Nicola Coughlan hits back at ‘plus size’ label and says she was a size 8-10 in Bridgerton nude scenes as she brands the furore over her figure ‘so boring’

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Nicola Coughlan has responded to comments about her body size, clarifying that she was a size 8-10 during the nude scenes in Bridgerton. She pushed back against being labeled ‘plus-sized’.

The 39-year-old actress has stated she doesn’t care about promoting body positivity, even though she’s appeared in revealing scenes, and is tired of any attention or criticism about her body.

Nicola Coughlan revealed she lost weight before filming the nude scene that became popular in the third season of Bridgerton, sharing this information on the cover of ELLE UK’s April issue.

She explained that she used to dislike receiving compliments about her appearance from fans. She felt it took away from recognizing the effort and skill she put into her work as an actress.

Nicola explained that one thing she often says that upsets people is that she isn’t interested in the concept of body positivity.

As a child, I never considered actors’ physiques or appearances. Because of that, it’s simply not something I think about now.

I have many interests, but this isn’t one of them. It’s something other people enjoy, not me.

She talked about the comments on her body during the show, explaining that it was strange because she was actually working out a lot and had lost weight while filming. She mentioned she’d gone from a size 10 to around a size 8, and one of the costumes she wore, a corset, was a size 8.

People started commenting on my size, and it made me realize how problematic it is that I’m considered the largest woman they’re interested in seeing represented on screen.

I once had a really intoxicated woman corner me in a bathroom and tell me she enjoyed watching Bridgerton because of my physique. She started commenting on my body, and it was incredibly upsetting – I just wanted to disappear.

It’s incredibly frustrating to pour months of your life into a project, sacrificing time with family and fully dedicating yourself, only for the final result to be judged solely on superficial appearances. It feels incredibly dull and unrewarding.

Nicola revealed a bit about her relationship with actor Jake Dunn, explaining that they make an effort to stay connected despite his busy schedule. She said she often sends him silly videos and they talk a lot on FaceTime.

I used to just admire him as an actor, but I really appreciate that he has his own passions and interests outside of work.

Nicola Coughlan, known for her roles in Bridgerton and Derry Girls, has actively worked to avoid being limited to playing only certain types of characters.

She expressed feeling fortunate for the show’s success, but admitted the sudden popularity of Derry Girls was a little daunting. While it was amazing, she wondered if she’d be typecast and stuck playing the same character indefinitely.

‘I was lucky that Bridgerton came around, because it was really different right away.’ 

Nicola is currently performing in a new production of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World at The National Theatre, alongside Siobhán McSweeney, who starred with her in Derry Girls.

The actress recently shared that she’s been sick and is still recovering.

I’ve recently had to make a tough call about meeting fans after shows. My doctors have advised me to really prioritize my health so I can keep performing for you all. That means, unfortunately, I won’t be able to do meet-and-greets or sign autographs for now. It’s not something I want to do, but keeping healthy enough to be on stage is my top priority, and I hope you understand!

She expressed her thanks for being involved in the show, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone who has seen The Playboy of the Western World! I’m really enjoying being part of it and feel so lucky we get to continue performing until February.’

I’m so sorry, but I’ve been unwell with a bug for a few weeks and haven’t fully recovered. On the advice of my doctor, I won’t be able to sign autographs at the stage door after performances for the time being.

My main focus right now is getting healthy so I can finish the show’s run. I appreciate your understanding, and I hope you continue to enjoy watching as much as we enjoy performing!

The April issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 10 March.

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2026-03-05 03:04