Soap newcomer Mollie Gallagher feels a great sense of responsibility as she portrays the tragic story of Sophie Lancaster in a powerful new Coronation Street storyline.
Mollie's much-loved character Nina Lucas is brutally attacked by a gang of teenage yobs including Corey Brent and Kelly Neelan in tonight's Corrie because of how she looks.
Nina and her boyfriend Seb Franklin, played by Harry Visinoni, are set upon by the thugs as the young couple go for a walk along the canal.
The soap is working with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, launched in memory of goth Sophie who was murdered in a park, on the harrowing storyline to explore social intolerance and prejudice.
Victorian goth Nina and builder Seb are violently assaulted similar to what happened to Sophie in 2007 when she and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were attacked. As a consequence of the attack in Stubbylee Park, Bacup 20-year-old Sophie died from her injuries.
Sophie’s mum Sylvia, who set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in her daughter’s memory to create respect for, and understanding of, subcultures in our communities, helped to create the character of Nina who arrived in Weatherfield in November 2019.
Asked about her reaction to the storyline Mollie, whose first acting job was Corrie, said: "I immediately found it awful because this stuff happens. It's such an important story to tell.
"I felt really privileged to be given such an important storyline and also was nervous because I wanted to do the storyline justice of course. I just put my all into it and hopefully that shows."
Mollie carried out research and consulted with Sylvia ahead of the powerful storyline to ensure her portrayal of Nina was as authentic as possible.
She said: "All you want to do is do it justice because Sylvia has shared her story and so I wanted it to be as accurate representation as possible."
Nina has captured the nation's hearts as the kind-hearted cafe worker, who was taken in by her uncle Roy Cropper following the death of her father Richard.
Viewers have loved seeing her find romance with sweet-natured Seb, which makes this dark turn of events all the more cruel.
"She's got this big heart and she's a lovely person so why wouldn't she be accepted?" Mollie asked.
In real-life Mollie isn't a goth but she's enjoyed adopting Nina's striking look and she's perfected applying her character's bold makeup following the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I love Nina's look," she said.
"I love it so much if I get any new costumes I'm like 'ooh what's it going to be?' and every day coming in to work I get excited knowing what she's wearing today."
She added: "Costume are really great. They work really hard finding the right stuff. If I ever came across anything they'd be really open to suggestions."
Describing her own look, she said she's never felt the need to change or tone it down.
"I don't know how you'd describe it, I just wear what I like I guess," she said.
"I always felt if I just stayed true to who I am and just be authentic really it will all work out. I'm a believer in the universe giving. I just knew I am who I am.
"The perfect role is Nina. It is literally what I would dream of."
She added: "Being who you are and just being able to express yourself freely that's always been a big thing for me.
"Doing a storyline like this I'm so grateful to be doing that for everyone out there."
