Nicola Coughlan, star of ‘Bridgerton’, speaks out about the body-shaming she faced and explains why she does not want to become a symbol.
The global success of ‘Bridgerton’ turned Nicola Coughlan into one of the most recognisable faces of the Netflix series, but it also exposed her to an intense public conversation about her body that, according to the actress, she never sought to lead. In a new interview with Elle UK, the performer behind Penelope Featherington addressed the criticism and commentary that emerged following the first seasons of the show.
Coughlan explained that, despite outside expectations, she has no interest in becoming a spokesperson for the body positivity movement. “Sometimes I say something that annoys people: I have no interest in body positivity. When I was a child I never thought about it. I didn’t look at actors and think about their bodies. I just don’t care,” she said during the conversation.
The actress added that there are many causes she cares deeply about, but this is not one of them. “There are many things I care passionately about, but this isn’t one of them… it’s someone else’s cause, not mine,” she continued.
During the interview she also reflected on some of the reactions to her nudity scenes in the series, including one moment that she personally requested to film. According to Coughlan, the public discussion surrounding her body felt particularly strange.
“What’s funny is that when I was filming that season I was exercising a lot because I knew I needed to, so I had actually lost quite a bit of weight. I was probably a size 10 and one of the corsets was a size 8. And yet people were talking about me as if I were ‘plus size’,” she explained.
For Coughlan, that reaction reveals a deeper issue within contemporary visual culture. “I thought: how bad are things if I’m the largest woman people want to see on screen?” she said.
The actress also recalled an uncomfortable encounter with a fan after the show’s success. “Once a fairly drunk girl told me in a bathroom that she loved the show because of my body. She started talking about my body and I was just thinking: I want to die, I hate this,” she admitted.
Beyond the external comments, Nicola Coughlan emphasised that the most frustrating aspect is seeing creative work overshadowed by physical appearance. “You work for months, dedicate yourself completely to a project, spend time away from your family… and then it all comes down to how you look. It’s incredibly boring,” she concluded.
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