Nicola Coughlan to be Netflix show Bridgerton’s next diamond - how is she linked to Birmingham?

Coughlan, 36, played Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton - here’s how she’s linked to Birmingham
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Actress Nicola Coughlan rose to fame with teen sitcom Derry Girls and has one of the most important roles in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Coughlan, 36, played Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton. Penelope was revealed as Lady Whistledown, the author of a scandalous society newsletter, in season one finale. The hit show based on the regency era has a colourful casting - which is one of the reasons fans love it.

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Coughlan was born and raised in Ireland. She decided to become an actress at the age of five. But, it took her some time to make her dreams come true. She graduated with a degree in English and Classical Civilisation from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She then went on to train in England in drama and acting.

Here is a little know fact about the “small Irish acting person” - which is how she describes herself: Coughlan studied in Birmingham. She did her masters from the Birmingham School of Acting in 2011 at Birmingham City University.

The Birmingham School of Acting has been absorbed into Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2017. However, its roots go back to 1936. The Conservatoire is located near Millenium Point in the Birmingham City University campus. Other famous alumni include Catherine Tyldesley, Jimi Mistry, Danielle Pinnock and more.

Since studying acting in Birmingham, Coughlan has moved to London and has been nominated for many awards including Screen Actor’s Guild Award Nominee 2021: Best Drama Ensemble- Bridgerton and Irish Film and Television Award Nominee 2021: Best Supporting Actress- Bridgerton.

Nicola Coughlan attends Netflix’s Bridgerton ATAS Official at Raleigh Studios Hollywood (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)Nicola Coughlan attends Netflix’s Bridgerton ATAS Official at Raleigh Studios Hollywood (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Nicola Coughlan attends Netflix’s Bridgerton ATAS Official at Raleigh Studios Hollywood (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
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While Derry Girls gave her her breakthrough, she went on to play Hannah Dalton in Harlots - another period drama that was set in 18th-century London. She made her West End debut in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 2018.

In 2019, she joined the cast of the Netflix series Bridgerton, which is based on the eponymous book by Julia Quinn.

According to EOnline, Coughlan will be the next season’s diamond, making her the leading lady of season 3. The show follows the Bridgerton siblings and their love lives. In season one, the eldest daughter, Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, find loves with Simon Basset, played by Regé-Jean Page.

In the second season, Jonathan Bailey - who plays Anthony, the eldest son of the Bridgerton family - falls in love with Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley.

And, in the third season - we expect to see Penelope and Colin Bridgerton’s friendship blossom into love.

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