Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan has openly declared her profound disinterest in the body positivity movement, characterising discussions about her physical size as profoundly "boring" and an unwelcome diversion from her professional work.
Candid Critique in Elle UK Interview
The 39-year-old Irish performer, renowned for her portrayal of Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton and Clare Devlin in Channel 4's Derry Girls, delivered her frank perspective during a conversation with Elle UK magazine. "The thing I say sometimes that pisses people off is I have no interest in body positivity," Coughlan stated unequivocally.
She elaborated on her childhood mindset, noting, "When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn't look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don't care." Emphasising her personal priorities, the actress added, "There's a lot of things I'm passionate about, it's not one of them... That's someone else's thing. It's not mine."
Questioning Societal Perceptions of Size
Coughlan highlighted the peculiar irony of being categorised as a "plus-size" actress while actually wearing a size 10. Recalling her experience filming intimate scenes for Bridgerton, she revealed, "What was really bizarre was when I was shooting that series, I was exercising a lot because I knew I had to, so I had lost a bunch of weight – I was probably a size 10 and one of the corsets was a size 8."
She expressed bewilderment at the public discourse, questioning, "Then people talked about how I was plus size and I was like, 'How f***** are we that I am the biggest woman you want to see on screen?'" This rhetorical query underscored her frustration with narrow industry standards.
Uncomfortable Fan Encounters
The actress recounted a particularly distressing interaction with an overenthusiastic admirer. "I remember this really drunk girl once talking to me in a bathroom being like, 'I loved (Bridgerton) because of your body' and started talking about my body, and I was like, 'I want to die. I hate this so much'," Coughlan shared.
She articulated deep-seated irritation that her extensive professional dedication is frequently eclipsed by superficial commentary on appearance. "It's really hard when you work on something for months and months of your life, you don't see your family, you really dedicate yourself and then it comes down to what you look like – it's so f****** boring," she lamented.
Personal Revelations and Professional Grace
In a more intimate disclosure, Coughlan discussed finding greater self-compassion following her recent ADHD diagnosis. "It feels like I got the handbook to my brain that I wasn't given when I was born," she explained. "I understand things a bit better now, and I give myself a little more grace."
Expansive Career Beyond Bridgerton
Beyond her iconic role in the Shondaland production, Coughlan's distinguished credits include:
- The blockbuster film Barbie
- Channel 4's comedy series Big Mood, which garnered her a BAFTA nomination
- A National Theatre production of The Playboy Of The Western World
The complete interview appears in the April edition of Elle UK, available from 10 March, offering further insights into the actress's perspectives on fame, creativity, and personal identity.
