‘Bridgerton’ Star, 38, to Star in Surprising New Project originally appeared on Parade.
Hear ye, hear ye! Residents of the Ton take note, a fan-favorite Bridgerton star is returning to the screen in a bold new way.
In an exclusive report on Monday, Variety revealed that Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan, 38, will lead the new season of the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 anthology drama I Am, playing opposite Joe Cole, 36, of Peaky Blinders fame.
Award-winning British filmmaker Dominic Savage, 62, has created, produced and written the series since its 2019 inception, and works closely with his leading ladies to develop the story. This upcoming season, entitled “I Am Helen,” will star Coughlan in the titular role in an exciting new collaboration which, with Coughlan’s signature pathos, is sure to hit audiences right in the feels.
“It’s an absolute honour to be part of telling the next ‘I Am…’ story alongside Dominic Savage — a singular talent and a storyteller deeply committed to exploring the breadth of the female experience,” Coughlan told Variety.
Irish-born Coughlan has a packed resume, including the 2018 coming-of-age comedy Derry Girls and Channel 4’s comedy drama Big Mood. Her role as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, however, marked a number of firsts for the now much-adored leading lady.
Among them, “I was 35 and had never played an adult,” Coughlan revealed to The BBC in a recent interview.
From the first episode of the Netflix smash hit Bridgerton, the mysterious narrator Lady Whistledown, voiced by the legendary Julie Andrews, 89, had audiences on the edge of their seat. The other character fans could not get enough of was Coughlan’s soft-spoken girl-next-door Penelope, whose primary role seemed to be as a foil to her rebellious best friend Eloise Bridgerton, played by Claudia Jessie, 35.
The season 1 reveal that bold, fearless Lady Whistledown and timid, overlooked Penelope were one and the same had fans clamoring for more, and in season 3, they got their wish. Coughlan’s Penelope stepped forward to become the romantic lead and won the heart of her long pined-after friend-turned-lover Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton, 32.
Fans may have to wait until season 4 drops in 2026 to find out how Pen and Colin are faring in married life, but Coughlan will not be sitting on her laurels waiting with them. Instead, she will take her rightful place alongside iconic actresses including Titanic’s Kate Winslet, 49, and Olivier-winning British icon Lesley Manville, 69, who starred in previous seasons of I Am.
Coughlan told Variety, “To follow in the footsteps of the brilliant women who’ve collaborated with him on this series feels truly surreal, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this journey.”
‘Bridgerton’ Star, 38, to Star in Surprising New Project first appeared on Parade on Jul 28, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
