Sharon Horgan's 'Youth' Explores Midlife, Motherhood, and Dating

Sharon Horgan, known for her candid explorations of relationships and family in shows like "Catastrophe" and "Motherland," is back with "Youth," a new comedy-drama for HBO Max.

The series centers on Alex, a woman in her 50s juggling a demanding publishing career, raising a teenage son, and caring for aging parents. This places her squarely in the "sandwich generation," a demographic grappling with responsibilities for both younger and older family members.

Adding another layer to Alex's life, the show also sees her re-entering the dating world after a divorce. Horgan, who is divorced and has two daughters, confirmed that the series incorporates autobiographical elements. "There is a chunk of my life in there, an… autobiographical element for sure," she stated, adding that the autofiction format allows for a blend of reality and fiction.

Horgan conceived of "Youth" before working on Apple TV's "Bad Sisters," returning to the concept afterward. She expressed a desire to explore "this particular time in a woman's life... through the lens of a mother of a son," aiming for a story that is "post-divorce and 'menopause adjacent.'" She also emphasized her intention to make it a comedy, noting the humorous aspects of aging bodies.

The writer, producer, and actress attributes a significant part of her success to the authenticity she brings to her work. "I spent a lot of time trying to make it as real and as accurate as possible and trying to put in my faults as a parent and mistakes as a woman, my own sort of anxieties and insecurities," she said. Her goal is for women, in particular, to see themselves reflected in the characters.

Horgan sees "Youth" as a continuation of the trajectory started with her sitcom "Catastrophe," which focused on 40-somethings. "This [show] feels part of the same trajectory, almost," she explained, though she hopes "Youth" carves out its own distinct identity.

The show doesn't shy away from the specific concerns of midlife, including anxieties about aging. Alex exhibits a mild obsession with sagging skin, a theme Horgan connects to her own experiences. "It's really weird watching yourself age on screen because that's not fun," she admitted. Horgan aimed to offer an "honest depiction of someone having a complicated relationship with ageing," noting that she herself has developed a better relationship with the process. She critically observed the societal pressure on women to maintain a certain appearance, particularly within the entertainment industry.

When it comes to sex in midlife, Horgan noted that insecurities shift. "You think about angles, you think about the shapes you make and how to be sexy as an older woman. And, you know, lighting comes into it!" she shared. However, she also highlighted friends who are embracing this stage with newfound freedom. Horgan expressed her hope to eventually reach that point, but emphasized that "Youth" portrays a middle-aged woman navigating her body image while still seeking companionship.

Sharlene Whyte, who plays Horgan's character's boss and best friend, Sam, stressed the importance of seeing stories about older women on screen. "We should see more of it - women who are later on in age, who have been privileged to get here later on, who are still killing it and are still beautiful and sexy and funny," Whyte said, adding that women in their 50s are becoming more visible in media and have more acting opportunities.

Despite its focus on women in their 50s, "Youth" also features a prominent Gen Z storyline through Alex's son, Ruari, played by Aran Murphy. Murphy, son of Cillian Murphy, portrays Ruari's challenging relationship with his estranged father and his struggles to navigate young adulthood. "Having good people around you is so important, and it's not always easy to have that," Murphy mused, highlighting how a lack of a strong support system can lead young people to seek answers from unreliable sources.

Murphy hopes young viewers will take away from the show that "You don't have to have it all in place at 18, everyone is still kind of just pretending they know what they're doing." Horgan agreed, suggesting that this sense of figuring things out extends to later life as well.

"Youth" is set to debut on September 21 in the UK and Ireland on HBO Max.