When we meet Nicola Coughlan in the picturesque suburbs of Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2023, she’s filming a new ad. The starlet, who gained fame through the Irish comedy series “Derry Girls” and further cemented her career with roles in “Bridgerton” and the blockbuster “Barbie” movie, loves the Sydney lifestyle.
Sydney’s allure and Aussie delights
Nicola Coughlan has been indulging in much-needed travel, visiting iconic spots like the Bondi Icebergs and even developing a taste for Vegemite. “It’s so good,” she exclaims. “You can get it overseas, but it’s quite hard to find, so I got two gigantic jars of it.”
Her love for the Australian spread comes from her elder sister Clodagh, who spent time in Australia and introduced her to it. Alongside Vegemite, Tim Tams also get Coughlan’s stamp of approval.
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Bridgerton’s bright future
While Nicola Coughlan has been basking in the success of “Barbie”—a film that surpassed the $1 billion mark, making director Greta Gerwig the first solo female director with a billion-dollar film—the spotlight is now on the upcoming season of “Bridgerton.” In this new season, Coughlan’s character, Penelope Featherington, will be the ‘diamond of the season.’
Because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, our conversation veers away from her acting career to her thoughts on romance. When asked if she would prefer a period-era boyfriend over a modern-day one, Coughlan is quite clear: “I think nowadays they smell better. That’s what I always think about the past…we think of it as so romantic and lovely, but then there was no personal hygiene.”
Modern dating and red flags
Despite the perks of modern dating, Coughlan admits it has its own set of challenges. “We have too much choice. It’s not good. So, there are probably good and bad things for both eras,” she reflects.
Laughing about the dubious nature of dating apps, we agree that the freedom to choose our paths is ultimately better. “We probably only see the romantic versions [of the regency era]. But in reality, it was like, you’re probably getting traded for a goat or some land. So, you’re probably better off now when at least we can make the call ourselves.”
Dating deal breakers
When asked about her number one red flag in dating, Coughlan doesn’t hesitate: “When guys want to do a Joker impression. Just don’t…do that. That’s just an immediate ick, and it’s never good.” Fortunately, she hasn’t encountered this in person but has seen it online.
Coughlan isn’t too familiar with the concept of ‘beige flags,’ but poor spelling is a definite turnoff for her, especially as an English major. “This is really snobby, but when someone uses the wrong ‘you’re,’ that makes me go ‘oh,’ which is bad, but it can make me cringe a little bit.”
Personal life and aspirations
We also delve into other aspects of Coughlan’s life, such as her dream to travel to Nantucket with close friend Jonathan Van Ness and her love for TikTok chef Meredith Hayden (@wishbonekitchen). Reflecting on alternate careers, she humorously considers becoming a singer in gay clubs, much like the Real Housewives.
Despite her globe-trotting lifestyle, Coughlan always feels a pullback to her home in Ireland, where her family resides. “I go back to Ireland as much as I can to spend time with my mum and sister. We’re super, super close, and they get updates on everything I’m doing in Sydney.”
This article was syndicated from Marie Claire Argentina
Translated and adapted by Praise Vandeh, Marie Claire Nigeria Content Writer
