Quick Read
- Nicola Coughlan stated she has ‘no interest in body positivity’ in an Elle UK interview.
- She finds discussions about her body size ‘boring’ and frustrating.
- Coughlan highlighted being labeled ‘plus-size’ despite being a UK size 10.
- She recently received an ADHD diagnosis, which has given her ‘more grace’.
- The full interview will be in Elle UK’s April issue, on sale March 10, 2026.
DUBLIN (Azat TV) – Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, widely known for her roles in Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton and Channel 4’s Derry Girls, has publicly stated her ‘no interest in body positivity,’ describing discussions about her physical size as ‘boring.’ Her candid remarks, made during an interview for Elle UK’s April issue, highlight a growing frustration among performers regarding the intense scrutiny of their bodies rather than their craft.
Coughlan, 39, who portrays Penelope Bridgerton in the popular regency drama, explained that she did not grow up thinking about actors’ bodies and finds the topic irrelevant to her passion. ‘The thing I say sometimes that pisses people off is I have no interest in body positivity,’ Coughlan told Elle UK. ‘When I was a kid growing up, I never thought about that. I didn’t look at actors and think about their bodies. So, I actually don’t care.’ She emphasized that while many issues deeply resonate with her, body positivity is not one of them, asserting it is ‘someone else’s thing. It’s not mine.’
Coughlan’s Frustration with Body-Centric Dialogue
Despite her significant professional achievements and the success of her projects, Coughlan expressed deep disappointment that a substantial portion of public discourse often revolves around her weight and body size. She recounted instances where she was lauded as a ‘plus-size’ actress, even when she was a UK size 10, and at times, wearing a size 8 corset for nude scenes in Bridgerton. This labeling, she noted, underscores a problematic societal perception of body image in the entertainment industry.
The actress detailed a particularly uncomfortable encounter where a drunk fan approached her in a bathroom, praising her body in relation to Bridgerton. ‘I remember this really drunk girl once talking to me in a bathroom being like, ‘I loved (Bridgerton) because of your body’ and started talking about my body, and I was like, ‘I want to die. I hate this so much,’’ Coughlan shared. She articulated her profound frustration, stating, ‘It’s really hard when you work on something for months and months of your life, you don’t see your family, you really dedicate yourself and then it comes down to what you look like – it’s so f***ing boring.’
Beyond the Screen: Personal Insights and Career Highlights
In addition to her pointed comments on body image, Coughlan also shared a more personal insight into her life, revealing that she has recently received an ADHD diagnosis. This understanding, she explained, has provided her with a ‘handbook to my brain’ that she previously lacked, allowing her to approach herself with ‘more grace.’
Nicola Coughlan’s career has seen her gain widespread recognition for diverse roles. Beyond her iconic portrayal of Clare Devlin in Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, she also featured in the hit movie Barbie and earned a Bafta nomination for her role in Channel 4’s Big Mood. Her stage work includes a National Theatre production of The Playboy Of The Western World alongside her Derry Girls co-star Siobhan McSweeney. The full interview with Nicola Coughlan will be available in the April issue of Elle UK, which goes on sale on March 10, 2026.
Coughlan’s forthright stance challenges the expectation that public figures, particularly women, must embrace or comment on body image movements, underscoring a desire for their professional achievements to take precedence over physical appearance in public discourse.