Mollie Gallagher, who portrayed beloved alt-goth Nina Lucas on Coronation Street, has confirmed that her character's story is not over, revealing why she insisted Nina not be killed off. The actress, who announced her departure from the ITV soap, will next star as Clarice Starling in a stage adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs.
Why Nina wasn't killed off
Speaking to Digital Spy, Gallagher explained her decision: 'I would not have been able to deal with that! Nina is such a unique character and I think there's so much to do with her.' She emphasized that keeping Nina alive allows for potential future storylines, including exploring her art and her cherished relationship with uncle Roy Cropper (David Neilson). 'I hope that it isn't the end,' she added.
Gallagher joined the cobbles in 2019 as Roy's long-lost niece, quickly winning over viewers with her kindness and unapologetic goth style. Her character was at the center of a harrowing hate crime plot in 2021, where she and boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) were violently attacked by Corey Brent (Maximus Evans) and his gang. Seb died from his injuries, while Nina survived and later reclaimed her identity.
New role in Silence of the Lambs
Gallagher confirmed that the stage role prompted her exit from Coronation Street. 'It was a tricky one because I love Corrie so much,' she said. '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 that she was passionate about portraying an alternative character and wanted to keep Nina's goth look consistent throughout her tenure.
The stage production also features EastEnders star John Partridge as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and former Emmerdale actor Oliver Farnworth as Jack Crawford. Gallagher praised her co-stars: 'They're brilliant actors... It's this little soap bubble. We've got EastEnders, Emmerdale, Corrie – and Ollie did Corrie as well. It's nice to learn from them.'
Message to fans
The actress expressed gratitude to Coronation Street viewers: 'All of the support from the people who watch Corrie really means a lot to all of us. To everyone who supported me specifically – I read the messages and it makes me smile.' She hopes fans will come to see her in the theatre, saying, 'It'll be nice for them to see me in a different role.'
