Actress Nicola Coughlan, known for her roles in shows such as Bridgerton and Derry Girls, is taking on a new character in her latest TV series, Channel 4’s Big Mood. Coughlan’s character, Maggie, is a budding playwright whose bipolar disorder complicates her relationship with her best friend Eddie, played by Lydia West. One of the key requirements for the role was that Coughlan look “ugly and messy,” a departure from her typically glamorous on-screen appearances.
Coughlan explains that she dislikes vanity on screen and believes that audiences are smarter than they are given credit for. In her opinion, authenticity is crucial in acting, and she believes that bringing a level of vanity to a role would do a disservice to the script and the character.
Big Mood’s writer, Camilla Whitehill, wrote the series with Coughlan in mind, and the two have been friends since they met 15 years ago at drama school. The show focuses on female friendships, a theme close to both Coughlan and Whitehill’s hearts, and explores the impact of bipolar disorder on Maggie and those around her.
Despite the serious nature of the show’s subject matter, there are plenty of laughs to be had, and Coughlan believes that people will take away a lot from the series. It was a refreshing challenge for her, as Maggie is a complex, strong, and ballsy character unlike any she has played before.
Big Mood premieres on Channel 4 on March 28th
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