Sharon Horgan Brings 'Youth' to New York Ahead of HBO Debut

Sharon Horgan and the cast of her new HBO series "Youth" gathered in New York on Thursday for the show's red-carpet premiere, ahead of its debut on the network.

Horgan created the eight-episode comedy-drama and also stars in it. The series centres on a 50-year-old divorced woman who sets out in search of sex, love and a renewed sense of connection, while also caring for her ailing parents and raising an adult son who has yet to fully grow up. Across its run, the show examines relationships, family duty and the difficulties of beginning again in midlife.

Speaking at the premiere, Horgan described putting such personal material before an audience as an exposed position. She said the series is only mildly autobiographical, but that anything drawn from one's own life carries extra nerves about how viewers will respond.

Horgan also reflected on the way comedy and tragedy sit close together in her writing. She said she tends to look back on events a few years after they happen before finding the humour in them, and that comedy offers a way to address dark and difficult subjects before easing the mood with a joke.

Sharlene Whyte, who plays Alex's boss and close confidant Sam, said the show's warmth comes from the parallels it draws between adolescence and menopause. She described the latter as a kind of adult puberty, with hormones in flux and the same questions about attractiveness and desire that surface at 18 — a mirroring she said allows the younger and older characters' worlds to mesh.

Rupert Friend, who plays Patrick, a romantic interest for the central character, said stepping into a relatable role was an interesting change of pace. He noted he has often played less relatable figures, including an assassin, and called his part here — a lovable, puppy-dog man-child — a great deal of fun.

The cast also includes Aran Murphy and Robbie Gee. "Youth" premieres on Sunday, with HBO airing the first two episodes.