Nicola Coughlan wrapped the Bridgerton season three press tour last night with a toast–to her co-star Luke Newton, to her best friend from childhood and to her Derry Girls family, who all made the journey to London to see Nicola get her leading lady moment in the titillating period drama that has got the world humming along to rousing orchestral covers of Pitbull.
Voicenoting Vogue post-red carpet, Coughlan is both overwhelmed and full of adrenaline, but every inch of her radiates Hollywood star. Championing bridal “mermaid” glamour, Coughlan and her longtime stylist, Aimée Croysdill, worked with Rodarte to create a custom champagne-colored gown that had “Botticelli meets Renaissance” connotations that felt perfect for a celebration of a fabulously OTT show about high society.
“Instead of method dressing, we’re going in the opposite direction,” shares Coughlan, who has worn no fewer than 68 looks on this year’s Bridgerton promo trail. “I quite like to get as far away from the characters I play as possible, so this one is very far from Pen [Penelope Featherington].” With soft waves–“my hair has been through a lot”–perfected by hairstylist Halley Brisker and pink and purple-tinted summertime make-up masterminded by Neil Young, Coughlan said Rodarte’s hyper-feminine, gothic-tinged vision seemed like a natural step on from the whimsical looks she wore on the first Bridgerton leg. “I loved that, but when it’s my leading lady moment, like Pen to speak, I wanted to step up to the bar and deliver some really fun looks.” (Easter eggs, included!)
As Nicola Coughlan, a true follower of fashion who brings a level of joy to the red carpet that can often be lost among seasoned celebrities, signs off before clinking glasses at Café Laperouse, she hopes that her mission to execute these major looks “her own way,” because “Penelope is a leading lady in her own way,” has translated. It has not only done that, it has been the talk of the ton.
