Award-winning actress and writer Sharon Horgan has said divorce can be "a really handy, helpful thing" and that shame should not be attached to relationship failure.

Speaking to the Big Issue magazine, the 52 year old said that her Catholic upbringing had taught her that 'divorce' was a 'dirty word', but she now believes it can open up new life opportunities. 

Horgan, who created the HBO comedy drama Divorce which starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church, separated from her husband of 14 years, businessman Jeremy Rainbird in 2019.

In the interview the actress, who was brought up in County Meath in Ireland, said :

"I'd tell my younger self that sometimes it's a really positive thing to move on from a relationship.

"It can mean your life suddenly just opens up and feels much more suited to your personality.

"I feel like, especially if you come from a religious background - I was brought up Catholic - divorce is kind of a dirty word. But it shouldn't be.

"Divorce can be a really helpful, handy thing that can change your life. There's a lot of shame attached to the failure of a relationship, and that shouldn't be the case."

Horgan's most recent work includes the Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters, alongside Anne-Marie Duff and Claes Bang.