As the title suggests, Netflix’s new drama Bridgerton follows one powerful family – the Bridgertons – as they sail the stormy waters of the vibrant social season of 1813. However, the show, based on a popular show Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn, also woven into stories about characters on the fringes of the Bridgerton family. Irish actress Nicola Coughlan will play one of the most beloved characters in the Bridgerton family orbit: Penelope Featherington.
Introduced as a difficult side character in Julia Quinn ‘s early novels, Penelope takes control of her own in later books and becomes one of the most elegant characters in the series. all. Bridgerton Season 1 not only plays with Penelope’s journey, but puts it forward and in the middle in a new way. It is through her eyes that we see the uproar that unfolds inside Featherington ‘s house, where the matriarch Portia Featherington (Polly Walker) struggles with the pressure of mocking three virgin daughters and a house guest with a defiant mystery. While Penelope quickly befriends her family’s visitor, Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker), that relationship is tested when Marina puts her sights on Pen’s young love life, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton ).
Decider caught up with Coughlan earlier this month and we talked about it all Bridgerton, from wearing those cowardly Featherington gowns to the top of what she does of Penelope ‘s decision to engage in Marina and Colin’ s romance. Not to mention the challenges of searching for the role when main characters in Penelope’s world – like Kate Sheffield – were not introduced. Bridgertontimeline yet …
Destroyers for Bridgerton Season 1 ahead!
Obviously Bridgerton based on a series of books. I know: what was your first introduction to the Julia Quinn novels? How much did you read in preparation for the job?
Well, it was crazy, of course. Because when I first got to the lab, I think I had a day to prepare. There was no opportunity to read the novels at that time. But also, I didn’t expect to throw. I thought, hearing the Shondaland Netflix show made me think, “Oh my god, those are months of testing. It’s gonna be painful. I will never hear back. ”But I only did one test with a throwing director, and then I got the job two weeks later. It was a big surprise for me.
Then I started reading the books. I went to Book 4 first, and that’s mostly the book about Penelope. And then I went back to Book 1, I went into Book 2 but I started to get confused. I started to bother everyone because I started like, “What about Kate? And they look like, “Kate isn’t there yet!” Stad. ”
And also, there are eight hours of Bridgerton script, so I was like, “I have to stop. Focus on the script. And then I can calmly go back and read them again. ” [Laughs]
Yeah, I was pretty curious about what you read about her relationship with Marina. In some ways, you’d think Pen and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) are these two, but it’s almost a deeper, bolder relationship with Marina. What do you think he says about Penelope that she ultimately chooses Colin over Marina, it seems?
That relationship is very interesting. As I think at first, she is so happy for Marina to be there. Because Penelope doesn’t want to be in the marriage market and has to deal with all that dating and stuff! She is thrilled for Marina to get all this attention. Colin is the only person Marina can’t have, according to Penelope. Even though Penelope has no right to decide that, she believes that she does.
But I think Marina takes an interest in her at first, because she ‘s on the outside. She doesn’t belong to the ton, and she feels more worldly and more experienced than Penelope. I think Penelope really wants to have a friend with her, but Marina has adult problems going on. She doesn’t have time for that with Penelope. It really shows a darker side to Penelope’s personality, and how she deals with that.
And I think, yeah, by the end, it feels awful. How she should do it. But I think she’s been in love with Colin since she was a little girl. She saw him fall off a horse and her heart just exploded into a million pieces. There is no one else for her, really.
Moving gears completely, you get a chance to work with Polly Walker here.
There is!
It is one of my fares from Rome, and so many other things. Is she so scary in real life?
She is not afraid of distance. Do you know what? It’s always funny that they say their favorite people are the best baddies, and she’s totally true to that. I was really into it Line of duty when I was thrown in the show, and then I saw Polly playing my mother. I was excited. I don’t know if you saw her in that, but she plays such a bad lawyer. Moral questioning. And then you’re scared to meet her – you think, “Oh, she’s going to be…” But she’s just sweet and warm and beautiful. I enjoyed acting with Polly.
We live relatively close by, so we would take our cars home together, chatting about interior design. [Laughs] Honestly, she brought me a beautiful candlestick. It’s over there.
It’s obviously the clothes that make the Featherington sisters stand out. Can you talk to me: how did you feel in them? Obviously Penelope hates them. Are you waiting for Penelope to catch up and wear something like blue?
Well you know what’s pretty funny: Penelope hates them, but me relatives them. [Laughs]
Because I saw them created from scratch. Ellen Mirojnick, who designed the suits, is absolutely brilliant. Because the show feels like it ‘s very punk in its own way, it goes, “Yeah, it’ s Regency, but we can do what we want. Because we have created this world. ”So it is the Regency where the rules do not apply. It means there is so much color, and so much decoration. There was a dressing room where the costumes were made. Swarovski crystals and flowers were hand-sewn. I thought every piece I wore was so beautiful.
You go into the filters, and you feel like a little girl. I always think of that perspective inward Beautiful woman where she is in the clothing store, and they only deal with her when they all come in. It feels that way. “Here’s your jewelery, here’s it—” I was excited every time there was a tiara. I lost it. It doesn’t leave you. You are like, “Tiara! Yes! ”Yeah, I thought they were just amazing.
There is a man in charge above at the ball with the Prince, where Daphne dances with the Prince. You don’t really see that dress on screen for a long time, but it was lined with silk ribbon that just felt like butter in your hands. They were all just works of art. They were horrible. They were amazing.
Bridgerton now streaming on Netflix.
Where to stream Bridgerton