From her talented acting skills to her incredible sense of humor, Nicola Coughlan is a name you are going to want to be familiar with!
Bridgerton fans may recognize Ireland-native Nicola Coughlan from her role as Penelope Featherington. While we await Season 2’s release on March 25th, we’ve gathered some of Nicola’s other amazing accomplishments and inspirational moments in her career that make us fall head over heels for her!
Nicola’s Hilarious Role as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls
As a quick-witted goody two-shoes, Clare is the entertainingly neurotic one of the clique in Lisa McGee’s Derry Girls. This Ireland-based coming-of-age comedy can be streamed on Netflix, and the series wrapped up filming its third and final season in November. Make sure to catch the first two seasons before the release of Season 3!
Her Friendship with Jonathan Van Ness
Nicola was such a big fan of JVN on Queer Eye that in 2018 she got a sweater with his face on it:
Put on the new @QueerEye and lasted 2 seconds into the opening credits and I’m already crying, I love it so, so much
Of course I’m wearing my @jvn jumper, need you even ask?
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗 pic.twitter.com/vMoDkVRgBo— Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) June 17, 2018
JVN saw her post, and having already been a fan of Nicola in Derry Girls, the two immediately became BFFs. Although only one year apart in age, JVN shares that Nicola has been a source of advice for him because of her further years of experience in the entertainment industry. The two continue to support each other’s work, and even better, their families have become acquainted as well. Such friendship goals!!
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She Has a Great Sense of Humor
To further prove her great sense of humor, Nicola is a big fan of Saturday Night Live. On her Instagram, she posted photos from a recent visit to New York with some friends where they attended SNL. She even had the opportunity to meet Kristin Wiig, which made her quite a happy camper. Check out the posts below!
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Nicola Is Incredibly Stylish
Nicola joined Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Zendaya – just to name a few – as one of Vogue’s hand-picked 12 best-dressed women of 2021. Thrilled to say the least, Nicola gave a special shoutout to her stylist @aimeecroysdill on her Insta. Vogue, we couldn’t agree more about Nicola’s impeccable style!
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She Is a Talented Writer and Entertainer
Nicola and BFF Camilla Whitehill co-wrote, co-created, and acted in the 6-episode comedy story Whistle Through The Shamrocks. It was originally created for the stage, but the pair joked about how they never heard back from the theater, so they turned it into a podcast where the story would be more accessible to a larger audience. Whistle Through The Shamrocks features a stellar cast including Jonathan Van Ness, Stephanie Beatriz, Ben Miller, Susan Wokoma, and fellow Derry Girls castmate Louisa Harland, just to name a few.
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Her British Vogue In The Bag Video Shares Great Advice
Nicola shared with Vogue what’s in her bag, and we loved learning a little bit more about her through this fun video. From her leprechaun keychain to her personally-labeled writing notebook, Nicola has all the important essentials she needs. She advises that one item everyone should have in their own bag is “something that makes you smile when you look at it” because “life’s hard and we need to smile more.” We’re going to use this sweet advice!
Nicola Has Tasteful Baking Knowledge
Nicola and her Derry Girls castmates competed against each other in a comedic special episode of The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, The Great Festive Baking Show. Watching the actors attempt to impress the judges with their mostly below-average baking skills was an entertaining experience; even Paul Hollywood cracked a smile more than a few times. Nicola is the most experienced baker out of the group, but you’ll have to watch this festive episode for yourself to find out the winning results!
She’s Passionate About Activism and Supporting Those In Need
In 2018, Nicola wrote a piece for The Guardian speaking out against the scrutinization and criticism of women’s bodies in the theater. She wrote for The Guardian once again in 2021 about the importance of complex, funny, and outspoken female roles on-screen.
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In 2019, Nicola reacted to the Daily Mirror’s comment stating her outfit at the BAFTAs was “not the most flattering,” responding with “I mean incorrect @DailyMirror I look smokin, sorry bout it.” Many fans rushed to Twitter to help defend her.
I mean incorrect @DailyMirror I look smokin, sorry bout it https://t.co/UScA4UpbCc
— Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) May 12, 2019
Nicola continued to show her passion for supporting women’s bodies and choices in 2019 by leading 28 women to march across Westminster Bridge with suitcases, asking for the decriminalization of abortion in Northern Ireland.
In addition to her activism against body shaming, Nicola is an ambassador for the only Children’s Hospice in Ireland, Laura Lynn Hospice. One of the ways Nicola has raised money for Laura Lynn Hospice was by auctioning off her 2019 BAFTA dress, which raised €5,000 (that’s approximately $5,730.17 U.S. dollars)!
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Between her amazing roles on-screen and her meaningful friendships off-screen, Nicola Coughlan has certainly made an impact across the globe, and we look forward to seeing her continue to blossom in her career.
