Nicola Coughlan, the acclaimed actress renowned for her portrayal of Penelope Featherington in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, has firmly stated that she has no interest in being associated with the 'body positivity' movement. In a candid interview with ELLE UK magazine, the 39-year-old star emphasised that she wishes to be judged exclusively on her acting abilities and professional work, rather than her physical appearance.
A Career Built on Versatility
Best known for her roles as Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, Coughlan has deliberately chosen a diverse range of stage and screen roles to avoid typecasting. However, she is equally adamant about not being pigeonholed as an advocate for body image issues. "The thing I say sometimes that pisses people off is I have no interest in body positivity," Coughlan revealed. "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. 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."
Frustration Over Focus on Appearance
Coughlan's comments come after she faced numerous remarks about her body following nude scenes in the second half of Bridgerton's third season. Having now completed four seasons of the period drama, she expressed bewilderment at being labelled as 'plus size' despite being a size 10 at the time of filming. "How f*cked are we that I am the biggest woman you want to see on screen?" she questioned, highlighting the absurdity of such categorisations in the entertainment industry.
The actress recounted an uncomfortable encounter where a fan praised her body rather than her performance. "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...' 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**king boring."
Career Concerns and AI Anxieties
Despite her immense success, Coughlan admits to harbouring concerns about the longevity of her career. "I've been very lucky to be in two shows that have been very successful, but that is not a guarantee at all," she acknowledged. Additionally, she voiced worries about the rise of artificial intelligence, suggesting that it may render authentic cultural experiences like theatre even more crucial in the future. "It's going to become harder and harder to know what's real, so I think it's more and more important for us to show up in real life to things. It's [the stage] a real, lived, shared experience that only the people in that room are having right now."
Looking Ahead
While Coughlan steadfastly refuses to engage in discussions about her body or image, she remains focused on her craft and the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry. The April issue of ELLE UK, featuring her cover story, is set to go on sale from 10 March, offering further insights into her perspectives and career journey.
