Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period romantic drama series Bridgerton, has spoken out against social media speculation about her appearance on the show. In an interview with People, she hit back at malicious trolls who had accused the show’s costume designers of “photoshopping” her waist in season three. Coughlan argued that spending extended periods wearing corsetry could mould the body to the restricting garment, and her body began “to go whew” when she wore a corset. She dismissed accusations of digital manipulation, insisting they were untrue.
Coughlan, who had a role in a nude sex scene for season three, asserted that it was a defiant move against those who had body-shamed her on social media, saying that the scene was her way of sending a “fuck you” to trolls who had maligned her body. She collaborated with the show’s intimacy coordinator to script the scene, which made her feel empowered. According to Coughlan, there was a sense of liberation and beauty at the moment, and she relished the opportunity to defy trolls and show off her body.
Despite the negative comments and body shaming, Coughlan remains focused on her craft, saying that acting and performances should be judged solely on talent and quality and nothing else. She spoke out against trolls in an Instagram post in 2022, asking people not to direct their opinions about her body to her. The actress believes that bodies change over time, so her size or weight should not be a matter of public concern.
Bridgerton season three focuses on the progression of Penelope and her partner’s relationship, with Coughlan and co-star Luke Newton stepping up as lead actors. The final four episodes of the season were released recently on Netflix. Although the show has been criticised for being overtly sweet in terms of the plot, it has been hailed for providing refreshing escapism, allowing people to binge-watch entertaining and easily digestible content
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