Bridgerton may be Nicola Coughlan’s biggest success to date, but there is another TV show she’s synonymous with, and it’s a must-watch for fans of the Irish-born actress. Coughlan currently stars in Bridgerton as Penelope Featherington, a wallflower in society who chooses to wield a pen as a weapon to criticize the high and mighty as the elusive Lady Whistledown. Now, with Bridgerton season 3 bringing Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope’s love story center stage, all eyes look to what is next for the actress. However, some of Nicola Coughlan’s best work lies further back in her career.

Nicola Coughlan’s acting career began in 2004 in the controversial short film The Phantom Cnut before moving to voice acting for the majority of her early career. Coughlan would begin to find on-screen success in 2018 in the British period drama Harlots before landing a role as a leading character in a TV show with an impressive 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes that would ultimately begin her rise to stardom. Though her Bridgerton success would reduce her role in the later season of this TV show, her appearance is still just as memorable.

Nicola Coughlan Is A Must-Watch As Clare Devlin In Derry Girls

Derry Girls Marked The Start Of Her Career Success

Before becoming a popular name within Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan starred as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls. Though Derry Girls only had three seasons, its impact is undeniable, especially with its 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Derry Girls mixes ’90s nostalgia and hysterical ensemble comedy to create a show that views a major historical event through the eyes of teenagers, who do not know any different. This viewpoint lays a great foundation that sets Derry Girls apart from other sitcoms that lack emotional grounding. Yet, peak writing and incredible performances make Derry Girls one of the best British shows of all time.

Derry Girls Cast & Characters

Cast
Character

Saoirse-Monica Jackson

Louisa Harland
Orla McCool

Nicola Coughlan
Clare Devlin

Jamie-Lee O’Donnell
Michelle Mallon

Dylan Llewellyn
James Maguire

Coughlan’s contribution to the main ensemble as the nervous yet fiery Clare is an excellent addition to the Derry Girls cast. Though Clare could quite easily be confined to a stereotype as the smart friend who prefers to keep to the rules rather than break them, she is anything but. Clare defies her own expectations with her quick wit and unlikely rage, which makes Clare’s moments some of the best to watch. Although Coughlan’s reduced appearance in Derry Girls season 3 is a shame, Clare still manages to make a great impact in the series.

How Bridgerton’s Penelope Featherington Compares To Derry Girls’ Clare Devlin

They Are Both Similar Ages At The Start of Each Show

Though Nicola Coughlan was in her thirties when she first portrayed Bridgerton‘s Penelope Featherington and Derry Girls‘ Clare Devlin, the characters are both teenagers. Clare was 16 at the start of Derry Girls and 18 at the show’s conclusion, while Penelope was 17 in the first season of Bridgerton, and Bridgerton season 3 sees Penelope at 19. Clare and Penelope’s ages allow the characters to deal with things quite similarly, as they are both teenage social outcasts who want to be a part of society. However, their historical standpoints and social background make the way they do this entirely different.

In Bridgerton, Penelope is seen as a wallflower with few marriage prospects. Her family has wealth but struggles compared to families such as the Bridgertons. The scandals make things all the more damning for the life Penelope wishes to have. Therefore, Penelope resorts to using her secret identity Lady Whistledown to tear down the very society she wishes to be a part of, damning them for both shunning her and also using her writing talents to assume a power that no one could expect from a wallflower such as her.

The confidence she gains from coming out allows Clare to reject the societal rules that have always bound her.

On the other hand, Clare acts as the voice of reason in Derry Girls. She is always the most likely to keep to the rules and follow exactly what is expected of her. She only breaks away from the mold if her friends do so or in periods of extreme stress. However, discovering her identity as a lesbian is a key moment in Clare’s character development. The confidence she gains from coming out allows Clare to reject the societal rules that have always bound her, letting her begin to explore who she is as a person and as a member of society.

Bridgerton & Derry Girls Are Very Different Shows (& Why That’s Great)

Their Historical Settings Perfectly Mirror Their Different Purposes

Bridgerton and Derry Girls both have historical settings. Yet these different historical periods give a completely different vibe, making both of these shows as successful as they are. Period dramas like Bridgerton have become a staple in film and television. However, Bridgerton‘s take on the most romantic time period in British history, which mixes modern cultural relevance and removes the need for historical accuracy, allows the regency era’s romance to take center stage in swoon-worthy fashion.

On the other hand, Derry Girls plays into the heart of nostalgia. Every aspect of Derry Girls appeals to a now adult audience who grew up in the 90s, with its stellar soundtrack, memorable scenarios, and impeccable fashion making Derry Girls‘ surreal situations seem more personal and, therefore, funnier. The teenage leads are aware of the significance of the time period they’re living in, as Derry Girls is set during the troubles in Northern Ireland, yet they don’t really understand it like their parents do, as it’s all they’ve ever known.

Thanks to these vastly different TV shows and their opposite goals, Nicola Coughlan is able to deliver two incredible yet greatly contrasting performances. Where Bridgerton‘s Penelope is articulate and withdrawn, Derry Girls‘ Clare is chaotic and anxious. Bridgerton gives Coughlan a chance to try her hand at romance in a highly sought-after genre, all while playing one of the most pivotal characters in the Netflix series. Meanwhile, Coughlan’s performance in Derry Girls makes Clare not only highly likable but absolutely hysterical, as her unlikely outbursts make Derry Girls a must-watch after seeing Coughlan’s Bridgerton success.

Thanks to these vastly different TV shows and their opposite goals, Nicola Coughlan is able to deliver two incredible yet greatly contrasting performances. Where Bridgerton‘s Penelope is articulate and withdrawn, Derry Girls‘ Clare is chaotic and anxious. Bridgerton gives Coughlan a chance to try her hand at romance in a highly sought-after genre, all while playing one of the most pivotal characters in the Netflix series. Meanwhile, Coughlan’s performance in Derry Girls makes Clare not only highly likable but absolutely hysterical, as her unlikely outbursts make Derry Girls a must-watch after seeing Coughlan’s Bridgerton success.