After being crowned the most-viewed Netflix series ever upon its release back in 2020, the regal period drama, Bridgerton, is back for its second season. Season 1 of the show told a scandalous story of Regency relationships, scandal, and the race to find love, led by Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Regé-Jean Page as Duke Simon Basset. Released in March 2022, season 2 hit our screens with a steamier plotline than ever with Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley portraying star-crossed lovers Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma.
With the series being based on the best-selling novels by Julia Quinn and being set in Regency period London, England, it’s unsurprising that the vast majority of the Bridgerton season 1 and 2 casts are British. However, one expectation is Irish actress, Nicola Coughlan who portrays Penelope Featherington in the show. Perhaps best known for her role as the anxious Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, the Irish national treasure has had an interesting journey to becoming the widely adored Bridgerton star that she is now. So let’s take a look at Coughlan’s history and career prior to starring in Bridgerton.
8 Nicola Coughlan Was Born In Galway, Ireland
Even from a simple snippet of an interview or talk show appearance, it's easy to see that the 35-year-old actress is truly Irish though and through. A typical Irishwoman, Coughlan was born and raised in Galway, Ireland. The actress even often jokes about Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran having dedicated his hit song "Galway Girl" to her.
7 This Is How Nicola Coughlan Described Growing Up In Galway
During a 2020 Still Watching Netflix video on YouTube, Coughlan highlighted how growing up in Galway had influenced her creativity. She described the city as full of life and promise when opening up about what it had been like to grow up there.
She stated, “When you’re stood right on the coast in Galway the next thing to the west is America. There’s definitely a sense of possibility and open frontier. I’ve always felt that from here.” Before later adding, “This city always feels a sort of buzz of creativity, you can’t walk down Shop Street or Quay Street without seeing lots and lots of musicians playing and things happening, and it’s colorful, and it just feels alive.”
6 Nicola Coughlan’s Primary School Drama Class Is Where Her Journey In Acting Began
Later on in the video, Coughlan took fans through her hometown and even made a stop in her old primary school, Scoil Mhuire. As she walked around the halls, the actress reunited with her old drama teacher, Edel. Whilst reminiscing about her primary school days with her teacher, Coughlan highlighted how her time in her primary school drama class had really kick-started her dreams of an acting career.
She stated, “This is definitely where acting in front of an audience began. It was playing but playing for a purpose,” Before adding how she had “loved it so much.”
5 This Play Helped Nicola Coughlan Break Into The TV Industry
In 2016, Coughlan took on the role of Jess in Zoe Cooper’s play, Jess And Joe Forever. She first performed the play at the Orange Tree Theater in London from September 8 to October 8, 2016, before touring across the UK. During the previously mentioned Still Watching Netflix video, Coughlan highlighted how the play had been a huge stepping stone into her career on screen.
“I love this play so much,” Coughlan stated whilst cradling the script in her hands, “I have such special memories of it because I signed with my agent from that play.”
4 Nicola Coughlan’s On-Screen Breakout Role Was As Clare Devlin In Irish Series, 'Derry Girls'
After signing on with her agent, Emma Higginbottom, due to her role in Jess And Joe Forever, the Galway-born actress went on to star in her breakout television role in the Irish comedy series, Derry Girls. In the show, Coughlan portrays the character of Clare Devlin, a queer and quirky 16-year-old who tends to be far more of a rule-follower than the rest of her chaotic friendship group and is seen to get very anxious when plans go awry.
3 Producer Shonda Rhimes Found Inspiration In 'Derry Girls'
It seems as though Bridgerton’s producer, Shonda Rhimes, looked to Coughlan’s hit Irish comedy for inspiration when making Bridgerton. During a February 2021 interview with Vogue, Coughlan was asked if Shonda Rhimes had been a fan of Derry Girls prior to Bridgerton, and the actress = replied by stating how “lovely” it had been to know that her small series had impacted and influenced even the biggest names in the industry.
She stated, “Chris told me that Shondaland had used Derry Girls as a reference for how well to introduce a world and characters. It’s lovely to have been part of things that have inspired people and touched their lives.”
2 This Is How Nicola Coughlan Felt Being Cast In 'Bridgerton'
Later on in the Vogue interview, Coughlan highlighted how she had felt being cast in the highly anticipated Netflix series. She revealed that she had initially thought that the audition process was going to be far longer and more complex than it actually had been due to the grand scale of the project. Coughlan then detailed her emotions after finding out that she had gotten the part.
The actress stated, “I didn’t know what to say! I was confused, more than excited because I didn’t know how I would get it after one audition, it was so genuinely unexpected.”
1 This Is What’s Next For Nicola Coughlan’s 'Bridgerton' Character
Following up a storyline that fans across the globe adored and became incredibly attached to was never bound to be an easy thing to do. However, the team behind Bridgerton has proved that a sequel can be as good if not better than the original, with the release of their epic second season. With fans tuned in now more than ever, many are eager to know what the future of Bridgerton holds for its adored characters. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Coughlan expressed her wishes for her character Penelope, in the future seasons of Bridgerton.
She stated, “I want her to find love and I don’t want her to stop writing Whistledown. I want her to have everything.”