Nicola Couhglan’s Penelope in Bridgerton inspired by Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Kristen Wiig

Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, known for her roles in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, is stepping into the spotlight in the upcoming third season of the hit Netflix series.

She is known for her comedic talents and outspoken personality. 

She cited Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Kristen Wiig as comedic idols and expressed her enthusiasm for portraying Penelope's awkwardness in her pursuit of love. 

Coughlan's character, Penelope Featherington, has transitioned from a wallflower who  observed the Regency London society to a central character navigating her own love story.

Coughlan addressed these challenges in an interview with LA times, of filming intimate scenes for the first time, describing the initial terror: "'Absolutely not,'" she recalled saying after trying on a skimpy costume piece. "'I hid it down the bottom of the laundry basket,'" she said.

Coughlan eventually overcame her nerves and found the filming process to be creatively satisfying, even liberating. 

"By the end of the day, we were both lying under a blanket, not clothed, just chillin’. We were like, ‘This is why nudists do it,’” Coughlan said

The report mentions Coughlan's collaborative spirit, exemplified by sharing ideas in a group chat with Newton and showrunner Jess Brownell. 

She even advocated for the inclusion of a specific scene important to fans of the book series, saying, "'With Penelope this season, it felt like there were so many things that were reflected in real life. The whole theme of her stepping out of the shadows and into the light, and not feeling quite ready — I felt like I had to do that,'"

Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell spoke about the decision to deviate from the book series timeline for season 3, focusing on Penelope and Colin's relationship. Brownell said, "'We’ve watched Colin not quite understand that Penelope has a crush on him for two seasons. You can only play that dynamic out for so long before it gets frustrating,'" (Jess Brownell). 

This shift aligns with the season's lighter and more playful tone, which Brownell attributes to Coughlan's comedic strengths

Coughlan has juggled multiple projects recently, including filming Bridgerton and the dark comedy series Big Mood. To manage the stress, she turned to reality TV, specifically "Vanderpump Rules." Coughlan finds inspiration in reality stars, and the report mentions her channeling some of Lala Kent's mannerisms into her Big Mood character.

While excited about the new season, Coughlan acknowledges the bittersweet nature of Penelope's arc reaching its peak. She expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, "We left it all on the pitch. There's nothing I wanted to do this season that I didn't get to do. And that's a rare thing."