Irish actress Nicola Coughlan has said she has “never felt more like Beyonce” since becoming a member of the Bridgerton cast.

Coughlan, as well as other actors from the cast, attended a sneak preview event on Wednesday for the hit Netflix show, which was also attended by executive producer Shona Rhimes and Bridgerton author Julia Quinn.

Part one of the new season is set to land on Netflix on May 16, where the storyline will follow Coughlan’s character, Penelope Featherington, and Colin, one of the Bridgerton brothers.

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan (Yui Mok/PA)

Asked during the event how the series had changed her life, Coughlan said it was now different when going out in public.

“I think before Bridgerton, had I gone to Brazil, I could have just hopped around,” Coughlan said.

Luke Thompson, Claudia Jessie, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jess Brownell, Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, and Martins Imhangbe attend a screening of series three of the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (Yui Mok/PA)

“Now I think that’s probably not the case. I’ve never felt more like Beyonce. They were like ‘we have security, we have this, you have a car’ and I was like ‘oh my god I’m so fancy’,” the actress added.

The series, which took the world by storm when it first landed during the pandemic, is now in its fourth season, with each series focusing on a love story between two of the protagonists.

This year, things are slightly different, and audiences will see two established characters and follow how their relationship changes over the season.

Nicola Coughlan

The last time viewers saw Coughlan take up the role as the youngest Featherington sister, it was revealed that she was the mysterious Lady Whistledown, the anonymous writer behind the town’s gossip column, voiced by Julie Andrews.

Now, Coughlan, with co-star Luke Newton, are the main focus of the new series and fans were treated to a sneak preview of the opening scene from episode one during the event.

In the preview, Penelope is in a tense conversation as Coughlan’s character confronts Colin Bridgerton after she overheard him say he would never court her.

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“I overheard you, at mama’s ball last season, telling everyone how you would never, ever court Penelope Featherington,” Coughlan’s character says in the clip.

While Colin Bridgerton suggests going somewhere out of earshot from others to continue the conversation, Penelope Featherington accuses her former friend of being “cruel”.

“Of course you would never court me. I am the laughing stock of the town, even when I change my entire wardrobe. It just never occurred to me that you, of all people, could be so cruel,” she continues.

The Bridgerton series returns to Netflix on May 16 for part one, with part two dropping on the streaming giant on June 13.