Nicola Coughlanbegan act professionally at a young age in the 1990s , but struggled with winner in the industry until her thirties , and many of her best movies and TV show do from more recent projects . Before getting her full-grown break on goggle box in 2018 , Coughlan also made a name for herself in theatre of operations . She ’s an accomplished stage histrion and has branch out her work in the arts in many mediums . In improver to working on stage and projection screen , Coughlan has lent her voice and her writing acquisition to written podcasts .

Most of Coughlan ’s just work has been in boob tube . Though she has many roles that are simply one - off appearances , Coughlan has also landed several role that have bring in her international eclat , like Netflix ’s hit seriesBridgertonand the Irish comedyDerry Girls . Both serial have helped to make Coughlan a household name and are among her best body of work .

10Seize Them! (2024)

As Humble Joan

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Seize Themis not a film that critic in the UK looked upon favorably . Despite that , it outranks some of the other onscreen task Coughlan has been in because it let her to be on screen for retentive . Many of Coughlan ’s projects prior to 2018 were simply guest spots or even uncredited role that did not allow the actor to show off her science .

Seize Themis a comedy in the vein of some classic parodies . In this case , it parodies a diachronic epic . The movie sees a British queen in the Dark Ages suffer her throne because the hoi polloi rebound behind Humble Joan . Joan becomes power - hungry and authoritarian while the queen continue to try out to find a way to get her throne back .

The movie admit a bevy of stand up British comedic talent . Alongside Coughlan as Joan is Aimee Lou Wood ( Sex Education ) as the deposed queen mole rat . The problem is that a lot of the funniness of the hand does not quite terra firma as well as mean . It ’s a shame because the actors involved in the project are all uproarious in other role . At least Coughlan and Wood get the hazard to be rivals in a ridiculous circle - up .

Collage of Frank in The Naked Gun, Austin in Austin Powers, and Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles

From Airplane ! to The Rocky Horror Picture Show , some takeoff are so great and iconic that they outshine the motion picture they ’re making fun of .

9Dodger (2023)

As Queen Victoria

Not to be confused with the Australian seriesArtful Dodger , which acts as a sequel toOliver Twist , this UK serial publication is a prequel toOliver Twistset in England instead . The series follow the titular Dodger while he tries to survive on the street and hones his thieving skills before he ever meet Dickens ’ Oliver .

Coughlan only appears in one episode of the series . She appears in the holiday special in 2023 that focuses on a plot to slip the crown jewel of England . Coughlan is the poof and the individual whose coronation is about to pass when the theft find . She is brash and ennoble in the function , really trade the mind of a Danaus plexippus who can not handle thing not going her way . It ’s a great one - off appearance for her , especially since it was bookended by other more striking role for her .

8The Great Christmas Bake Off (2019)

As Herself

The Great British Bake Offhas become a show known around the world . The cooking competition serial is as much about the antics of the hosts and the contestant as it is about the food . Every so often , the serial hosts renown contestants or else of bread maker hop to get the prestige of the win .

The vacation special episode in 2019 featured the main cast ofDerry Girlscompeting . The cast did several promotional competition testify during the show ’s outpouring , competing against one another in game shows as well . The majuscule Christmas Bake Off , however , is more fun than it is competitive . The actors all appear to be enjoying themselves , even in consequence that induce them stress , and it is great for fans to see the real camaraderie among them .

The show present how funny all of the cast , including Coughlan , are even without a script in front of them as they jolly with one another while compete in merry - theme challenges .

A collage of various Bridgerton characters including Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), & Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) with yellow sparkles.

7The Velveteen Rabbit (2023)

As The Playroom Fairy

Part of the cause her characters are so distinguishable from one another is because she create voices based on her delineation of them .

The Velveteen Rabbitmarks yet another holiday special for Coughlan . The role player has certainly squeeze up a few of them in late years , which might be an indicant that she enjoys vacation transportation as much as her audience does . It also might indicate that her breaks from larger projects likeBridgertonjust come about to coincide with the filming of holiday projects .

The Velveteen Rabbitis technically a scant plastic film available through Apple rather than a movie . At 40 minutes , it ’s a comparatively spry ticker for people who are familiar with the children ’s book or desire to introduce their children to a unexampled version of the story .

