It’s been a while since we’ve done an actor appreciation article and, with a certain article that we will not be mentioning, it seemed appropriate to recognize the incredible Nicola Coughlan. Many of us know her as Penelope from Bridgerton, or perhaps as Clare from Derry Girls. Some may even remember her as Hannah on Hulu’s Harlots. But wherever it is you recognize her from, we’re sure you are as big of a fan of Nicola’s as we are. There are so many things to love about her and we are beyond excited to get a second to gush about a few of them! So read on for our Actor Appreciation for Nicola Coughlan!
What She Brings to the Screen
Nicola Coughlan is an actress who says so much with a look. Whatever character she may be at any given time, it’s a guarantee that if you keep an eye on her expressions, you’re going to learn a lot. They say eyes are the windows into the soul and Nicola is an epitome of that. In the role of Penelope, which we recognize her the most from, her longing for Colin is so very evident. And it’s just as clear when she’s hurting. It’s all perfectly in her expressions. We’re some who read the Bridgerton books before they became a series and there was a lot of concern about who was going to be in charge of the project and who would get to play each part. These were characters we fell in love with on the page, and we’re all familiar with what can sometimes happen when page moves to screen. But we shouldn’t have worried, because every cast member seems to fit their roles perfectly. At least, that’s what we think. We’re sure there are plenty that don’t feel the same. But we have greatly enjoyed watching the versions on screen.
Penelope is quite a character to live up to. She has a lot going on in the books and anyone playing her role has to be very multi-dimensional. She is, of course, Lady Whistledown as well. Apologies if you didn’t know that already, but if you are caught up, which you should be, then you already know that. And if you read the books, well you also already know that. Nicola, in combination with Julie Andrews doing the Lady Whistledown voiceover, brings so much to this role. We’ve reached the point where we truly couldn’t imagine anyone else playing the role of Penelope. Don’t even get us started on that carriage scene. There’s no going back from that. And we mean that in the best way. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to go watch it. Then watch it again. It’s about time Colin becomes the one longing.
Changing Things
While Nicola Coughlan has been a force since the moment she appeared on our screens, that carriage scene, changed things. The way she played it and the facial expressions that went alongside her impeccable acting were *chef’s kiss*! There wasn’t a moment we didn’t feel completely enraptured by the scene. We were eager for the second part of the season before we saw that. But now? Yeah, a month is far too long to make us wait in torture to get more of these two together. But we digress. The point is, Nicola brings so much talent and has the ability to have us feeling all of the emotions of her character that leaves us wanting more. We find ourselves anxiously awaiting her next outfit and hairstyle. And can we mention how much we love her style change? Penelope getting the chance to really be herself in the first half of the third season has been such a welcome change.
Is Nicola a size zero? No, she isn’t. Does she need an article to tell her that? She absolutely doesn’t. Quite frankly, she doesn’t need fodder of any kind, positive or negative. Because she’s out living her best life and being wildly successful. But that doesn’t mean all words are necessary. We live in a world that finds it easy to get down on others for what we feel are flaws. So why don’t we find it at least that easy to celebrate things we love about someone? Or the things we feel they excel at? As far as Nicola, we appreciate that she is slaying in those dresses. And showing that women have different body shapes and sizes. And can wear the hell out of a dress. Along with showing bigger girls, like some of us here at Cape & Castle, we have the right to be at the ball in a beautiful gown, looking flawless, as much as any other woman. For anyone who feels they need to put someone down from behind a screen, perhaps some time for inner reflection is needed.
One to Watch
The dreadful day will eventually come when Bridgerton will no doubt come to an end. Though hopefully not for a good long while. But the good news in that is it leaves us so excited to see what projects Nicola Coughlan will be working on next. Because we have no doubts that she will be working on plenty more. We would love to see her in more period pieces like Netflix’s Bridgerton. But it would also be great to watch her in current pieces as well. We think she’s a force to be reckoned with and that she will only continue to gain popularity for her incredible acting skills. There are so many things Nicola brings to any project she is on, and we can’t wait to see just what those projects may be.
So there you have it! Just some of the things we love about Nicola Coughlan. But more than that, we are extremely grateful for her portrayal of Penelope Featherington. And we appreciate all that she does for the fans and that she has brought such life to all of the characters she plays. We can’t wait to see what happens in the second part of Bridgerton‘s third season along with where things go from here. Be sure to find and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to jump into the conversation about Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan, or any of your favorites! And check out our site for more articles, quizzes, podcasts, and more on all things Disney and beyond!
