Sharon Horgan Reflects on Post-Divorce Dating and Body Acceptance

Actress Sharon Horgan, 56, has shared her experiences with dating after her 2019 divorce from businessman Jeremy Rainbird, with whom she shares two daughters. Horgan, known for her roles in "Catastrophe" and "Bad Sisters," described returning to the dating scene as a significant adjustment.

Speaking to Grazia magazine, Horgan admitted that online dating can be disheartening. "You can get demoralised very quickly on the apps," she said, noting the perceived commitment and difference compared to dating in her younger years. She also touched on how intimacy has changed for her in her fifties.

"You do think about your angles, you know, lighting," Horgan explained regarding her body image. "Sometimes, I look down and see multiple rolls and lines but I have an attachment to them now, it's contentment with what you have."

Following her split, Horgan was "straight into a relationship," but also spent a year focusing on work and her own company. She expressed a current desire for "freedom, independence and space" in her relationships.

Horgan also recalled an instance of seeking revenge on an ex-boyfriend by casting the woman he cheated on her with as an extra in a project, an act she described as "the best fun."

Reflecting on her marriage, Horgan stated she wishes she had ended it sooner, recognizing the relationship was not right for either party. She cited societal conditioning and a Catholic upbringing as potential reasons for staying in the marriage longer than she should have.

"It's so destructive. You get one life and that's an awful lot of time to spend on something that's not working," she stated, acknowledging that while the divorce was difficult, it ultimately had a positive impact on her life.

Horgan also discussed the impact of her divorce on her daughters, Sadhbh, 22, and Amer, 18. She described a recurring image of her youngest daughter crying alone after they were told about the separation, a memory that has stayed with her. She noted the importance of children witnessing a healthy, working relationship.