Nicola Coughlan was already a celebrity when “Bridgerton” came out. This is due in large part to her role as Clare, a nerdy high-schooler in “Derry Girls,” however, the Netflix period drama really made her a star. Coughlan spoke out about the “surreal” response to “Bridgerton,” saying that she didn’t believe it would be the most popular show on Netflix. Coughlan, an Irish actor, had a good idea that the show would be a hit with its target audience.
Coughlan did not foresee the changes in her life, even though she had warned Phoebe Dynevor. She explained that being famous is similar to being a dog on a Tube, referring to London’s Subway. It’s the exact same energy. Everyone looks at you when you move on. Some people smile so much, others are scared of you and won’t touch you. People touch you without asking. It is not impossible to do what I want, but it is different.”
Coughlan admitted that while the reaction from the public can be overwhelming, the majority of people are perfectly fine. Coughlan acknowledged that she is tired of being focused on one aspect of her life, but it was understandable.
Actress Nicola Coughlan has had enough of talking about her body. But, more importantly, she is tired of hearing about it. In an Instagram statement, the “Bridgerton” star said, “Please don’t give me any opinions about my body.” While most people are kind and don’t mean to offend, I am just one human being. It is hard to bear the burden of thousands of opinions about how you look every day. Coughlan admitted that people will have opinions about her because she is a celebrity. She doesn’t have to hear their opinions.
This is not the first time that the Irish actor has spoken out on this topic. She shared a Guardian essay she wrote about how critics focused on her body and not her performance in March 2021. Coughlan pointed out in a follow up tweet that many of those dorky questions we associate with the past are still being asked to women during interviews.
She made her comments just days after Melanie Lynskey, star of “Yellowjackets”, shared a similar complaint on Twitter. Lynskey noted that she has been bombarded with messages about herself ever since the show began airing. “Most offensive are the ‘I care for her health!’ comments. Lynskey added, “Skinny doesn’t always mean healthy.”
