Bridgerton season 3: Nicola Coughlan shuts down body shamers with a bold nude scene with Luke Newton; says, 'When I am 80, I want to remember how hot I f***ing looked’

ncWorking closely alongside intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot, Coughlan asserted her influence over her portrayal, championing the inclusion of particular lines and moments. (Image via X)

'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan recently opened up about her experience shooting intimate scenes in the upcoming Season 3. Despite initial nerves, Coughlan found the process liberating, sharing how she and co-star Luke Newton ended up relaxing under a blanket between takes, akin to nudists, she said to LA Times. However, it's her bold decision to bare it all in a scene that stands out—a deliberate choice aimed at silencing online critics who've targeted her weight.

As revealed to Stylist (via Buzzfeed), Nicola said she was adamant about going “very naked” for the as a direct response to the trolls who slammed her weight online. "There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest ‘fuck you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering. I felt beautiful in the moment, and I thought: ‘When I’m 80, I want to look back on this and remember how fucking hot I looked!’” she said.

Collaborating closely with intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot, Coughlan took control of her portrayal, advocating for specific lines and moments to be included. In one pivotal scene, she insisted on being "very naked" on camera, viewing it as a defiant response to the relentless commentary about her body. For Coughlan, this act was empowering, a resolute stance against societal pressures.

This isn't the first time Coughlan has confronted body shamers. In a candid Instagram post from 2022, she urged critics to refrain from sharing unsolicited opinions about her appearance. Her focus remains on her craft, emphasising that her body is nobody's business but her own. "“If you have an opinion about my body, please, please don’t share it with me…It’s really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day," Nicola wrote.

As Season 3 unfolds, Coughlan and Newton step into the spotlight as the central romance. Their characters' journey from friends to lovers takes centre stage, promising captivating developments. Yet, behind the scenes, Coughlan negotiated a unique clause in her contract—an alternate version of episodes devoid of explicit scenes, intended for her parents' viewing as she was born into an Irish Catholic family.

'Bridgerton' Season 3, Part 1 premieres on Netflix on May 16.