Nicola Mary Coughlan[1] (/ˈkɒklən/; born 9 January 1987) is an Irish actress. She is known for her roles as Clare Devlin in Channel 4's sitcom Derry Girls (2018–2022) and Penelope (Featherington) Bridgerton in Netflix's Bridgerton (2020–present).
Nicola Coughlan | |
|---|---|
 Coughlan in 2021 for Vogue Taiwan | |
| Born | Nicola Mary Coughlan 9 January 1987 Galway, Ireland |
| Education | Calasanctius College |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Notable credits | |
Early life
editCoughlan was born on 9 January 1987 in Galway, Ireland, and grew up in Oranmore.[2][3] Her father served in the Irish Army, and her mother was a stay-at-home parent.[4] She has an older brother, Kieran, and an older sister, Clodagh.[5]
At the age of five, while watching her sister perform in a school play, Coughlan decided she wanted to become an actress.[6] She attended Scoil Mhuire for primary school and Calasanctius College for secondary school.[7][8] She graduated with a degree in English and Classical Civilisation from the National University of Ireland, Galway.[3][9] She then went on to train in England at the Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting.[10]
Career
editEarly work (2004–2017)
editIn 1997, at the age of 9, Nicola Coughlan had an uncredited role in the action thriller film My Brother's War.[11] In 2004, she started her career with a role in Tom Collins' short film The Phantom Cnut, a revenge comedy.[3][11] In the following years, she did voice work in animated series and films, including The Fairytales from 2004 to 2005, Summer of the Flying Saucer in 2008, Simsala Grimm II: The Adventures of Yoyo and Doc Croc in 2010, and Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer in 2011. She made brief appearances in the soap opera Doctors in 2012 and the musical comedy film Svengali in 2013.[11]
After drama school, Coughlan moved to London three times in four years, and each time was forced to move back home with her parents in Ireland due to financial difficulties.[12] She suffered from depression during this period, and received help from her family.[6][13] She worked part-time at an optician in Galway, and later responded to an open casting call for Jess and Joe Forever at the Old Vic in London, winning the main role of Jess. Her first performance was in September 2016, prior to a national tour.[6][14]
In 2016, five days before Coughlan learned she landed her breakthrough role on Derry Girls, her father died.[15]
Breakthrough (2018–present)
editIn 2018, Coughlan began playing Clare Devlin, one of the main characters, in Derry Girls, a sitcom set in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1990s.[16][17] Coughlan played Hannah Dalton in Harlots, a period drama television series set in 18th-century London.[18][19] 2018 marked her West End debut in The Donmar Warehouse's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. In September, the Evening Standard named her "one of the Rising Stars of 2018".[20] In December, she competed against some of her Derry Girls co-stars in an episode of The Great British Bake Off.[21] Though Derry Girls was broadcast in January and February on Channel 4, it was after its rerelease onto Netflix in December that the show gained an international audience and popularity.[11]
Coughlan has stated that she auditioned for the part of Robin Buckley in season 3 of Stranger Things, but did not get the part.[22] In 2019, it was announced that Coughlan had been cast in the Netflix series Bridgerton, which premiered in December 2020.[23] Coughlan played Penelope Featherington, a reluctant debutante and youngest daughter of a nouveau-riche family in Regency era London.[11][24] Coughlan's role was significantly cut back in the third series of Derry Girls in 2022 due to scheduling conflicts with Bridgerton and the coronavirus pandemic.[25]
In November 2022, she appeared in a Sam Mendes produced Audible audio adaptation of Oliver Twist.[26] She then starred as Humble Joan alongside Aimee Lou Wood and Lolly Adefope in Seize Them!, a 2023 comedy film set in the Dark Ages.[27] Coughlan made a brief appearance in Barbie as Diplomat Barbie, later citing filming clashes for the short time she was in the film.[28]
Coughlan portrayed Queen Victoria in the 2023 Dodger Christmas special on BBC One and CBBC.[29] She had a lead role in the Channel 4 sitcom Big Mood opposite Lydia West.[30] In November 2023, it was announced that Coughlan would appear in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special, "Joy to the World", written by Steven Moffat, alongside Barbie co-star Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.[31]
Coughlan will have a starring role in the upcoming feature drama-thriller, Love and War, about a woman who must travel to Syria to find her abducted daughter.[32]
Charity and advocacy
editIn 2018, while Coughlan was appearing on stage in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at London's Donmar Warehouse, she wrote a piece for the Guardian calling out unfair scrutiny of women's bodies in theater criticism.[24][33][34] In the following year, she made headlines again for rebutting the Daily Mirror's comment on her 2019 British Academy Television Awards look: "Not the most flattering". She tweeted "I mean incorrect @DailyMirror I look smokin’, sorry bout it".[24] Following the 2021 Golden Globe Awards, she retorted against other comments on her weight on Twitter.[35]
