Latest news with #PenelopeFeatherington
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Nicola Coughlan Is the Soul of ‘Bridgerton' and Deserves an Emmy Nomination
Anyone who's seen Nicola Coughlan in 'Derry Girls' knows that she's a brilliant comedic performer. As nerdy teenager Clare Devlin, Coughlan made teenage anxiety immensely physical and palpable — firing her dialogue with all the air in her lungs, walking with so much propulsive energy she was nearly tripping over herself. In 'Bridgerton' Season 3, Coughlan similarly portrays adolescent turmoil, but through subtler and more internal means. As wallflower Penelope Featherington, who harbors a double identity as the controversial Lady Whistledown, Coughlan was tasked not just with making the ton's resident introvert a mesmerizing lead but also with bringing humanity to her character's morally ambiguous actions. More from Variety 'Last of Us' Creator Craig Mazin Reminds Angry Fans That Pedro Pascal Lives On, Even if His Character Doesn't: 'He's Alive and He's in Literally Everything Else' 'Severance' Creator Dan Erickson Discusses the 'Depressing' Lumon Industries - While Touring Lumen, the Actual Name for Variety's Office Building 'There Is No Feud': Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood Tell All on Their 'White Lotus' Connection, a Cut Love Scene and Yes, Why He Unfollowed Her on Instagram Coughlan nails it: the hit Netflix show's third season sees Penelope fully step into the spotlight as a romantic interest. In Penelope's evolution, Coughlan captures how a young woman's coming of age is defined as much by her own personal choices as it is by her struggle against society's expectations for women. And Coughlan makes a case for herself as an excellent dramatic lead, the kind that Emmy voters should pay attention to. That's because Coughlan has to reconcile two conflicting aspects of her character. One is the standard teenage heroine. Penelope previously existed mainly on the sidelines, a spinster-to-be. Her transformation into the center of attention is literally represented through a glow-up: there's a scene in which she enters a ballroom sporting a completely different fashion and hair and makeup. Coughlan's tentative delight as she notices the amount of eyes on her instantly makes viewers root for her. She establishes Penelope as our favorite underdog. This idea is complicated by the fact that Penelope wields actual power as the anonymous writer behind an all-knowing gossip rag that can completely make or break someone's reputation. The journey that Penelope undergoes in becoming the main character is something Lady Whistledown already pulled off; Penelope has been the main character all along; it's just that now, she must own up to that status — including the hurt she caused to attain it. It's to Coughlan's credit that these emotional threads stay together. She grounds Penelope's characterization in a fundamental sincerity. Penelope's flaws are humanizing, never outright villainous, and neither are they completely ignored. She's an intelligent young person, but she's not immune to her age. Coughlan realistically captures what it's like to be in the throes of adolescence, fumbling toward the person you want to be. Take, for instance, the scenes when Penelope tries to flirt with a gentlemen for the first time. Her awkward attempts at conversation are incredibly entertaining and charming as Coughlan leans into the cringe. For all of Penelope's brilliance as a proto-journalist, she can't help her social inexperience. Similarly, Coughlan taps into a universal feeling when Penelope asks her childhood friend and longtime crush, Colin Bridgerton, to kiss her. Having just run away from a ballroom where everyone had been talking judgmentally about her, Penelope tells Colin, 'It would not have to mean anything.' Simply, 'I do not wish to die without ever having been kissed.' Coughlan brings heart and sensitivity to Penelope's longing for romantic validation. And in Penelope's pragmatic pursuit of a husband, Coughlan translates her character's internal struggle. Penelope must secure a marriage, but she's cautious about her romantic decisions, as she prizes her independence and, of course, her work. A shot of Coughlan's serving face in the midst of scribbling is certainly memeable, but Coughlan does make the viewer understand the gravity of Penelope's intellectual endeavors and her hesitation at giving them up for love. The night before Penelope's wedding to Colin, she tells dressmaker Madame Delacroix that 'I felt like I was losing a part of myself' when she attempted to stop writing. It is her ultimate form of self-expression. That's where Lady Whistledown originated from: a young woman's desire for agency. If Penelope's approach was messy and slightly misguided, Coughlan's portrayal indicates that her actions as Lady Whistledown sometimes reflected the missteps of youth. 'You were a girl who did not know her own power,' Madame Delacroix also reminds her. And so Coughlan imbues Penelope's acceptance of accountability with the same earnestness that she treats her character's first romantic encounters. Penelope decides that going forward, she'll punch up rather than punch down. As she states at one point, 'I should've been using the column to give a voice to the other voiceless.' Despite the clichéd declaration, Coughlan makes Penelope's good intentions and activist dedication believable. The night before her wedding, Madame Delacroix tells Penelope that 'there's no such thing as true love without first embracing your true self.' By the end, we see Penelope accept who she is, wallflower and alter ego combined. It's because of Coughlan's nuanced performance that this merging of selves lands so seamlessly. Awards Circuit: Emmys Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: Documentary Programs — Nonfiction Races Spotlight Pee-wee Herman, Simone Biles and YouTube Creators 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar Emmy Predictions: With One Week Until Voting Opens, Declining Submissions Create Tight Acting and Series Races
