Nicola Coughlan commanded attention on Thursday as she joined her co-star Luke Newton at the Light House Cinema in Dublin for a special screening of Bridgerton season three part two.

The actress, 37, and her on-screen love interest, 31, star in the Netflix smash hit as Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, with season three following their journey from friends to lovers.

The first part of the season saw their will-they-won’t-they flirtation finally turn to romance and ended on a raunchy cliffhanger, with the second instalment set to drop June 13.

Nicola pulled out all the stops for the special screening as she graced the red carpet in a bespoke black satin floor-length gown by Erdem.

The stylish ensemble boasted a diamond embellished corset bust, a sheer wrap shoulder detailing, and a tulle skirt.

The Irish stunner added inches to her frame with a pair of black platform heels and accessorised with green drop diamond earrings.

Styling her blonde locks in a chic updo, Nicola opted for a flawless palette of makeup consisting of a smoky eye and a bold red lip as she struck up a pose on the carpet.

While Luke cut a typically handsome figure in a dapper pearl embellished blazer and tailored trousers.

He added a more laidback touch by leaving the blazer unbuttoned to show a black vest underneath and gave fans a peek at his chest.

To complete the look Luke opted for a pair of black leather loafers with a pearl brooch and a classic black waist belt.

The pair put on a friendly display as they were pictured on the red carpet holding hands and smiling for the cameras.

Season three of Bridgerton dropped last month, with eager fans wasting no time in settling down to devour the latest antics of the Regency-era romantics.

And the series seems to be back better than ever, as according to What’s On Netflix, it pulled in a shocking 45.1M views within just four days of going global on Netflix.

After the romp-fest came under fire for its lack of steamy scenes in the second series, the first four episodes of series three treated viewers to at least six minutes of kissing, sex, threesomes and lesbian love-making.

But after being promised that this season is the steamiest yet, fans were still made to wait until the closing moments of part one for the central love story to really kick off.

Series three focuses on the long-awaited romance between Penelope and Colin, but the plotline of the best friends realising their true feelings proves to be a slow burner.

Part One ends on a steamy cliffhanger as after being unable to think of anyone else, Colin eventually declares his love for Penelope in a carriage after she was left heartbroken by Lord Debling.

During the encounter at the end of the fourth episode, Penelope admits that she’d ‘very much like to be more than friends’ with Colin, and the pair eventually kiss, going on to share quite a steamy scene together.

But just as they’re getting into it, they arrive at the Bridgerton house, and after Colin fixes Penelope’s dress and hair, he steps down from the carriage and puts out his hand to Penelope to ask whether she’s coming with him.

The show was then left on a cliffhanger, as Colin hit fans with the iconic line from the Romancing Mister Bridgerton novel: ‘For God’s sake, Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?’