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Nicola Coughlan

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Nicola Coughlan

Known For

Acting

Gender

Female

Birthday

Jan 9, 1987 (39 years old)

Place of Birth

Galway, Ireland

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.

Known For

Acting
2026The Magic Faraway TreeSilky
2026GOATOlivia Burke (voice)
2026National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western WorldPegeen Mike
2026Saturday Night Live UKSelf - Cameo (uncredited)
2024Seize Them!Humble Joan
2024Big MoodMaggie
2024Rob Beckett's Smart TVSelf - Guest
2023BarbieBarbie
2023The Velveteen RabbitPlayroom Fairy (voice)
2023An Audience with KylieSelf
2023Dodger Special: CoronationQueen Victoria
2021The Netflix AfterpartySelf
2021Rhod Gilbert's Growing PainsGuest
2021Taskmaster’s New Year TreatSelf
2020BridgertonPenelope Featherington
2020BridgertonPenelope Bridgerton
2019RuPaul's Drag Race UKSelf - Guest Judge
2019The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelf
2018Derry GirlsClare Devlin
2017The Great British Bake Off: An Extra SliceSelf
2017HarlotsHannah Dalton
2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf
2013SvengaliClub Girl
2012Ivan the IncredibleLottie -English (voice)
2011Legends of Valhalla: ThorEdda (voice)
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2008Summer of the Flying SaucerJanis Voice
2007Would I Lie to You?Self
2007The Graham Norton ShowSelf
2004The Phantom CnutKatie
2004The Fairytalervoice
2000DoctorsMarie Callaghan
1997My Brother's WarLittle Girl