Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton.Photo: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Bridgerton’s scandal, steamy love-story plot lines and Regency costuming havecaptivated 82 million households (and counting!)as the Netflix show continues to break streaming records across the globe. But breakout starNicola Coughlan, who portrays Penelope Featherington on the megahit series, says mastering the art of wearing 19th century high society fashion was more challenging than she had anticipated.
Between the waist-cinching corset, dramatic dresses and high heels, Coughlan, 34, admitted her balance was a bit off-kilter the first few days of filming, which resulted in a little accident on set involving one of her costars.
“So it was my first day on set and it is quite terrifying getting a big Shondaland Netflix job. You think, I just don’t want to screw this up,” the actress said during an appearance onTheKelly ClarksonShow.
“So they said to me, ‘You’re very tiny. Let’s put you in heels.’ And I thought yeah, I will do anything you want me to do. Yes,” Coughlan continued. “It became evident pretty quickly that with the corset and the heels, my balance was not so amazing.”
As she walked during a scene, Coughlan struggled to keep her balance and ended up colliding into one of her costars. “So I was walking along and I fell three times and the third time I was holding a parasol which in the wrong hand is a deadly weapon. I fell forward and stabbed Claudia Jessie, who plays Eloise Bridgerton, in the hand and she just started bleeding,” she said. “But she’s still my friend! But unfortunately there was a stabbing on the first day and I was guilty. It was not good.”
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton.LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
The show was wasrecently renewed for season 2, and has become the streaming service’s “biggest show ever.”
Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page inBridgerton.LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Since its premiere, theBridgertonbooks have also been flying off of shelves. On online retail sites like Amazon and eBay, hardcover copies of individual books in the eight-part series are selling for as much as $768.57, while a collection of the complete paperback series is selling for $200.
Bridgertonseason 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