In February 2019, 28 women with their suitcases led by Coughlan crossed London's Westminster Bridge to demand the decriminalization of abortion in Northern Ireland. They represented the estimated number of women a week who had to travel to England to access abortion.[36][37]
On 26 June 2020, Coughlan and her fellow Derry Girls co-stars performed a sketch with Saoirse Ronan for the RTÉ fundraising special RTÉ Does Comic Relief. The night's proceeds went to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[38]
In July 2020, she auctioned off an Alex Perry dress and raised €5,000 towards the Laura Lynn Hospice, an Irish children's hospice which provides specialist palliative and supportive care services.[24][39]
On 12 April 2022 upon the release of the third series of Derry Girls, Coughlan protested the attempted privatisation of Channel 4, posting a picture of herself holding up a middle finger on Instagram and linking to a change.org petition.[40][41]
Coughlan was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing Western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[42] In July 2024, Coughlan raised over $2 million for Urgent Gaza Relief and Recovery, a campaign organized by Palestine Children's Relief Fund to address urgent humanitarian needs and support long-term recovery efforts in Gaza Strip.[43]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | My Brother's War | Little girl feeding swans | Uncredited | |
| 2004 | The Phantom Cnut | Katie | Short film | [3] |
| 2008 | Summer of the Flying Saucer | Janis | Voice | |
| 2011 | Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer | Edda | Voice | |
| 2012 | Jelly T | Lottie | Voice (English Version of Gummi T, 2012) | |
| 2013 | Svengali | Club Girl | ||
| 2020 | Her Song | Eve | Voice; Short film | [44] |
| 2023 | Barbie | Diplomat Barbie | [45] | |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | Playroom Fairy | Voice; Short film | ||
| 2024 | Seize Them! | Humble Joan | [46] | |
| TBA | The Magic Faraway Tree | Silky | Production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | The Fairytaler | Various | Voice; 7 episodes | |
| 2010 | Simsala Grimm II: The Adventures of Yoyo and Doc Croc | Various | Voice; English version; 26 episodes | |
| 2012 | Doctors | Marie Callaghan | Episode: "Every End Has a Start" | [47] |
| 2018–2022 | Derry Girls | Clare Devlin | Main role; 18 episodes | |
| 2018 | Harlots | Hannah Dalton | 7 episodes | [18] |
| 2020–present | Bridgerton | Penelope Bridgerton | Main role; 24 episodes | [48] |
| 2023 | Dodger | Queen Victoria | Episode: "Coronation" | |
| 2024 | Big Mood | Maggie | Main role; 6 episodes | [49] |
| Doctor Who | Joy Almondo | Episode: "Joy to the World" | [50] |
Audio dramas
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Whistle Through the Shamrocks | Tiny Nenny/ Granny Maureen/ Herself | Creator and Writer; 6 episode podcast | |
| 2022 | Oliver Twist | Nancy | Podcast drama |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Director | Venue | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Chapel Street | Kirsty | Bryony Shanahan | — | UK Tour; Scrawl Theatre Company | [51] |
| 2014 | Duck | Sophie | Stella Feehily | — | Tour; Out of Joint Theatre Company | [52] |
| 2015 | Nadya | Elena | Sarah Meadows | Park Theatre | [53] | |
| 2015–2017 | Jess and Joe Forever | Jess | Derek Bond | The Old Vic | [54] | |
| Orange Tree Theatre | [54] | |||||
| Traverse Theatre | [54] | |||||
| 2018 | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie | Joyce Emily | Polly Findlay | Donmar Warehouse | [55] |
Other television appearances
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Great Christmas/Festive Bake Off | Herself | Contestant, Episode : "Derry Girls edition" | [21] |
| 2020–2021 | Would I Lie to You? | Herself | Panelist, Series 14 Episode 6 | [56] |
| 2021 | Taskmaster | Herself | Contestant, Episode : "New Year Treat" | [57] |
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Herself | Guest judge, Episode : "Great Outdoors" | [58] |
| 2024 | Rob Beckett's Smart TV | Herself | Panelist, Series 1 Episode 2 | [59] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Stage Ones to Watch 2011 | Ones to Watch 2011 | Graduation Showcase | Won | |
| 2017 | Off West End Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Jess and Joe Forever | Nominated | [3] |
| 2018 | Evening Standard Magazine Rising Stars 2018 | Evening Standard Magazine Rising Star 2018 | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie | Won | |
| 2021 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Nominated | [60] |
| Irish Film and Television Awards | Rising Star Award | Won | [61] | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Drama | Nominated | ||||
| 2022 | Pena de Prata | Best Supporting Acting in a Comedy Series | Derry Girls | Nominated | [62] |
