Netflix’s popular series ‘Bridgerton’ and its star Nicola Coughlan were the talk of the town on Thursday night due to a special screening at Dublin’s Lighthouse Cinema, arranged as part of the show’s international press tour. Coughlan, who portrays Penelope Featherington, whose romantic storyline takes centre stage this season, was joined on the red carpet by co-star Luke Newton. Newton plays Colin Bridgerton, Featherington’s love interest, and the two have been together on a global media circuit since the start of the year.
Coughlan spoke warmly about the enthusiastic reception they received in Ireland prior to the screening, sharing a humorous anecdote about the audience belting out ‘olé, olé, olé’. Newton was of the same sentiment and admitted that the Dublin event was the most overwhelming response they had received on the tour.
During her time on the red carpet, Coughlan stated her enjoyment in being a part of a series that unapologetically embraces sexuality. With reference to the dynamic between her character and Newton’s, she expressed excitement about the second half of the season. Known for its bold portrayal of nudity and sex, Bridgerton has Coughlan embracing the challenge, stating it felt liberating. Despite the empowering experience, Coughlan did express apprehension about her family, particularly her parents, viewing the erotic scenes especially in the upcoming episode that she describes as the most intense one yet.
Coughlan expressed her plans to leave her audience enjoying her show alone while she’s absent, then they would mutually agree to feign ignorance about its occurrence. She alluded to an Irish tradition, hinting at her roots. She further delved into her strong Irish connection with Palestine, reminiscing about seeing Palestinian flags in her university town. Given that President Joe Biden appreciates his Irish heritage, she appealed to him to extend support to Palestine.
Coughlan acknowledged the spotlight currently on her and although some might doubt the relevance of an actress’s opinion, she hoped that she could leverage this influence to help fundraise for the needy. She has indeed managed a fundraiser on Instagram, which has raised a substantial €1.6 million for Palestinian children.
Regardless of negative criticism regarding her support for Palestine, Coughlan insisted that she was not the focal point in the scenario. Despite the excitement surrounding her show, she was acutely aware of the circumstances in Gaza. Her conviction lay in magnifying the reach of helping organisations, unphased by occasional unkind Instagram remarks.
Her fellow actor, Newton, favoured a Simone Rocha dress to make his appearance on the red carpet. He shared his experience of filming a show for Disney in Belfast and spoke of his friend based in Mullingar. He reminisced about a concert he had performed in the town about a decade ago.
Newton shared about an experience – when they found themselves inadvertently cooped up inside a bar for the entire evening, which he found to be absolutely fantastic. He expressed his wish to collaborate with the Oscar-recipient, Cillian Murphy from Cork, who he hailed as an unparalleled genius.
However, Coughlan noted that since their arrival in Ireland, Newton has found it increasingly challenging to comprehend her strong accent. He amusingly pointed out that her accent keeps getting thicker which coincides with their stay in Brazil. Consequently, she has had to deliberately lessen down her Galway pacing, she added with a giggle.
Viewers can look forward to the concluding episodes of Bridgerton’s third series, which will debut on Netflix on 13th of June, 2024.