Nicola Coughlan: 13 facts about Bridgerton's Penelope you should know
Everything you need to know about the very iconic Nicola Coughlan.
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1. Who is Nicola Coughlan?
She's an icon, she's a legend and she IS the moment. Nicola Coughlan, if you don't already know and love her, is an Irish actress whose role as Clare in Channel 4's Derry Girls put her on the map. Then, she soared to new heights as Penelope Featherington in Netflix's smash hit Bridgerton and is currently being iconic all over the world. Get to know the star here. [Jeff Spicer/Getty Images]
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2. How old is Nicola Coughlan?
Nicola Coughlan is 37 years old. She was born on 9th January 1987, which makes her a Capricorn. [Dave J Hogan/Getty Images]
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3. How tall is Nicola Coughlan?
According to her IMDb profile, Nicola Coughlan is 5ft 1 inch tall – which is around 1.55m. [@nicolacoughlan via Instagram]
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4. Where is Nicola Coughlan from? Is she Irish?
Nicola Coughlan is Irish. She was born in Galway, Ireland, but she currently lives in London. [Mike Marsland/WireImage]
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5. Does Nicola Coughlan have a boyfriend? Is she married?
Only Lady Whistledown knows who Nicola is dating, as she likes to keep her relationship and dating life private. Nicola has not shared any information about who she is dating, or even if she is dating anyone, on her personal social accounts. [@nicolacoughlan via Instagram]
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6. Who plays Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton on Netflix?
Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton on Netflix. In season 3, Penelope finally takes centre stage as her long-term friendship with Colin Bridgerton turns into a full blown romance. Nicola has portrayed Penelope for all three season of the show so far, and has confirmed that she will be returning for season 4 alongside Luke Newton. [Netflix]
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7. Bridgerton season 3 will follow Penelope Featherington's relationship with Colin Bridgerton
Polin season has arrived! Bridgerton season 3 will see Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton take centre stage as Penelope and Colin go from friends to lovers. If you've read the book, you'll exactly how Polin's love story plays out, and Nicola has already teased that Penelope and Colin's sex scenes are some of the 'spiciest' the show has ever done. Bridgerton season 3 drops on May 16th (Part 1) and June 13th (Part 2).
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8. Nicola Coughlan plays Clare Devlin in Derry Girls
Nicola Coughlan played Clare Devlin in Derry Girls. The Channel 4 series is set during the Troubles in the 1990s in Derry, Northern Ireland, and centres on a group of Catholic teens and their families. The brilliant final season of the show aired in 2022. [Channel 4]
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9. Nicola Coughlan played Hannah Dalton in Harlots on Hulu
Nicola Coughlan played Hannah Dalton in Harlots on Hulu. The period drama, which is based on The Covent Garden Ladies by Hallie Rubenhold, centres on a brothel and their wealthy clientele in Georgian London. [@nicolacoughlan via Twitter]
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10. What movies and TV show has Nicola Coughlan been in?
As well as Bridgerton and Derry Girls, Nicola Coughlan has appeared in a handful of other TV shows, including Doctors and Harlots. She played the main role of Maggie in Big Mood, and is set to appear in the Christmas 2024 episode of Doctor Who. She also has multiple theatre and voice credits to her name, including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer. In 2023, Nicola also played Diplomat Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. [@nicolacoughlan via Instagram]
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11. Nicola Coughlan's Barbie Scene was short due to schedule conflicts
Nicola Coughlan plays Diplomat Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece. Sadly, Nicola only appears briefly in the film, when Diplomat Barbie presents Writer Barbie with a prize. Nicola had actually landed a much bigger role in the film after auditioning for Greta but couldn’t actually take in on due to conflict scheduling. Thankfully, Greta asked her to join for a smaller role. And she did! Diplomat Barbie was born![Warner Bros. Pictures]
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12. Nicola Coughlan stars in Seize Them! alongside Aimee Lou Wood
Nicola Coughlan stars in historical comedy Seize Them! Set in dark ages Britain, Seize Them! sees Queen Dagan become a fugitive in her own land after being toppled by a revolution led by Humble Joan (played by Nicola). The Queen must attempt to win back her throne but there's danger in store. The female-led comedy also stars Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood, Shrill's Lolly Adefope and Hot Fuzz's Nick Frost. [Alamy]
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13. Nicola Coughlan was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK
Nicola Coughlan was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2. Nicola is a massive Drag Race fan and she was hailed one of the best, if not the best, guest judge of the entire season. In a review of the episode in Vulture, the writer said: "Before we get to the runway, we have to give a special shout-out to Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton and Derry Girls. Sometimes I feel like the producers write some puns for the guests but not Nicola. She came with jokes." [BBC]
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14. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton's friendship is all thanks to Bridgerton
Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton became fast friends while filming the early seasons of Bridgerton, and their friendship grew even stronger after filming Colin and Penelope’s season, with Nicola calling Luke a “really special person in my life”. Fans have been so obsessed with their friendship and chemistry on the Bridgerton season 3 press tour, the duo have had to address dating rumours! No, they’re not dating, in case you were wondering. [via Instagram]
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15. Is Nicola Coughlan on social media?
Nicola Coughlan deleted her Twitter account sometime in 2022 or 2023. She had previously been a very active user of the platform but is believed to have taken a step back to protect her mental health. The good news is that Nicola still posts on Instagram. Her handle is @nicolacoughlan. [@nicolacoughlan via Instagram]
