The latest season of Bridgerton has dropped, part one that is, and actress Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, has revealed being body-shamed meant she asked to do a nude scene.
The series is known for its delicate love stories entwined with a racy scene or two, and Nicola explains that for a season exploring her character’s love life – she asked to be ‘very naked’. During an interview with Stylist, Nicola admitted: “I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included.
“There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest ‘f**k you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering.”
Nicola’s steamy scenes are alongside her co-star Luke Newton who plays Colin Bridgerton who has also commented on those scenes. In an interview with British Airways’ High Life Luke said: “Looking back, it was a breeze. She’s my friend, so we just giggle about it.
“There are those moments when you come out of your body and go, ‘Oh, millions of people will see this.’ But then I’ve been an actor for many years now. People have seen my performance on stage and other shows, so you feel confident.
The pair have already teased breaking furniture during filming and that this is the steamiest season so far.
Season three picked up the story of the Bridgerton siblings a few months after season two – which premiered more than two years ago in March 2022 – Anthony and Kate are back from their honeymoon, Penelope is estranged from best friend Eloise Bridgerton after she figured out she was gossip writer Lady Whistledown, and Colin has returned from a months-long trip around Europe.
Viewers knew that the season would explore the friends to lovers story between Colin and Penelope. But not everyone knew the series would mark Francesca’s entry into society – and that there would be a new actress playing her.
Francesca was played by Ruby Stokes for the first two seasons before being replaced by Hannah Dodd.
Hannah, 29, began her career as a model and a dancer before starring in the teen series Find Me In Paris. She also appeared in the period drama Harlots, as Sprite in the Marvel movie Eternals, and alongside Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes 2 in 2022.
While the character of Francesca doesn’t get her own story in the novels until book six, When He Was Wicked, her role is substantially larger in the show this year, with her own potential romances running alongside the main story.
