Nicola Coughlan, an Irish actress has taken our breath away with her phenomenal performance on Bridgerton. The internet is obsessed with her and for good reason. She is a sweetheart, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, fundraising for Palestine, and uplifting plus-sized women. Here are some reasons why everybody should be talking about Nicola!

Image Credits: Otter from Wikimedia Commons

Early Life and Personality

Nicola was born in Galway, a small town in the west of Ireland. She has two older siblings, and her older brother got her into movie production and entertainment. She first began acting in drama classes at her primary school, and she mentioned how her teacher Edel Carney gave faith in herself as an actress.

She later studied English and Classic Civilizations at the National University of Ireland. She participated in many improv nights and productions, later moving to London to be a struggling actor. She wasn't able to find many roles that suited her prowess. She was working a two-day-a-week job, when her big break came in 2017.

She is noted to have a bubbly and infectious personality, as seen in her interviews and social media presence. An example of this can be seen in this interview with Betches, where they tested how online she is. As she explains her knowledge of the Oompa Loompa meme, she goes, “I think her name is Kirsty-- Why do I know this! I have degrees-two degrees!” Honestly, that whole interview made me feel better about my own screen time.

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Creative Diversity

In 2017, Nicola was cast in ‘Derry Girls', a sitcom based on five friends navigating life during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. She portrayed Clare Devlin, a good-natured and slightly naive girl. Clare grappled with her identity as a lesbian, and Nicola's performance represents a nuanced portrayal that goes beyond typical comedic archetypes, capturing Clare's vulnerability, resilience, and evolving self-awareness.

Some of my favourite Clare dialogues are ‘Not interested in you like that? Look at the state of you’ and 'I did fight that wain Erin, and I'll fight that wain again if I have to'.

Bridgerton is when Nicola started to gain international fame. Her character, Penelope Featherington, offers a contrast to traditional period drama roles. Penelope is initially a secondary character, but her storylines gradually become the talk of the show, highlighting evolving self-awareness and agency, different from most perspectives on women during the Regency era.

I think her acting in Season 3 was the best, since we were introduced to her as a quiet but strong girl in Season 1, and she transformed into a more expressive young lady with slightly sinister intentions. Penelope is very different from Clare, and to quote Nicola “[Bridergton would be] way too scandalous for Clare, I think she would cover her eyes!”.

Nicola's ability to portray characters with distinct personalities and maintain authenticity is something to admire. Her other projects include Big Mood, Summer of the Flying Saucer, and Harlots.

Image Credits: Katie Chan from Wikimedia Commons

Activism

Recent international events in the past year have brought the true morals of certain celebrities out. Nicola's activism throughout her career is a defining feature of her public life. Her advocacy for diversity in the entertainment industry, body positivity, LGBTQ+ rights, and most recently, Palestine has brought even more admiration for her fearless voice.

“Even before I was on television, I was involved in different causes. I went campaigning door-to-door for marriage equality in Ireland, I went on marches for abortion rights. I've always cared about causes and social justice. To me, it always becomes about supporting all innocent people, which sounds oversimplified. But I think you've got to look at situations and just think, ‘Are we supporting innocent people no matter where they’re from, who they are?' That's my drive.”

Some of her actions include:

1. The Palestine Children Relief Fund (PCRF) + Red Ceasefire Pin
   1. She mentioned how her father was part of the Irish Army, a peacekeeping force in the Middle East, and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). She also said she ‘feels very passionate about it and if I have this global platform, I currently have a fundraiser on my Instagram for medical aid, I can hopefully raise funds for aid organizations’. Some of her co-stars also joined in on promoting the PCRF.
   2. Throughout the Bridgerton Season 3 press tour, Nicola wore her ‘Artists for Ceasefire’ pin. This action gained her a lot of praise for her continued support for Palestine even with such a global presence.
2. LGBTQ+ Rights
   1. What started as a joke, turned out to be another fundraising stint for Nicola. During an interview with the Jonathan Ross Show, she playfully said, “You know how sometimes the Real Housewives release songs just exclusively for gay men? Yeah that's my like dream job. Shoes and private yachts and caviar and more shoes!”. This went viral on social media, and a TikToker by the name of Ellis created a remix of it with a clubhouse sound.
   2. Later in June, because of how much attention the remix garnered, Nicola collaborated with Ellis Miah and released an official version of the song. As this was during Pride Month, she had the project fundraise for Not a Phase and The Trevor Project. Check it out!
3. Body Positivity
   1. “I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included,” she recalled. “It just felt like the biggest ‘[redacted] you' to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering.” Another internet user wrote, “Can we just talk about how refreshing it is to see a plus size person being romanticised and seen as desirable and being featured without it being some awful joke.”

Nicola's dedication to her craft and her fearless activism make her a beloved and admired figure, contributing to why she is the talk of the town. Show her some support!