Hollyoaks’ Nicole Barber-Lane shares co-star support amid real-life journey
"She became my go-to."
Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks star Nicole Barber-Lane, who plays McQueen family matriarch Myra, has revealed the sweet support she has received from her co-star Hollie-Jay Bowes surrounding her son’s neurodivergence. Nicole’s son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome as a teenager, with the condition now classified under the autism spectrum.
Nicole’s castmate Bowes, who played Michaela McQueen in the soap until 2012, revealed that she had been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in 2023. Hollie-Jay returned to Hollyoaks earlier this year, making a guest appearance as part of John Paul McQueen’s exit.
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In an exclusive chat with Inside Soap, Nicole opened up about her son’s diagnosis and the understanding that Hollie-Jay had helped her gain.
“Her diagnosis made so much sense when I look back to when she was younger,” reflected Nicole. “Hollie-Jay became my go-to about the subject and we had a couple of conversations.
“I asked her to speak to my son, and I think it really helped him understand that being neurodivergent is not something to be ashamed of. It means people can understand you, and your behaviour, much better.”
Although Nicole’s son wasn’t formally diagnosed until he was a teenager, she first noticed a behavioural difference between him and his sister back when he was in primary school.
“Initially I just put it down to boys and girls being different and didn’t think much more about it,” Nicole said. “When he was about three, we took him to a panto and it was clear he couldn’t stand loud noises – he’d put his hands over his ears, it was actually painful.
“He’d also take things you said very literally, routine was extremely important and there were some issues with his attention in primary school.”
Nicole emphasised that it’s important to understand that there are “degrees of being neurodivergent” as “everyone is on a different level”.
“One of the things I’ve learned from my own experience is how to be objective, and remember that people see the world from their own different perspectives,” she mused. “It’s not about being right or wrong. Everybody is on their own journey, and we all need to accept each other and how we think and feel.”
Speaking previously about her ADHD journey, Bowes explained: “After three years of being on the waiting list and many unofficial diagnoses from various doctors, one being my autism psychiatrist, the NHS have finally diagnosed me with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).”
