Nicola Mary Coughlan, born on January 9, 1987, is an Irish actress. Her notable roles include Clare Devlin in Derry Girls (2018-2022) and Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s Bridgerton (2020-present). She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance as Penelope Featherington in the third season of Bridgerton. Coughlan was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for her role in Big Mood (2024–present).
| Real Name/Full Name | Nicola Coughlan |
| Date Of Birth | January 9, 1987 |
| Age | 38 |
| Birthplace | Galway, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Father Name | NA |
| Mother Name | NA |
| Hair Color | NA |
| Eye Color | NA |
| Height | 1.55 m (5’ 1 ft) |
| Weight | 56 kg |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Siblings | NA |
| Profession | Actress |
| Net worth | $1.6 million |
Early life
Coughlan came into being on January 9th, 1987, in Galway, Ireland, and was raised in the nearby town of Oranmore. As the youngest of three siblings, her father served in the Irish Army before passing away in 2017, and her mother was a homemaker.
Coughlan decided to pursue acting at the age of five when she saw her sister perform in a school play. During her time at Scoil Mhuire Primary School and Calasanctius College, she graduated. She obtained her degree in English and Classical Civilization from National University of Ireland, Galway. In England, she trained at the Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting.
Career
Nicola’s acting career started before she received training in acting. Coughlan’s passion for acting was ignited when she was cast in a minor role in a thriller film when she was only ten years old. She was also cast in a short film at the age of 17. To increase his audience, Coughlan started doing voice-overs for several children’s films and animated series, such as The Fairytales and Summer of Flying Saucer.
After completing her acting training, Nicola experienced a period of bad luck and was unable to secure any acting roles. Financial issues forced her to move back with her parents. Mental health issues and depression were a problem for Coughlan.
Her instinctive audition for Derry Girls was the result of many years of struggle. Coughlan was chosen for the main role and played Jess, a 17-year-old, at the age of 31. Nicola did a great job playing her character. Her work was so loved that more producers became interested in working with her. The Bridgerton series in 2020 brought Coughlan international fame. The Netflix series featured Nicola as Lady Whistledown/Penelope Featherington, and she played a significant role.
Coughlan’s success and popularity increased in 2024 when she starred as the leading lady in the third season of Bridgerton.Coughlan is promoting her new series with co-stars and is well-known for her body positivity in various magazine shoots.
Net Worth
Coughlan is a woman who inspires with her hard work and accomplishments. Her current success is highly deserved. After struggling previously, Nicola found her long-anticipated fame when no one, not even herself, thought she could succeed in the industry. Her financial worth has grown rapidly in the past five years due to two popular television series. The audience internationally praised both of her works. As Nicola has many acting projects lined up, her current net worth has exceeded $1.6 million.
