
Nicola Coughlan
Known for Acting · 32 credits
- Born
- 1987-01-09 (age 39)
- Place of birth
- Galway, Ireland
- Also known as
- Nicola Mary Coughlan
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
TV Shows (18)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest

Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self

The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self

Bridgerton
2020
as Penelope Featherington / Penelope Bridgerton

The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self

Doctors
2000
as Marie Callaghan

Would I Lie to You?
2007
as Self

RuPaul's Drag Race UK
2019
as Self - Guest Judge

Derry Girls
2018
as Clare Devlin

Harlots
2017
as Hannah Dalton

The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
2017
as Self

Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains
2021
as Guest

Saturday Night Live UK
2026
as Self - Cameo (uncredited) / Self - Host

Rob Beckett's Smart TV
2024
as Self - Guest

The Netflix Afterparty
2021
as Self

Big Mood
2024
as Maggie

Taskmaster’s New Year Treat
2021
as Self

The Fairytaler
2004
as voice
Movies (14)

GOAT
2026
as Olivia Burke (voice)

The Magic Faraway Tree
2026
as Silky

Barbie
2023
as Barbie

The Velveteen Rabbit
2023
as Playroom Fairy (voice)

Seize Them!
2024
as Humble Joan

Ivan the Incredible
2012
as Lottie -English (voice)

National Theatre Live: The Playboy of the Western World
2026
as Pegeen Mike

An Audience with Kylie
2023
as Self

Svengali
2013
as Club Girl

My Brother's War
1997
as Little Girl

Derry Girls
2018
as Claire Devlin

Dodger Special: Coronation
2023
as Queen Victoria

Summer of the Flying Saucer
2008
as Janis Voice
The Phantom Cnut
2004
as Katie
About Nicola Coughlan
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 thre… With 32 credits spanning from 1997 to 2026, Nicola Coughlan has appeared in 14 films and 18 TV shows.
Fans searching for Nicola Coughlan movies, Nicola Coughlan filmography, or the latest projects starring Nicola Coughlan can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Nicola Coughlan Movies
- GOAT (2026) — as Olivia Burke (voice)
- The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) — as Silky
- Barbie (2023) — as Barbie
- The Velveteen Rabbit (2023) — as Playroom Fairy (voice)
- Seize Them! (2024) — as Humble Joan
Where to Watch Nicola Coughlan Films
Most Nicola Coughlan movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Nicola Coughlan, check our movies catalogue and browse page.