress made her debut as Nina Lucas, the niece of Weatherfield stalwart Roy Cropper, in 2019 and quickly became a regular fixture on the cobbles.
Gallagher soon found herself thrown into the thick of the action, taking on a horrifying hate crime storyline that claimed the life of Nina's boyfriend, Seb Franklin. Her powerful performance earned her the National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance.
Stage Debut in The Silence of the Lambs
Last month, it was confirmed that Gallagher would be bowing 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. Speaking to Inside Soap, Gallagher said: "Yeah, it was a tricky one because I love Corrie so much. I love everyone there and I love Nina, too. When I graduated from drama school and got the audition for Corrie, I thought that Nina was a dream character for me to play."
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."
Gallagher explained that the opportunity to take on the famous role led to her decision: "So it was a really hard situation, but as an actor, you do want to challenge yourself by trying new things. This new job is completely different because it's theatre. It was sad – in an ideal world I'd be doing both, but that just wouldn't work!"
Support from Co-Star David Neilson
Gallagher revealed that she had the support of David Neilson, who plays beloved cafe owner Roy Cropper. "David's amazing," she told the publication. "He just thought it was a brilliant opportunity and sometimes you have to do different things, don't you?"
She added: "Hopefully, one day I can go back to Corrie and continue the story. For now, as sad as it is not to be playing Nina, it's nice to be playing a completely different role."
Final Scenes and Future Possibilities
Gallagher recently said that her final scenes on Corrie will air at the end of August, but her exit storyline has not been revealed. However, she hinted that the door is being left open for Nina to return. Speaking on This Morning, she said: "I believe 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."
