Sharon Horgan, the talented creator and star of the acclaimed show Bad Sisters, has learned to be cautious about blending her real-life experiences into her writing. At 54, Horgan reflects on her early career, admitting she used to draw inspiration from the stories and lives of those around her.
As she evolved in her craft, Horgan acknowledged the need for discretion. “When I was younger, I thought it was okay to take inspiration from others," she explained. "But as I grew, I realized that it’s important to be careful.”
In her journey as a storyteller, there were moments that made her rethink this practice. Horgan recalled receiving an unexpected email from a former roommate who recognized elements of their shared past in her work. “It wasn’t a confrontation," she said. "More like a nostalgic catch-up about the heavy times we went through.” While this didn’t create serious problems, it did make Horgan more reluctant to borrow so freely from her own history.
In the early stages of her career, Horgan was eager to tell stories, fearing she might run out of ideas. "I was really hungry for material back then," she shared. Yet, as her experience grew, she found that she could still maintain accuracy in her writing without relying solely on others.
For instance, while creating the HBO series Divorce, Horgan wanted her depiction of the divorce experience to feel genuine. She consulted a friend who had been through it, asking her to share specific details of the moment she asked for a divorce, which provided Horgan with the authentic insight she sought.
Now, Horgan draws from her own life as well. After her own divorce from Jeremy Rainbird in 2019, she acknowledges that her experiences greatly influenced her storytelling. “That’s my story. It’s partly my story, and I think that’s perfectly fine to share,” she noted.
However, when it comes to her daughters, Horgan remains firm that their experiences will always be off-limits in her writing. “I wouldn’t use their lives because it’s just not my place to do so,” she asserted.
With nearly 20 years in the industry since her first hit show, Pulling, Horgan has come to feel less pressure about where her ideas come from. Yet, she carries the weight of wanting to represent her Irish heritage accurately in her current project, Bad Sisters. “Being Irish is a huge part of who I am,” she said. “If I didn’t portray our culture in a positive light, I’d feel like I failed.”
New episodes of Bad Sisters season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+, and Horgan continues to be a significant voice in storytelling, balancing personal reflection with creative expression.