| Glamour Women of the Year Awards | TV Actor | Bridgerton
Derry Girls |
Won | ||
| 2024 | Gold Derby Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Barbie | Nominated | |
| Edinburgh TV Awards | Best TV Actor – Comedy | Big Mood | Nominated | ||
| TIME100 Next 2024 | Artist | Herself | Won | ||
| Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year | Television Actress | Bridgerton
Big Mood |
Won | ||
| Rolling Stone UK Awards | The Television Award | Big Mood | Nominated | ||
| Metro Pride Awards | Celebrity of the Year | Herself | Pending | ||
| 2025 | TV Choice Awards | Best Drama Performance | Bridgerton | Pending | |
| Best Comedy Performance | Big Mood | Pending |
References
edit- ^ "Alles wat je moet weten over Bridgerton-ster Nicola Coughlan". ELLE (in Dutch). 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Nicola Coughlan: 11 facts about the Bridgerton and Derry Girls star you should know". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Charlie McBride (11 January 2018). "From Oranmore girl to Derry Girl". Galway Advertiser. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Rosseinsky, Katie (22 May 2024). "Nicola Coughlan's moment of glory in Bridgerton crowns a refreshingly different rise to the top". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "WATCH: Nicola Coughlan takes us on a tour of her hometown, Galway". IrishCentral.com. 7 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Japleen Khera (25 December 2020). "Who Plays Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton? All We Know About Nicola Coughlan". TheCinemacoholic. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Derry Girls star is Galway to her core!". Connacht Tribune. 21 March 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Shane (7 January 2021). "Derry Girls Nicola Coughlan takes us on a tour of her hometown, Galway". Irish Central. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan on life in NUI Galway, acting, and the impact of the hit comedy show". Student Independent News. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Margot Robbie speaks of 'love' for Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan at Barbie premiere". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Maddy Casale (23 December 2020). "Woman Crush Wednesday: Nicola Coughlan is the Belle of the Ball in 'Bridgerton'". Decider. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Hunt, Elle (27 February 2022). "'I feel like a competition winner': Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan on luck, social media and her 'nice' list". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Katrina Turill (11 December 2020). "Nicola Coughlan health: 'I couldn't get out of bed' Derry Girls star's depression battle". Express. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Cooper, Joe (2017). Jess and Joe Forever. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781350058927. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Versha Sharma,Deirdre (24 April 2024). "Nicola Coughlan on Bridgerton Season 3, Polin, and 'Funny' Age Discourse". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Galway actress joins new Channel 4 comedy". Galway Independent. 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ Blauvelt, Christian; Buller, Laura; Frisicano, Andrew; Grant, Stacey; Morris, Mark; Toal, Drew; Robson, Eddie; Serota, Maggie; Turner, Matthew; Ulster, Laurie (2020). What to Watch When: 1,000 TV Shows for Every Mood and Moment. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 249. ISBN 9780241502501. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Everything You Need to Know About Bridgerton's Beloved Breakout Star, Nicola Coughlan". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (8 July 2019). "'Obscenely enjoyable': why Harlots is the best show you're not watching". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "The rising stars you need to know about". Evening Standard. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ a b Meghan O'Keefe (6 December 2020). "'The Great British Baking Show'/'Derry Girls' Crossover was the First and Last Good Thing to Happen in 2020'". Decider. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Percival, Ash (9 April 2022). "Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan Reveals The Role In Another Major Netflix Show She Lost Out On". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "When is Bridgerton released on Netflix? What's it about?". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Ellen E (12 December 2020). "Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan: 'It bothers me that we reduce women to the size of their body'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Ward, Fiona (29 March 2022). "Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan 'devastated' as her role is cut back in the final series of Derry Girls". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (30 November 2022). "Brian Cox, Nicola Coughlan, Daniel Kaluuya & Kit Connor Among Cast For Sam Mendes Audible Series 'Oliver Twist'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Waheed, Jabeen (6 July 2023). "Seize Them! is the new medieval film with Aimee Lou Wood & Nicola Coughlan". