Vanity Fair. Fans have been waiting for the return of The Bridgertons Chronicles since 2021. What do these new episodes have in store?
Nicola Coughlan. It’s very, very action-packed. I can’t believe there are so many twists and turns. There’s a big contrast between episode 1 and episode 6, or even episode 3 and 4. This is the first season that feels like a true romantic comedy, which is what people love about the books by Julia Quinn. I’m very proud of it and I can’t wait for people to see it.
After playing a supporting character, you are the star of this season. How did you experience being at the forefront?
In seasons 1 and 2, it was nice to shoot my scene and then slow down to make way for the main story. This season 3 was very different from the previous ones. I was very excited, but also scared to find myself in the spotlight. Paradoxically, it’s also my favorite season, because I have a preference for duo scenes, whether with Luke Newton (Colin, her suitor, Editor’s note) or Polly Walker, who plays my mother. It was truly a joy, but also a huge responsibility to carry the series. Not only for the fans, who are so dedicated, but also for the team who has been with us since the beginning. The other members of the cast were very proud when they saw the episodes in screening. It was important for me not to disappoint them.
You talk about your fear… What did you fear the most?
Carrying on my shoulders a series of such scale, with hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. The main roles change every season and it’s a big adjustment for the audience. Will they be so invested in the new love story? It was also necessary to do justice to the brilliant script. Without forgetting the intimate scenes, which are an important part of the series. Even the promotional circuit for season 3 was different. All of a sudden there is no longer any chance of hiding.
Were these intimate scenes a challenge for you?
After I got this role in The Bridgertons , I read the books and found them to be pretty raunchy. But at the time, I didn’t know the longevity of the series. Will we ever get the chance to tell the story of Penelope and Luke? I was so excited at the idea of starring in a Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes (creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal , Editor’s note) that I put all my fears aside. The most important thing for me, above all, was that the intimate scenes were not gratuitous. There, they make up an important part of the story, like in any romcom, with a real exploration of female desire and pleasure. It was a little terrifying to watch, but in the end, I’m still proud of it.
What do you like so much about Shonda Rhimes’ work?
She knew how to reinvent period series and romantic stories on screen, particularly in terms of diversity. This is why so many people love his series and identify with his characters. I also really liked his book The Year of Yes . It’s truly inspiring to see a woman who knows her worth. She signed this deal with Netflix and turned a series of novels, released 20 years ago, into a mega hit. She knew how to feel the spirit of the times.
So you don’t have to worry about seeing yourself on screen, unlike some colleagues…
Some actors like to watch the rushes every day. Personally, I find this counterproductive. I prefer to be focused on the present moment and concentrate on the scenario. But when the movie/series is broadcast, yes, I watch, because it’s a learning moment. Sometimes we discover a discrepancy between the intention and the result. For example, I had a small role a few years ago in a series called Girls of Joy . I thought I would play an electric and strong character. And as I watched the episodes, I realized I looked like a baby. You always bring your energy to the role and I look younger than I am. In general, I am quite critical of myself.
I loved my scenes with Luke, we had such a good time since the show started
How did you approach Penelope’s physical, but also psychological, transformation?
It is brilliantly told. There’s this scene where she appears at the top of the stairs with a new look, a new dress, a new hairstyle. But we quickly realize that she hasn’t done any work on herself. She simply expects to become a new woman without a deeper transformation. As the season progresses, she regains confidence and harmony. What I also like is that she is starting to dress the way she always wanted to. Someone said to me today, “Oh, it’s really sad she doesn’t wear yellow anymore.” And I said she hated that color. It’s not her at all. As an actor, it’s a chance to play a character with real evolution. Underdeveloped roles are the most difficult to play. Penelope has so many facets: this love for Colin that she completely represses, her desire to find a husband, her identity as Lady Whistledown.
What was your favorite moment on the set of season 3?
It’s difficult to choose one. But I loved my scenes with Luke, we’ve had such a good time since the show started. I enjoyed dancing with him and even filming the intimate scenes. Any scene with more than four people is exhausting for me, especially the ball scenes. There are cameras, 200 extras, a huge film crew. Everything takes forever to film. You may have no lines, you may have to be in a corner doing the same dance number 25 times. Or it’s shot in the middle of the night, and you’ve had a wig on your head for 10 hours that you can’t wait to take off. Every time I forget how grueling it is. And then when I watch the series, I find these passages spectacular and magical. This worth the pain.
Are you a fan of romantic comedies?
Yes, but I always liked romcoms with a touch of cynicism. For example, My best friend’s wedding that doesn’t have a happy ending. But Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz are fantastic together. This kind of female duo interests me more than the love story itself. I recently rewatched When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail. These two films are perfect, I’m a big fan of director Nora Ephron.
Your life has completely changed since this role in Bridgerton. How did you experience this notoriety?
Yes, it’s crazy. Season 1 came out during Covid, so it was difficult to get a sense of its real-world impact. We shot season 2 almost behind closed doors too, because of the pandemic, and to finish on time. I didn’t really start going out again until the end of 2021. And I was amazed that people recognized me. This was already a bit the case after starring in the series Derry Girls , but nothing of this magnitude. Bridgerton truly have global resonance. You are even recognized in Brazil or Italy. So you have to find a way to go unnoticed. Especially since I am more of an introvert by nature. I have a technique that I obviously can’t share.
What type of role would you like to play in the future?
I would really like to work with the A24 company. I love all the series and films they produce. They have a real talent for choosing scenarios. Their projects are always innovative, which is rare, like Euphoria or Lady Bird . I also had a crush on Zola . Everything about it was fantastic: the staging, the acting performances, the music. After my small role in Barbie , I would like to work with Greta Gerwig again, on a longer project this time.
Vanity Fair France
Written by Norine Raja
Published May 1, 2024
Translated via Google
