Nicola Coughlan has revealed she cried ‘twice’ in Galway over a sudden realisation as she wrapped up the promotion for Bridgerton series three.

The Oranmore native shared the ‘very emotional’ moment that came over her when she flew back to the nest out west earlier this month, where she ‘started feeling all her feelings at once’.

Speaking to Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio, she said the moment came as she realised the mammoth tour, which has seen her and co-star Luke Newton trot the globe all the way to Australia and back.

She told the programme: “I actually cried the other day in Galway because I started feeling all my feelings all at once and was like ‘Oh my God, it’s coming to an end!'”

Luke then chimed in, adding: “And you mum was there”

Nicola said: “Very emotional. I cried twice that day, then!”

Meanwhile earlier this week, Nicola explained why she doesn’t want to do a Derry Girls reunion – and once her current show Bridgerton wraps up, she doesn’t want to revisit that either.

Nicola shot to fame playing ‘wee lesbian’ Clare Devlin on Lisa McGee’s much loved Channel 4 comedy. From there, she skyrocketed to global fame when she landed the role of Penelope Featherington in Netflix smash hit series Bridgerton.

As an actor, Nicola doesn’t want to be known for one thing and likes the idea of exploring new roles and characters. This is the reason why she is happy to move on from projects once they’re done and start auditioning for new movies or TV shows, she said.

She explained: “People don’t think of actors as freelancers but that is what we are. People will assume that I just got offered the part [in upcoming movie The Magic Faraway Tree], but I had to audition for it. I like that, having to prove myself.

“I don’t want to keep doing just one thing. As much as I loved Derry Girls, I don’t want to do that again. And once Bridgerton is done, I don’t want to do that again either.”

Nicola’s Bridgerton character Penelope’s relationship with Luke Newton’s Colin has been the main focus on season three of the hit show. She says it’s “bittersweet” that her character will still appear in, but take more of a backseat, in season four, but will always be grateful for playing Penelope.

She told the RTE Guide: “I think as I’ve got older that I’ve got better at living in the moment and I appreciate things as they are and appreciate those moments for what they are.

“This is such a rare thing that Luke and I have got do and if the show continues to adapt all eight books, that will only be 16 people in the world who have had this experience. And I was one of them. So how cool is that?”

Last week the star was spotted in her homecity once again as part of promotion for the second part of Bridgerton series three, which debuted on Netflix on June 13.

A photo of the star was shared on social media last Friday afternoon as she gamely posed with fans outside of the ATU Galway City campus.