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Stedman, Emily (21 July 2023). "Barbie star Nicola Coughlan explains her brief role". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (9 November 2023). "First look at Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan in BBC Christmas special". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (16 October 2023). "Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan stars in first-look at new TV drama". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Coughlan Will Appear on 'Doctor Who' With Ncuti Gatwa, Russell T Davies Says". Variety. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (21 May 2024). "'Bridgerton' & 'Derry Girls' Star Nicola Coughlan To Lead 'Love And War' About A Mother's Battle To Rescue Her Abducted Daughter". Deadline. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Corr, Shauna; McCahill, Elaine (17 June 2018). "Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan gets apology after being branded 'overweight little girl' in scathing British Theatre Guide". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Coughlan, Nicola (29 June 2018). "Critics, judge me for my work in Derry Girls and on the stage, not on my body". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Hampson, Laura (3 March 2021). "Nicola Coughlan powerfully claps back at podcast host who called her 'the fat girl from Bridgerton'". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Laura Silver (26 February 2019). "This Is Why The Cast Of Derry Girls Marched On Westminster Today". Grazia Daily. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Shepherd Alison. Abortion in Northern Ireland: women march in London[permanent dead link] BMJ 2019; 364: 1999
- ^ "Derry Girls cast fangirl over Ronan in hilarious sketch". RTE. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ Nadia Breen (21 July 2020). "Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan auctioning iconic BAFTA dress for a brilliant cause". Belfast Live. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ Starkey, Adam (14 April 2022). "'Derry Girls' star Nicola Coughlan gives middle finger to privatisation of Channel 4". NME. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Barr, Sabrina (13 April 2022). "Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan sticks middle finger up at Channel 4 privatisation". [[Metro (British newspaper)|]]. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire". Artists for Palestine. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan raises $2m for Palestine". Images. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Her Song". FILM FESTIVAL FLIX. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (15 April 2022). "Barbie: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Emerald Fennell, Scott Evans, Others, Rounding Out Cast Of Warner Bros. Mattel and LuckyChap Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Long, Lacy (21 March 2022). "'Seize Them!': Nicola Coughlan, Aimee Lou Wood, and Lolly Adefope Join Dark Ages Comedy Film". Collider. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "BBC One - Doctors, Series 13, Every End has a Start". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "When is Bridgerton released on Netflix? Cast, plot and latest news". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Channel 4 reveal first look and announce the cast joining Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West on comedy series Big Mood (w/t)". channel4.com/press. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "Nicola Coughlan Will Appear on 'Doctor Who' With Ncuti Gatwa, Russell T Davies Says". Variety. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Stephanie Faye Bartlett (11 June 2013). "Review: Chapel Street and Bitch Boxer, TakeOver Festival 2013, York Theatre Royal". The Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Rehearsed readings and discussions – Duck". Out of Joint Theatre Company. 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Nadya". The Production Exchange. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Orange Tree TheatreJess and Joe Forever | Whats On | Orange Tree Theatre". www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". Upstage Darts. 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "BBC One - Would I Lie to You?, Series 14, Episode 6". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Taskmaster - Series 11: Episode 101 | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "BBC Three - RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Series 3, Episode 3". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Rob Beckett's Smart TV Series 1, Episode 2". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List". 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Nicola Coughlan thrilled with IFTA nod & new Bridgerton". RTÉ.ie. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "Os indicados ao Pena de Prata 2022". Isso é Veludo? (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
External links
edit