Nicola Coughlan drops the Bridgerton corset for timely new project taking on the manosphere

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Nicola Coughlan, famous for her roles as Penelope Featherington in the Netflix hit Bridgerton and Clare Devlin in the popular Channel 4 show Derry Girls, will star in I Am Helen. This is the newest installment of Channel 4’s I Am anthology series. According to Deadline, the story will explore themes related to the controversial online world known as the ‘manosphere’.

I’m really intrigued by this new show, I Am Helen. It’s created by the same person who did the I Am series, Dominic Savage, and this time it’s diving into the world of the ‘manosphere’ but from a woman’s perspective. I’ll be playing Helen, and Joe Cole, who you might know from Peaky Blinders, is playing the guy I’m interested in. The story follows how he gets more and more involved in that whole ideology, which sounds pretty intense.

The series will explore how extremist beliefs gradually affect a couple’s relationship, damaging it over time. It will show the real-life consequences of online spaces that promote figures like Andrew Tate and present anger and resentment as strength for men.

I just finished watching Louis Theroux’s documentary, Inside the Manosphere, and it’s been getting a lot of buzz – people seem pretty divided on whether it’s good or not, honestly. It definitely got me thinking, though!

The “I Am” series, created by Me+You Productions, is known for its insightful and intimate storytelling. Previous episodes have starred acclaimed actresses like Kate Winslet, Lesley Manville, Letitia Wright, Suranne Jones, and Gemma Chan, and have featured stories developed through collaboration and improvisation, focusing on the experiences of modern women.

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The series I Am Ruth, featuring Kate Winslet and her daughter Mia Threapleton, explored the issues of social media addiction and teenage mental health. Winslet’s performance earned her a BAFTA award, and the show has become highly acclaimed by critics, making it a standout program for Channel 4.

Coughlan was named as the lead in the anthology series’ fourth season back in July.

She stated at the time that she was incredibly honored to contribute to the next installment of I Am, working with Dominic Savage, whom she described as a uniquely gifted storyteller dedicated to portraying the diverse experiences of women.

It feels amazing to be working on this project, especially following in the footsteps of so many talented women who have contributed to it. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

I Am Helen will air on Channel 4.

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2026-03-18 19:50