Hype Malaysia
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Netflix's 'Bridgerton' Season 4 Set For 2026 Release; Season 5 & 6 Confirmed
With the finale of Netflix's 'Bridgerton' Season 3, which wrapped up the heartfelt romance between Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next. After such a satisfying conclusion, the question on everyone's mind is what direction the show will take in its next season. Thankfully, Netflix has confirmed that 'Bridgerton' will return for Season 4 in 2026, giving viewers something to look forward to. In a recent announcement, the streaming giant confirmed that the hit series' fourth season will air in 2026. Unfortunately, no exact date was shared. However, in even more exhilarating news, Netflix has also announced that the series will continue with Seasons 5 and 6, ensuring the Bridgerton family saga will carry on for several more years. 'Bridgerton' is a regency-era romance Netflix show based on the well-loved book series published by Julia Quinn, where the setting takes place in London, and it follows eight siblings from a prestigious and wealthy family. Each season has eight episodes that explore the romance of one specific sibling and their respective couple, with several side stories. Since 'Bridgerton' has taken decisive liberty in terms of which book from Julia Quinn's book series each season is based on, the fourth season will be based on the third book: 'An Offer From A Gentleman'. With the sneak peek, it's revealed that the main focus of the season will be on Benedict Bridgerton, the second son, and Sophie Beckett, a woman born of nobility but reduced to the title of a servant due to circumstance. Netizens can expect a story where the two main characters are forced to challenge and question the societal expectations of their respective classes and statuses. Furthermore, a few new additions to the cast have the potential to create conflicts within the series. With the majority of the previous seasons being favourites to many 'Bridgerton' fans, it has so far been well received among netizens, some even frustrated that it isn't coming out sooner. We don't doubt that Season 4 will be one to enjoy. Are you also looking forward to the new season? Here is the sneak peek of 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Sources: YouTube, Twitter Zaima Humaira contributed to this article
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bridgerton Season 4 trailer sparks outrage among fans: 'This is ridiculous'
If you've been following the Bridgerton series on Netflix, you're in it for the long haul - literally. The first season of the Regency-era romance was released back in December 2020 - and five years later fans are waiting for Season 4 (following Benedict Bridgerton's love story) to drop. After an initial sneak peak released on Valentine's Day 2025, Netflix just dropped the official teaser for the next installment, featuring Benedict wearing a mask, walking urgently through a masquerade ball. Women around him are vying for his attention, but he stops short as he stumbles upon Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha's character) admiring a chandelier. He continues to watch her in adoration, until a gentleman asks her for a dance. The scene cuts and the words 'COMING 2026' flash across the screen. But rather than react to the scenery or exchange itself, fans focused on one thing: the release date. And they are not happy about it. Fans expressed their anger over having to wait almost two years for a new season of the show Though the teaser didn't specify when in 2026 the season would be released, fans were upset about the wait time in general. The most recent season of Bridgerton (focusing on Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton's romance) was released back in May 2024 - with the second half following a month later. Waiting two years for an eight-episode season doesn't seem to be worth it for a lot of viewers. 'This is ridiculous, I'm sorry eight episodes of TV should not take that long,' one user on X, formerly Twitter, shared. 'Two years for eight episodes,' another posted alongside a meme of a man rubbing his forehead in stress. 'Still absolutely no reason for a show like this to come out every other year,' another angry fan wrote. 'Like wtf is the TV industry.' One fan pointed out that this would mean an even longer wait time for the season after that. Some fans expressed that they wouldn't be interested in the upcoming season, considering how long it's taking Netflix to release it 'If they know what is good for them, they should start acting season 5 now,' they shared. Some fans were so fed up that they expressed they were no longer interested in watching the upcoming season. '2026!? You guys can keep it honestly,' one user said. 'By the time we make it to the last sibling, every single actor on this show will be geriatric and I will be going through my third divorce,' another user joked. Still, despite their frustrations fans seem dedicated to the series, which has reached record-breaking viewership each season. Just a month after its full release, Season 3 Netflix's 10th biggest English-language series ever - clocking in 91.9 million views just at its release. Time will only tell whether fans are truly too upset with the series to engage during its 2026 release - or if they'll begrudgingly open their Netflix and break streaming records once again.
