Nicola Coughlan has quickly become a sensation on “Bridgerton,” where she whips up drama as Penelope Featherington, the ultimate gossip queen. While the series has catapulted her to stardom, this Irish actress had already carved out an impressive career. She started with voice acting, transitioned to on-screen roles, and dazzled in shows like “Girls of Joy” and “Derry Girls.” Want to hear something mind-blowing? Her career spans over two decades!
Nicola Coughlan Surprises Bridgerton Fans With Her Real Age
Wait, two decades? Yep, you read that right! Nicola Coughlan’s age is not what you might think. Given that “Bridgerton” portrays Penelope as a teenager, originally born in 1796 and thus 17 years old in the show’s 1813 setting, you might guess Nicola is around that age too. But brace yourself: during the show’s first season in 2019, Nicola was 32!
It’s not unusual for TV series to cast adults in teenage roles, and “Bridgerton” fits right into that trend. Nicola, born in 1987, has pulled off this visual deception skillfully. She played another teen role in “Derry Girls” in 2018, where she was cast as a 15-year-old high school student – even though she was in her thirties!
The Secret Behind Nicola’s Ageless Look
By now, you’re probably dying to know her secret. Nicola frequently enjoys the astonished reactions when people discover she’s 37. What’s her trick? As she shared with TeenVogue, the actress never hides her age and has her own theory about her youthful appearance. “Growing up in the west of Ireland, with very little sun, and not being able to afford holidays in sunny places, probably does a lot of good for my skin!” she joked.
From “Bridgerton” to her latest venture “Big Mood,” where she plays a young woman of 30, Nicola’s real age continues to astound fans. Maybe it’s that Irish charm or maybe it’s sunscreen, but Nicola’s journey reveals that age really is just a number.
This article first appeared on grazia.fr – Author: Jordané Guignon
