Nicola Coughlan Discusses Season 4 Developments in ‘Bridgerton’ Series

Nicola Coughlan, widely recognized for her role as Penelope Featherington on the popular television series ‘Bridgerton,’ recently provided insights into the show’s fourth season. In an interview with ‘Good Morning America,’ which took place at the 2024 Time 100 Next Gala in New York City, Coughlan shared details about her character’s evolving storyline.

According to Coughlan, Penelope is “happily married” to Colin Bridgerton in the upcoming season. “It’s very fun to be playing like a happily married person with a very cute baby,” she remarked, highlighting the positive shift in Penelope and Colin’s relationship dynamics post their previous struggles.

The series, an adaptation of the works by author Julia Quinn, dedicates each season to developing the narrative arc of specific Bridgerton family members. Season 3 revolved around the romance between Colin and Penelope, unveiling her alter ego, Lady Whistledown, a clandestine chronicler of societal gossip. As the secret unraveled, it played a pivotal role in their relationship.

Looking ahead, Season 4 is set to delve into the love life of another Bridgerton sibling, Benedict, played by Luke Thompson. It was previously announced that Yerin Ha will join the cast as Sophie Baek, Benedict’s love interest. Coughlan assured that Thompson and Ha are “hard at work being our leads this time,” commending their remarkable performances.

In addition to Benedict’s storyline, ‘Bridgerton’ plans to introduce a new narrative involving Francesca Bridgerton, portrayed by Hannah Dodd. The preceding season hinted at a potential romance between Francesca and a female character, Michaela Stirling, brought to life by Masali Baduza. This development marks the introduction of a queer storyline to the series.

“I know as a cast, we’ve been really craving a queer storyline and that representation is so, so important,” Coughlan stated, expressing excitement for Francesca’s upcoming storyline. Despite receiving criticism from some fans, author Julia Quinn expressed confidence in this narrative change, reinforcing that it will maintain the emotional depth characteristic of the original novels.

Coughlan praised ‘Bridgerton’ for its inclusive portrayal of diverse love stories, saying, “I love ‘Bridgerton’ because it’s a show that tells all different types of love stories. So everyone should feel represented in it.”