Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher has admitted she ‘wanted to cry’ after seeing the injuries her character Nina Lucas is subjected to following a terrifying hate crime attack.
Mollie’s fan favourite character Nina and her boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) are currently involved in a storyline which sees the young couple brutally attacked by a gang of thugs due to her goth identity appearance.
On Wednesday’s dramatic episode, the couple become victim to a horrifying unprovoked attack as they walk along the canal when Corey, Kelly and a gang of drunken mates taunt the young pair, which results in a brutal beating.
Recalling her initial reaction of the hard-hitting storyline, Mollie told The Sun : “I remember the first time I had the make-up done, I hadn’t filmed any scenes yet and I’d just been rehearsing it in my mirror at home by myself. As soon as the makeup was done, I just wanted to cry.
“I remember looking at my reflection and thinking, ‘Wow’. I already knew it was awful but when you’re actually in it, I thought I could cry.”
The storyline echoes many similarities to the tragic murder of Sophie Lancaster in 2007, and Corrie bosses and Mollie worked closely with a foundation set up by the late 20-year-old’s mother Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE.
Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, were targeted and beaten in a park in Lancashire on 11 August 2007 due to the way they looked. Sophie’s injuries from the attack were so severe that she tragically died in hospital 13 days later.
When Coronation Street first discussed the storyline involving Mollie’s character Nina, producers reached out to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation who were delighted to work with them to help the need to create respect and understanding of subculture in communities.
Ahead of filming the scenes, Mollie carried out research and consulted with Sylvia directly to ensure her performance was as authentic and respectful 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 a representation as possible.”
(Image: PA)
Sophier’s mother Dr Sylvia says the ITV soap covering the story about the abuse alternative people face ‘means such a huge amount’ to her.
She said: “I know first-hand the abuse, harassment and violence that alternative people suffer.
“Hate crime is usually directed at already stigmatised and minority groups and Sophie was assaulted three times before that final, sustained and brutal attack that took her life – but she never reported the earlier assaults.
“Coronation Street covering this issue means such a huge amount to me. We want alternative people to know that they shouldn’t be putting up with this prejudice and intolerance, and they should report it.
“We want the wider community to really appreciate the horror of this violence and understand that difference in itself, is not frightening, it just makes us all who we are.”
When discussing the harrowing storyline, soap newcomer Mollie revealed she feels a sense of privilege and responsibility that comes with filming such powerful scenes.
(Image: PA)
Speaking prior to the episodes being aired, Mollie previously told the Mirror: “Because this stuff has happened it’s such an important story to tell. I felt a lot of emotions. I am really privileged to be given such an important storyline but I am also nervous because I want to do the story justice.
“I have really put my all into it and hopefully it shows. You see the human effect this has on someone who you would say is strong. Knowing this has happened and does happen breaks my heart.”
She added: “It’s so important to get the message out there, intolerance and prejudice, we have to get it out of society. Alternative people like other minorities deserve to walk down the street without being abused physically or emotionally.”
The character of Nina has captured the nation’s hearts since she first appeared on the cobbles as the niece of Roy Cropper following the death of her father Richard.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/corries-mollie-gallagher-admits-wanted-24043251