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Here , Coughlan vocalize a poof for the short along the Velveteen Rabbit ’s journey . Coughlan has already test her faultless power to produce raw voices for her characters in live - action . Part of the reason her characters are so distinct from one another is because she produce phonation base on her portrayal of them . It ’s not a surprise then that she is so suited to vocalism over oeuvre like this .

6Doctor Who (2024)

As Joy

… it ’s really a peachy feeling into how she can be very subtle in her play selection as well .

Coughlan also appeared in another unique holiday special . She makes an appearance in the holiday episode ofDoctor Whoin 2024 in a rare case of the Doctor receive a raw companion for a unmarried sequence .

The vacation special sees the Doctor ( Ncuti Gatwa ) inspect a hotel in the futurity that speciate in time change of location . It let its guest to travel to certain point in history to search . While there , the Doctor also investigates a mysterious briefcase that controls those who carry it . Joy ( Coughlan ) becomes a dupe of the briefcase and the Doctor and Joy work together to figure out the purpose of it .

A collage of Nicola Coughlan in roles in Derry Girls, Big Mood, and Bridgerton

Custom image by Amanda Bruce

Some critic believed that Coughlan ’s talents were underused here , but it ’s actually a great looking at into how she can be very insidious in her acting choices as well . Many of her well movies and tv office have regard her comedic performances needing to be declamatory than life . Here , she gets to be more unpretentious . Her part in the special is also heartwarming , carrying on the custom of the holiday specials work to bring in people together .

5Harlots (2018)

As Hannah Dalton

Bridgertonis not the only period drama fans will have spotted Nicola Coughlan in . She also appear in the second season of the Hulu dramaHarlots .

Harlotscenters on a brother in 18th - C London . At the clip , there are few ways for women to be financially main from the men in their lives . One fashion is sex work . The show follows a womanhood who runs a bagnio , but as more priggish values begin to take clutch , she essay to gain new clientele from the wealthier neck of the woods to save her lady friend from ending up on the street .

Coughlan only look in seven episodes of the series as Hannah . Her scenes in the brothel , however , are a great showcase of her comedic timing as she is able to make scenes that may come out even slightly uncomfortable humourous . The series is not a love storey , so Coughlan ’s fictitious character is not getting theBridgertontreatment here , and she did not come back for time of year three .

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Coughlan ’s futureBridgertoncostar Hannah Dodd also appears inHarlots .

4Barbie (2023)

As Diplomat Barbie

Barbiewas a runaway hit when it debut in theatre in 2023 . Though the moving picture concentre on the traditional ( or stereotypical ) Barbie and her journey , there is a huge ensemble cast play other Barbies to life in the pic as well .

Barbiecombines phantasy and world . The dolls be as living being in Barbieland where their lives are inform by the children who trifle with them in reality . When Barbie ( Margot Robbie ) finds herself changing , she dress out on a journeying to the literal existence with Ken ( Ryan Gosling ) to find the human who has been changing her . That leads her on a larger journeying of self - discovery .

Nicola Coughlan plays Diplomat Barbie , and she does not have a ton of screen fourth dimension in the movie . She appear to grant another Barbie , and that is her bountiful moment in the film . It might be surprising then to see the movie ranked so high . One of the reason that is , however , is becauseBarbie ’s casting team went out of their way to puke Barbies of all shapes , sizes , and color , permit the movie to really explore the idea that everyone is Barbie .

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It ’s also entirely potential that Coughlan , or any of the prominent phone number of Barbie and Ken actors could make an appearancein aBarbiesequelif one manifests , so there is the potential difference to explore her character further .

3Derry Girls (2018-2022)

As Clare Devlin

Though Nicola Coughlan had been working on stage and CRT screen for about 20 years beforeDerry girl , this serial is well her breakthrough role . Made in Ireland for television in the UK , the series became a world-wide phenomenon thanks to it being made available to stream on Netflix .

Set in the 1990s during the Troubles in Ireland , Derry Girlsfollows a groupof teenagers growing up alongside the threats of bombs and the divide of religious differences . The radical , made of four Irish girls and one of their English ( male ) cousins all assist a private Catholic school and come of historic period during a metre when their political decision are weighed with the same importance as their endeavor to snarf out to a concert .

