Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan hits back at body-shaming comments: Don’t call me brave
Nicola Coughlan, best known for her role in Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton, has expressed her frustration with body-shaming comments that have surfaced following her racy scenes in the show’s third season. The actress has hit back at being labelled a “plus-size heroine” and described as “brave” for showing off her body, according to an interview reported by People magazine. Coughlan has criticised the reduction of her acting to her looks, claiming, “The focus on my appearance is reductive and boring.” The 37-year-old actress pointed out that she is actually “a couple of sizes shorter than the average British woman” and highlighted her discomfort with the focus on her appearance. Coughlan bluntly remarked, “Don’t call me brave. I have a beautiful pair of b–bs. There’s nothing brave about it; it’s just me showing them off,” she said in the interview, which was reported by People magazine.
The actress noted that she worked tirelessly to prepare for her role, saying, “I barely saw my family and friends, and people were just like, ‘But your body’… I don’t take that as a good thing.”
Referring to the potential for future roles, she questioned the absurdity of the comments surrounding her body. “If I suddenly played a ballerina and lost a bunch of weight, would you not like me anymore?” she asked, labeling the general discussion “insane and offensive,” according to People magazine.
SEE ALSO: Bridgerton star Simone Ashley backs co-star Nicola Coughlan against body-shaming comments: She’s amazing, strong… Notably, Coughlan anticipated the focus on her nudity even before the season premiered. In a previous interview reported by People magazine, she revealed that she actively sought to include some moments that highlighted her vulnerability.
“There was a scene where I was completely naked on camera, and it was my idea, it was my choice,” she explained, adding, “I just felt like I was the biggest ‘f— you’ in all the conversations around my body; it was really empowering.”
Reflecting on her experience, she expressed pride in her decision to go nude on the show. “I felt so beautiful in that moment, and I thought, ‘When I’m 80, I want to look back on this and remember how hot I looked!’” Coughlan concluded that she felt “amazing” about her choices in Bridgerton because “not only did I agree with it, I drove it.” All three seasons of Bridgerton, along with the prequel spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, are available to stream on Netflix.
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