Nicola Coughlan

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2 Mar 2024

Nicola Coughlan

Nicola Mary Coughlan, born on 9 January 1987, is an Irish actress recognized for her performances as Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls (2018–2022) and as Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2020–present).

Coughlan, born on 9 January 1987 in Galway, Ireland, and raised in Oranmore, discovered her passion for acting at the age of five while watching her older sister perform in a school play. She attended Scoil Mhuire for primary school and Calasanctius College for secondary school. Afterward, she pursued her academic endeavors, earning a degree in English and Classical Civilization from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Subsequently, she further honed her craft by training at the Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting in England.

At the age of 10, back in 1997, Nicola Coughlan had an uncredited role in the action thriller film My Brother's War. Her career officially began in 2004 with a role in Tom Collins' short film, The Phantom Cnut, a comedic take on revenge. In the subsequent years, she ventured into voice acting, lending her voice to various animated series and films such as The Fairytales (2004-2005), Summer of the Flying Saucer (2008), Simsala Grimm II: The Adventures of Yoyo and Doc Croc (2010), and Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer (2011). She also made brief appearances in the soap opera Doctors in 2012 and the musical comedy film Svengali in 2013.

Facing financial challenges, Coughlan returned to Ireland where she encountered a period of depression, finding solace and support within her family. To make ends meet, she took on a part-time job at an optician in Galway. Eventually, she seized an opportunity by responding to an open casting call for Jess and Joe Forever at the Old Vic in London, successfully landing the lead role of Jess. Her debut performance took place in September 2016, marking the beginning of a national tour.

In 2018, Coughlan stepped into the role of Clare Devlin, one of the central characters, in Derry Girls, a sitcom set in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the 1990s. Concurrently, she portrayed Hannah Dalton in Harlots, a period drama television series set in 18th-century London. Her stage debut in the West End occurred in 2018 with The Donmar Warehouse's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Recognizing her talent, the Evening Standard named her "one of the Rising Stars of 2018" in September. Later that year, she showcased her baking skills on an episode of The Great British Bake Off, competing against some of her Derry Girls co-stars. While Derry Girls initially aired on Channel 4 in January and February, its re-release on Netflix in December catapulted the show to international fame and popularity.

Despite auditioning for the part of Robin Buckley in season 3 of Stranger Things, Coughlan did not secure the role. However, in 2019, it was announced that she had been cast in the Netflix series Bridgerton, which premiered in December 2020. In Bridgerton, Coughlan portrayed Penelope Featherington, a reluctant debutante navigating Regency era London as the youngest daughter of a newly rich family. Her involvement in Bridgerton led to scheduling conflicts, resulting in a reduction of her role in the third series of Derry Girls in 2022, exacerbated by the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

In November 2022, she lent her talents to a Sam Mendes-produced Audible audio adaptation of Oliver Twist. Continuing her diverse portfolio, she starred as Humble Joan in Seize Them!, a 2023 comedy film set in the Dark Ages, alongside Aimee Lou Wood and Lolly Adefope. Additionally, she made a brief appearance in Barbie as Diplomat Barbie, citing filming conflicts for her limited screen time.
Looking ahead, Coughlan is set to portray Queen Victoria in the 2023 Dodger Christmas special on BBC One and CBBC. She also secured a lead role in the upcoming Channel 4 sitcom Big Mood opposite Lydia West. Furthermore, it was announced in November 2023 that she would feature in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special alongside her Barbie co-star Ncuti Gatwa, portraying the Fifteenth Doctor.