Nicola Coughlan, the Irish actress best known for her role as Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s hit regency drama Bridgerton, has made a bold statement in the latest season of the show. To address the relentless body shaming she has faced, Coughlan requested a scene where she appears “very naked” on screen.
This decision, she says, is a defiant message to her critics and a powerful assertion of body positivity.
Embracing the Lead Role
At 37, Nicola Coughlan leads the third season of Bridgerton as Penelope Featherington, opposite Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton.
Reflecting on her rise from a supporting character to the lead, Coughlan expressed her disbelief at being the star of a romance show. “Pen was a supporting character, the oddball in the corner, but this time she’s very much centre stage,” she remarked.
The Decision Behind the Bold Scene
In a recent interview with Stylist magazine, Coughlan detailed her collaboration with Bridgerton’s intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, on the season’s sex scenes. “You go, ‘OK, what do I want to show? What don’t I want to show? What’s scripted, and what do I want to add?’” she explained.
Coughlan specifically requested certain lines and moments to be included, particularly the scene where she appears very naked. “It just felt like the biggest ‘f you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering. I felt beautiful in the moment, and I thought: ‘When I’m 80, I want to look back on this and remember how fucking hot I looked!’” she said.
Battling Body Shaming
Coughlan has been vocal about the impact of body shaming. In 2022, she took to Instagram to ask fans to stop sharing their opinions about her body.
“Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive, but I am just one real-life human being, and it’s tough to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day,” she wrote.
In another interview with the Irish Times, Coughlan emphasized her focus on her work rather than her appearance. “Bodies change; if I lose weight or gain weight or I do anything, it’s no one’s business; all I care about is doing good acting and being judged on that,” she asserted.
The New Season of Bridgerton
In the latest season, Penelope Featherington has given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton after overhearing his disparaging remarks about her.
Determined to take control of her life, she decides it’s time to find a husband who will allow her the independence to continue her secret life as Lady Whistledown.
Coughlan shared insights into her on-screen and off-screen relationship with co-star Luke Newton, describing their bond as rare and special. “It’s a sporadic experience,” she said. “I think we’re aware of how unique this is.”
Production and Popularity
Bridgerton, produced by Shonda Rhimes’s company Shondaland and based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling book series, has been a massive hit since its premiere in 2020.
The show is known for its racy scenes, which Coughlan embraced in her latest performance. “People ask ignorant questions like, ‘How do you feel knowing anyone can go on Netflix and see you naked?’ and my answer is I feel great about it,” she told the Stylist.
“There’s a reason this show became a phenomenon: it’s about women feeling desire, owning their sexuality and driving the charge in those situations rather than just being an object of a man’s affections.”
Coughlan’s approach to filming intimate scenes has evolved. Initially intimidated by the prospect, she found confidence through her strong friendship with Newton. “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,’” she told the LA Times. Newton echoed her sentiment, noting the importance of their friendship in making the scenes feel natural.
Wrap up
Nicola Coughlan’s bold choice to appear naked in Bridgerton Season 3 is a powerful stand against body shaming and a celebration of self-confidence.
Her journey from a supporting character to a leading lady is a testament to her talent and resilience. As the latest season streams on Netflix, fans are eager to see Penelope Featherington’s story unfold and witness the empowering performance Coughlan has delivered.
The information is taken from Variety and CNN
