Erin Doherty, the acclaimed actress known for her role in the Netflix series *Adolescence*, has announced a significant personal development. Following her recent professional success, she has moved in with her girlfriend, Sinead Donnelly, marking a new chapter in their relationship. Doherty describes this transition as a “natural” next step in her life.
The 33-year-old actress revealed that she is relocating from West Sussex to London to spend more time with Donnelly, a 35-year-old NHS radiographer. This announcement comes on the heels of Doherty being named Best Supporting Actress at the *Critics’ Choice Awards* for her portrayal of forensic psychologist Briony Ariston. She expressed her desire to be closer to Donnelly, stating, “As much as I loved getting on the trains and going to see her and spend days in London, I also wanted to wake up next to her. I’m such a romantic.”
Doherty’s relationship with Donnelly is a new development, following her split from long-term girlfriend Sophie Melville. The actress had previously shared a heartfelt image of her and Donnelly on social media, captioned, “Take us back to Italy please…”, indicating their shared memories and experiences.
Reflecting on her past relationship with Melville, Doherty described it as one of her “proudest accomplishments.” She noted that the bond they formed from 2017—when they first met while starring in Alan Ayckbourn’s play *The Divide*—contributed significantly to her personal growth. In a previous interview with *Porter* magazine, she acknowledged the positive impact Melville had on her life, saying, “She’s made me so healthy. I used to sit at home eating a bag of chocolates, and now we have, like, a kale salad.”
Doherty has also been candid about her journey of self-discovery regarding her sexuality. During her conversation on Elizabeth Day’s *How To Fail* podcast, she recounted realizing she was gay after a “mind-blowing” relationship with a woman at age 25. “It took me a really, really long time to finally get to the point where I was like, ‘Oh, I’m gay,’” she shared. She reflected on her past relationships with men, admitting they did not fulfill her in the way she desired.
The actress’s recent achievements and personal milestones highlight her evolving journey both professionally and personally. As she embarks on this new chapter with Donnelly, fans and followers will undoubtedly be eager to see where this path takes her next.