Despite some of the serious subjects happen in the backdrop of the show , Derry Girlsis firmly a comedy . No one single character is the comedic relief either as all of the main characters furnish the one - liners , the punning , the physical clowning , and the straightforward - valet de chambre persona in number .

Headshot Of Aimee Lou Wood In The British Independent Film Awards

Coughlan ’s Clare is the most tightly wound of the mathematical group . She is always worried about them get in fuss because of their scheme and , as a result , she provide a mountain of speedy - fire explanations and anxiety information - dumps on other character . Coughlan plays that queasy teen to perfection - even though she is already 30 when playing the character for the first fourth dimension .

Derry Girlswon an external Emmy for Best Comedy Series .

2Bridgerton (2020-)

As Penelope Featherington

ThoughDerry Girlsis Coughlan ’s big respite , Bridgertonis likely her most popular labor to day of the month . The period romance is presently the biggest show on Netflix with all three of its seasonsamong Netflix ’s most - watched boob tube series around the humanity .

The series centers on theBridgertonfamily . Each season spotlights a different sib of the eight children , highlighting their Latinian language as they descend in love and marry . The show is enliven bya series of novel by Julia Quinn , and like Quinn , utilizes dissimilar romanticism tropes to make each time of year ’s love story unequalled . While the first time of year used fake dating , the 2d used enemies to lovers , and the third used Quaker to lovers . That , alongside the different personality of the Bridgertons and the people they come in lovemaking with , keeps the show from get stale .

Netflix ’s Bridgerton has three seasons so far , consist of 24 episodes in aggregate , and some episodes stand up out from the others for different reasons .

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Coughlan has been in the serial publication since the very first instalment as Penelope Featherington , the best acquaintance of one of the Bridgerton girl and the very writer who compose an anonymous chit chat bed sheet about lodge . Coughlan has done a fantastic job at bear witness Penelope ’s ontogeny each season with subtle change to her posture , body linguistic process , and even her voice . Penelope is also part of the love level of the third season , allowing Coughlan to be the romantic lead , which she has not done often in her life history just yet .

Coughlan has been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role .

1Big Mood (2024-)

As Maggie

… well put up up Nicola Coughlan ’s good public presentation in telly or moving-picture show to particular date .

Big Moodis a lesser - cognize role for Nicola Coughlan fans . It is also one of the most critically lauded part of her career so far .

Big Mood allows Coughlan to play around in both play and comedy , but unlike Bridgerton , it is not a period small-arm . The modernistic dramedy explores themes of mental wellness . It focuses on two friends who have been in one another ’s lives for over a decade , but they find their bonds strained when one of them start struggling with complicationscaused by their genial health return .

Headshot Of Christopher Eccleston

Coughlan ’s Maggie is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder , but it has not yet been fully finagle by behavioral or pharmaceutic methods . Throughout the series , she essay unlike techniques , but she also find herself corkscrew into both manic and depressive episodes . Coughlan is beau ideal in the role , completely raw and vulnerable at either end of Maggie ’s mood spectrum .

So far , there are only six episode ofBig Mood , but it easily bid upNicola Coughlan ’s best performance in TV or film to day of the month .

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Headshot Of Matt Lucas In The Press night for ‘The Constituent’

The Velveteen Rabbit and the Playroom Fairy talk in the snow in the Apple holiday short

Doctor Who Season 14 Poster

Headshot Of Ncuti Gatwa In The US premiere of the new season of the Disney+ series Doctor Who

Headshot Of Millie Gibson In The US Premiere Of The New Season Of The Disney+ Series Doctor Who

Harlots

Headshot Of Lesley Manville in The 2024 BAFTA Television Awards

Headshot Of Kate Fleetwood

Barbie Movie Poster

Headshot Of Margot Robbie In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

Headshot Of Ryan Gosling In The Paris premiere of ‘The Fall Guy’

Derry Girls TV Poster

Bridgerton Season 3 Poster Showing Penelope Featherington Looking into a Mirror

Headshot Of Will Tilston IN The Screening of ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 - Part Two at Odeon Luxe

Headshot Of Rege-Jean Page

Big Mood TV Show Poster

Headshot Of Lydia West In The Screening of new BBC One drama, Inside Man at the BFI Southban

Headshot Of Robert Gilbert

Movies

Nicola Coughlan