Nicola Coughlan is done with the endless chatter about her body especially after shedding weight during ‘Bridgerton Season 3’ filming. The Irish actress opened up candidly about the bizarre scrutiny that overshadowed her work, pushing back against labels and expectations in Hollywood.
Weight loss amid intense scenes
While shooting intimate moments with co-star Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Coughlan ramped up her workouts and dropped a significant amount of weight. She told Elle magazine in an interview published March 4, “What was really strange was that while filming, I was working out a lot and had lost some weight. I was likely a size 10.” Despite this change, online comments and media still branded her as plus-size, which left her stunned. “People still labeled me as plus-size, and I thought, ‘How messed up is it that I am considered the largest woman you want to see on screen?’” she shared with Elle.
Rejecting body positivity debates
Coughlan made it clear she wants no part in body image activism. “The thing I say sometimes that pisses people off is, ‘I have no interest in body positivity,’” she explained to Elle. Growing up, she never fixated on actors’ bodies, and that mindset sticks with her now. “When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn’t look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don’t care,” the 39-year-old added. She has bigger passions to chase. “There’s a lot of things I’m passionate about, it’s not one of them. That’s someone else’s thing. It’s not mine,” .
A drunk fan’s encounter
The obsession hit a low when a tipsy Bridgerton fan cornered her in a bathroom. Coughlan recounted the cringe-worthy moment to Variety, saying the stranger “started talking about my body” unprompted. “I wanted to die. I hate this so much,” she admitted, calling the fixation “boring.” Fans and critics alike fixated on her curves during Penelope Featherington’s glow-up arc, ignoring her acclaimed performance.
Focus on acting, not appearance
Coughlan has long championed body autonomy. Last year, she clapped back at rumors of a 28-pound drop, stressing to the Irish Times, “Bodies change. If I lose weight or gain weight or I do anything, it’s no one’s business.” Her Derry Girls roots and Bridgerton success prove her talent speaks loudest. This latest stance reinforces her call to celebrate work over weight, urging fans to appreciate the art, not the artist’s appearance.
