Nicola Coughlan bio, height and weight, age, boyfriend 2025

Biography of Nicola Coughlan

Nicola Coughlan's journey to stardom wasn't exactly smooth sailing. The Irish actress started taking on the English film industry in the early 2010s, but she kept hitting walls at auditions. Film roles came without credits, and theater work meant blending into the background. At 30, Coughlan was back living with her parents in Ireland. She made ends meet working as a shop assistant and optical consultant.

Her breakthrough came in 2018 when she scored the role of a 16-year-old in "Derry Girls." The following year, Nicola auditioned for the project "Bridgerton." The Netflix phenomenon launched Coughlan to international stardom.

But with fame came negativity. Nicola endured brutal body-shaming attacks. Beyond anonymous social media trolls, podcast hosts and journalists piled on too. Every time, the actress fired back with sharp responses to her critics. In a bold move in 2024, Coughlan went fully nude for a revealing scene in "Bridgerton's" third season – with her character finally taking center stage.

Childhood

Nicola Coughlan was born on January 9, 1987, in Galway, Ireland. Her father's army service meant the family relocated to Oranmore, where Nicola grew up. Her mother stayed home raising three kids: Nicola, older brother Kieran, and sister Clodagh. The children were always very close to each other.

In 1992, watching her sister's school performance completely captivated young Coughlan. After that, she dreamed of becoming an actress. In 1997, Nicola made her film debut with a small role in the thriller about the Irish Republican Army, "My Brother's War." The 10-year-old went uncredited though.

In 2005, Coughlan graduated from high school and entered the National University of Ireland, choosing a major in English and Classical Civilization. She was already doing voice work for animated series and appearing in short films. Coughlan lent her voice to characters in animated films such as "Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale," "Simsala Grimm," and "Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer."

First Roles

In 2012, Nicola decided to move to England. She studied at the Oxford School of Drama and the Birmingham School of Acting. Shortly after moving, she got a small role in the TV series "Doctors." In 2013, she made her feature film debut in "Svengali," where her surname Coughlan finally appeared in the credits.

But real stardom remained elusive. Over the next five years, Nicola moved back in with her parents twice. Significant roles weren't coming, and casting directors weren't exactly beating down her door. Coughlan performed in London theaters: the Old Vic, Park Theatre, Traverse Theatre. The roles were tiny, and the pay barely covered rent and groceries. She also had a large debt from drama school.

Each time her industry dreams crashed, Nicola headed back home. In Ireland, she worked in beauty salons, was a sales assistant at SPAR, worked as a waitress, an optical consultant, and a secretary.

Depression eventually hit hard, with her sister practically dragging Nicola out of bed for morning runs. "If I wanted coffee, I had to ask my parents for money. I was nearly 30 and still living with them," the actress remembered.

In 2016, Coughlan auditioned and got the lead role in the play "Jess and Joe Forever" at the Old Vic. Then in 2018, her luck finally turned around.

Career Rise

In 2018, Nicola got the role of 16-year-old Clare Devlin in the sitcom "Derry Girls." The 30-year-old actress turned out to be perfect for playing the teenage character.

How Derry Girls Nicola nailed the accent

This role came at a crucial time in her life: just five days before landing the part, her father passed away. She threw herself into filming to cope with her grief. The show premiered later that year and was a huge success: first in the UK, and then worldwide after it was released on Netflix. Over the course of the series from 2018 to 2022, Coughlan appeared in 18 episodes.

Also in 2018, Nicola auditioned for the role of Hannah Dalton in the historical series "Harlots." She also made her West End theater debut in the play "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."

But 2019 was her real breakthrough year. Coughlan successfully auditioned for the historical series "Bridgerton." She never expected to actually get it. "I sent the tape thinking I'd blow it again. When my agent told me I got the role, I was stunned," the actress recalled.

The first season of the show broke records on Netflix. It became one of the top ten most-watched series in more than 70 countries. Playing Penelope Featherington, the youngest daughter of a once-wealthy family, made Nicola a global star.

Coughlan specifically read Julia Quinn's books, on which the series is based. She jumped straight to the fourth book, eager to discover her character's fate.

Nicola Coughlan on becoming a Barbie

In 2023, the actress landed a role in the movie "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Nicola played a diplomat Barbie. Later that year, she portrayed Queen Victoria in a special episode of the series "Dodger."

Nicola Coughlan's Personal Life

Nicola has always kept her personal life under wraps. But fans found out that in 2018, Coughlan started dating her "Derry Girls" co-star Laurie Kynaston. The romance lasted for two years.

After the first season of "Bridgerton" aired, rumors emerged about Nicola's relationship with Luke Newton (who played Colin Bridgerton in the series) due to their convincing portrayal of lovers. Both actors insisted they were just friends and colleagues.

Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan & Luke Newton Compete in a Compliment Battle

As her star rose, Coughlan also faced harsh criticism, mainly about her body. At 5'1", her weight has fluctuated between 123 and 154 pounds over the years. Critics frequently brought this up when reviewing her performances.

In 2018, a theater critic reviewing "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" called Nicola a "small girl with excess weight." Nicola fired back:

I rehearsed for seven weeks, thoroughly researched the Spanish Civil War, and spent hours perfecting the Edinburgh accent. If I wanted to read cruel comments about my figure, I would go to YouTube. This is supposed to be a professional review. Judge my acting, not my body.

She later wrote a column for The Guardian about the media's obsession with how actresses look. She made it clear that her weight doesn't define her and vowed to only lose weight for roles, not to please critics.

Nikola Coughlan Now

In 2024, the actress starred in the medieval comedy "Seize Them!" and landed a role as a writer with bipolar disorder in the sitcom "Big Mood."

In May, the third season of "Bridgerton" premiered with Nikola's character taking center stage. In an interview, Coughlan admitted the responsibility was intimidating, but she ultimately rose to the challenge.

I can't believe how much my life has changed. In 2017, I was 30 years old, working part-time at an optician's, living with my parents, and wondering if I'd ever become an actress or if I was just kidding myself. Now, in 2024, I'm preparing for a global press tour for one of Netflix's biggest shows.

The third season received mixed reviews from critics and didn't match the popularity of the first two seasons. Fans were surprised by the amount of explicit content—including one scene where Coughlan appears completely nude. It turns out the actress herself pushed for it.

Polin Carriage Scene - Bridgerton

"I specifically asked to include certain lines and moments. There's one scene where I'm very naked on camera. That was my idea, my choice," the actress emphasized.

In the spring, Nikola filmed the 2024 Christmas special for "Doctor Who." She also took on a thriller role, breaking away from her usual type. In "Love and War," she'll play a mother searching for her kidnapped daughter in Syria.

Interesting Facts

Nicola became best friends with her "Bridgerton" co-star Claudia Jessie.
Coughlan could have gotten a role in "Stranger Things," but it went to Maya Hawke.
Due to her contract, Netflix sent Coughlan's parents a version of "Bridgerton" without explicit scenes, citing the conservative nature of Irish Catholic families.
In 2018, the Daily Mirror criticized a dress Coughlan wore in public. The actress auctioned off the outfit and donated the proceeds to a children's hospice.
In 2021, Vogue named Nicola one of the most stylish stars. Coughlan said it amused her friends and family since she doesn't care about fashion in everyday life.