Bridgerton Breakout Star Teases Her Changing Role in Season 4

Nicola Coughlan is not ready to hang up her quill just yet. Just months after “Bridgerton” season 3 shattered streaming records and secured a spot in Netflix’s Top 10 most-watched shows of all time, the Irish actress is already teasing what fans can expect from season 4—and it’s shaping up to be another swoon-worthy chapter in the Regency-era drama.

While the spotlight shifts to a new love story, Coughlan isn’t disappearing from the “Bridgerton” world. In fact, she’s delighted in her character’s evolution as a wife, a mother, and a successful secret writer. Here’s everything she revealed about the upcoming season, including new leads, filming updates, and what makes season 4 feel like a classic fairy tale.

Nicola Coughlan Teases “Delightful and Gorgeous” Season for Penelope

Coughlan, who captivated viewers as Penelope Featherington (now Bridgerton), offered new details about season 4 while attending the BAFTA Television Awards on May 11. Speaking with reporters, Coughlan revealed that filming is still underway—and it’s taking longer than usual.

“What’s coming? Lots more romance. We’re shooting it still, takes a long time to shoot ‘Bridgerton,’ takes about eight months, this one’s taken nine,” she joked in a video shared on X. “So it’s a full pregnancy this season of ‘Bridgerton.’”

Coughlan confirmed that her character is now navigating life as a married woman, new mother, and published writer. “I’ve got a ginger baby,” she quipped. “She’s a married woman, she’s a writer, but it’s delightful and gorgeous as always.” Her on-screen romance with Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton, was the heart of season 3 and remains a fan-favorite storyline.

Fans flooded social media with praise when Netflix confirmed in July 2024 that season 3 had officially entered its all-time Top 10 list. Coughlan celebrated the moment with a behind-the-scenes photo dump on Instagram.

“Season 3 just entered the Netflix Top Ten of all time because you’ve watched billions (!) of hours of it which is mental,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful, so please accept some miscellaneous behind-the-scenes joy as a thank you!”

A New Leading Couple Takes the Spotlight in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4

While Penelope and Colin continue to appear in the show, the upcoming season will focus on Benedict Bridgerton’s journey to love. Based on Julia Quinn’s novel “An Offer From a Gentleman,” the story will follow Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, as he falls for a mysterious woman he meets at a masquerade ball. That woman, Sophie Baek, will be played by Australian actress Yerin Ha.

Coughlan previously told E! News at the TIME Next 100 Gala in October 2024 that she was enjoying her supporting role this season. “It’s quite nice to take a step back and let them [the new romantic leads] do it all,” she said. “We’ve been filming for about a month now. But I get to pop in and out, so I get to come to New York which I couldn’t have done last year, so it’s quite nice.”

Thompson also spoke about his character’s romantic arc, calling it a blend of fantasy and realism. “What’s striking about Season 4 is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale—the romance of it—and the actual reality of the world,” he told Netflix’s Tudum.

Tell us! Are you excited to see Penelope and Colin continue their romance in season 4 of “Bridgerton”? Let us know in the comments below.