Nicola Coughlan
Biography
Nicola Coughlan is an Irish actress born on 9 January 1987 in Galway, Ireland. She grew up in Oranmore, the youngest of three siblings. Her father served in the Irish Army and passed away in 2016. Her mother was a stay-at-home parent. Coughlan has appeared in various acting roles, with 32 known credits. She is known for her performances in Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Netflix period drama Bridgerton. Coughlan has received nominations for her work, including a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for her role in Bridgerton and a British Academy Television Awards nomination for her role in Big Mood.
Career overview
Nicola Coughlan is an Irish actress known for her work in television and film. She has appeared in a number of roles, including Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton. Coughlan's portrayal of Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton earned her a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination.
In addition to her work on Derry Girls and Bridgerton, Coughlan has also appeared in the Netflix series Big Mood, for which she received a British Academy Television Awards nomination for her role as Maggie Donovan. Coughlan's acting credits include a number of television shows and films, with a total of 32 known credits.
Coughlan was born on 9 January 1987 in Galway, Ireland. She is the youngest of three siblings, and grew up in Oranmore. Her father served in the Irish Army before passing away in 2016, and her mother was a stay-at-home parent.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- GOAT (2026) as Olivia Burke (voice)
- The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) as Silky
- Saturday Night Live UK (2026) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live UK (2026) as Self - Host
- National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World (2026) as Pegeen Mike
- Rob Beckett's Smart TV (2024) as Self - Guest
- Big Mood (2024) as Maggie
- Seize Them! (2024) as Humble Joan
- Barbie (2023) as Barbie
- The Velveteen Rabbit (2023) as Playroom Fairy (voice)
- An Audience with Kylie (2023) as Self
- Dodger Special: Coronation (2023) as Queen Victoria
- Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains (2021) as Guest
- The Netflix Afterparty (2021) as Self
- Taskmaster’s New Year Treat (2021) as Self
- Bridgerton (2020) as Penelope Featherington
- Bridgerton (2020) as Penelope Bridgerton
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) as Self - Guest Judge
- Derry Girls (2018) as Clare Devlin
- Harlots (2017) as Hannah Dalton
- The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (2017) as Self
- Movies with Ali Plumb (2016) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Svengali (2013) as Club Girl
- Ivan the Incredible (2012) as Lottie -English (voice)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Summer of the Flying Saucer (2008) as Janis Voice
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Would I Lie to You? (2007) as Self
- The Fairytaler (2004) as voice
- The Phantom Cnut (2004) as Katie
- Doctors (2000) as Marie Callaghan
- My Brother's War (1997) as Little Girl