Filming for the much-anticipated second season of Bad Sisters faced unexpected delays as creator and star Sharon Horgan grappled with the heart-wrenching loss of her father, John Horgan. The comedy-drama series, known for its sharp wit and compelling storylines, was put on hold after John's death on December 28, 2023, following a battle with cancer.
Horgan, who is also acclaimed for her work on the BAFTA-winning series Catastrophe, opened up about this difficult period during her appearance on the podcast How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, hosted by her brother Mark Horgan. During the discussion, she revealed the emotional challenges she encountered upon returning to work, noting how the grief was overwhelming.
Speaking candidly, she recounted how her brother reached out to her after watching an episode filmed shortly after their father's passing. "Mark, he said he loved the episode, but I found it really difficult to watch," she reflected. "Because everything I was feeling went directly to those scenes, you know? So, it’s great and cathartic, and you can connect with your feelings and express them. But it feels strange and wrong, too, because you’re using your emotions like this."
Horgan explained the uncanny link between her experiences of acting and her grief. "You’re experiencing, playing heartache, grief—all these extreme emotions—and living them as if they're real. It puts your body under incredible strain, and I felt this at the funeral," she said. This connection between her personal life and her work was both therapeutic and troubling.
The impact of her father’s death on Horgan’s creativity forced her to halt production as she found it virtually impossible to work through her emotions. "It was weird going back to work. We eventually had to shut down the production because I couldn’t continue. This job can be unhealthy at times, and having to act through such deep, personal feelings was too much to handle," she confessed.
Horgan's emotional vulnerability is, perhaps, emblematic of the broader themes presented within Bad Sisters—a series about familial bonds, loyalty, and the extremes loved ones go to for each other. The show features Horgan alongside actors Anne-Marie Duff, Sarah Greene, and Eva Birthistle, showcasing the intertwined lives of three sisters and their attempts to navigate personal challenges, including relationships and loss.
While discussing her grief, Horgan highlighted how it became clearer to her how her work could intermingle with personal experiences and emotional expression. "I sat with an actor playing my dad's dying before; it blew my mind. You're bringing real emotions to the characters. You can lose track of what’s fiction and what's not, especially when you’re feeling so strongly," Horgan noted.
Despite the sorrow of her father’s passing, Horgan has shown remarkable resilience and growth. Reflecting on her 50s, she shared her newfound confidence and clarity about her career and life decisions. "I think hormones are driving me! I feel like I have more energy than I've ever had, which is kind of strange. Losing my father certainly made me ponder mortality and what I find truly important," she remarked.
Indeed, Horgan’s introspection on aging provides additional layers to her storytelling. Her feelings about growing older raise questions of identity and self-perception, sparking discussions with audiences about the intersection of personal and professional lives. "There’s this weird connection with mortality when you lose a parent, which often shifts your perspective on everything. It’s why I'm more discerning about what projects to take on and who I collaborate with," she continued.
With the release date for the second season of Bad Sisters set for November 18, 2023, Horgan's vulnerability has only intensified viewer anticipation for the series. Eight new episodes promise to blend drama with humor, exploring the depths of sisterhood and resilience.
Through her candid sharing of grief and triumph, Sharon Horgan demonstrates the art of balancing personal pain with professional creativity. Her experience not only sheds light on the darker aspects of dealing with loss but also emphasizes the cathartic power of storytelling, bridging the gap between lived experience and artistic expression.
Despite the production halting for her emotional well-being, viewers can look forward to seeing how her experiences and reflections will shape the narrative of Bad Sisters. After all, the most compelling stories often emerge from the rawest of emotions.