Nicola Coughlan
Born: 1987-01-09 in Galway, Ireland
Known For: Acting
Biography
Nicola Mary Coughlan is an Irish actress. She is known for her roles as Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton. She earned a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for playing the lead role of Penelope Featherington in the third season of Bridgerton. Coughlan earned a British Academy Television Awards nomination for her role as Maggie Donovan in Big Mood (2024–present). Coughlan was born on 9 January 1987 in Galway, Ireland, and grew up in Oranmore. The youngest of three siblings, her father served in the Irish Army before passing away in 2016, and her mother was a stay-at-home parent. At the age of five, while watching her sister perform in a school play, Coughlan decided she wanted to become an actress. She attended Scoil Mhuire Primary School and Calasanctius College. She graduated with a degree in English and Classical Civilisation from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She then went on to train in England at the Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting.
Filmography
2026
- GOAT as Olivia Burke (voice)
- The Magic Faraway Tree as Silky
- Saturday Night Live UK as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World as Pegeen Mike
2024
- Rob Beckett's Smart TV as Self - Guest
- Big Mood as Maggie
- Seize Them! as Humble Joan
2023
- Barbie as Barbie
- The Velveteen Rabbit as Playroom Fairy (voice)
- An Audience with Kylie as Self
- Dodger Special: Coronation as Queen Victoria
2021
- Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains as Guest
- The Netflix Afterparty as Self
- Taskmaster’s New Year Treat as Self
2020
- Bridgerton as Penelope Featherington
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK as Self - Guest Judge
2018
- Derry Girls as Clare Devlin
2017
- Harlots as Hannah Dalton
- The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice as Self
2016
- Movies with Ali Plumb as Self
2014
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
2013
- Svengali as Club Girl
2012
- Ivan the Incredible as Lottie -English (voice)
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
2008
- Summer of the Flying Saucer as Janis Voice
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Would I Lie to You? as Self
2004
- The Fairytaler as voice
- The Phantom Cnut as Katie
2000
- Doctors as Marie Callaghan
1997
- My Brother's War as Little Girl