Nicola Coughlan is prominently featured on Season 3 of Bridgerton.
Playing the character of Penelope Featherington, Coughlan embarks on a journey to find a husband, transforming her wardrobe and entering the marriage market.
This newfound sense of empowerment for Penelope mirrors real life, as Coughlan reveals in a recent interview that she made a specific request to the producers for her on-screen portrayal this season…
![Nicola Coughlan on Bridgerton](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/bridgerton-nicola-coughlin.webp)
![Nicola Coughlan on Bridgerton](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/bridgerton-nicola-coughlin.webp)
… she requested to have certain lines and moments included, with one scene showing her completely naked on camera, a decision she made for herself.
Despite facing criticism about her body from strangers online, Coughlan remains resilient, refusing to let it impact her work or confidence.
![Nicola Coughlan as Penelope](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/BRIDGERTON_302_Unit_05870R.webp)
![Nicola Coughlan as Penelope](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/BRIDGERTON_302_Unit_05870R.webp)
Her decision to showcase her nude scene was empowering for her, defying body critics and embracing her beauty in the moment.
She expressed her desire to look back on this moment when she’s older and remember feeling confident and beautiful.
Amen! We love her confidence and self-assurance.
![Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2152824258-1024x683.jpg)
![Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2152824258-1024x683.jpg)
Coughlan’s role on Bridgerton involved filming sex scenes for the first time.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, she praised her co-star Luke Newton for creating a comfortable atmosphere on set, making filming intimate scenes easier.
Coughlan shared a humorous experience from the set, mentioning how both actors ended up lying under a blanket without clothes, feeling relaxed — a moment that made them understand nudists.
![Nicola Coughlan in Italy](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2152162782-683x1024.jpg)
![Nicola Coughlan in Italy](https://cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2152162782-683x1024.jpg)
Although she faced criticism about her body in 2022, Coughlan requested privacy and urged people not to share their opinions about her appearance directly with her to protect her mental well-being.