As Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s global hit “Bridgerton,” Nicola Coughlan has earned worldwide recognition. Especially now that she is the lead of Season 3, alongside Luke Newton (who plays Colin). But, if you wish to watch this talented actress, you can definitely enjoy “Derry Girls.”
Coughlan, who is 37 in real life, first gained her breakthrough in 2018, when she was cast as Clare in “Derry Girls,” which centers on a group of friends who grow up in Derry in the 1990s during the final years of The Troubles.
Lisa McGee created and wrote the series, which is loosely based on her personal experience. It first aired on Channel 4 in 2018, and it then was released on streaming on Netflix, which also helped grow its popularity.
‘Derry Girls,’ a comedy to watch if you like Nicola Coughlan
As we explained, “Derry Girls” follows a group of teens growing up in Derry during The Troubles. Apart from Coughlan, the cast includes Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Dylan Llewellyn and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.
While the series is fiction, the story includes important historical events such as the visit from President Clinton in 1995, as well as referencing music of the era such as the Spice Girls and Fatboy Slim.
As Clare, Coughlan showcased her comedic timing, and she became one of the most beloved characters in the show, which has three seasons. While she was a fan-favorite, her role had to be reduced in the last installment due to her commitment with “Bridgerton.“
“Last year was really difficult,” she explained in 2022, according to Cosmopolitan, saying that after filming for Derry Girls was delayed, she had to film both Bridgerton and the comedy series at the same time.
“And that caused me insane stress because I was on what in the industry is called ‘first call.’ So it means you have to go and do the show that you’re on first call to, which was Bridgerton,” she said. Luckily, she could be for the finale and give the story a great ending.