Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Bridgerton, Netflix, Nicola Coughlan
Jess Hardiman
With the third season of Bridgerton finally with us, all eyes are on Nicola Coughlan's Penelope Featherington, whose budding relationship with Colin Bridgerton takes centre stage.
But it turns out things could have been quite different for her character, after a key element of her storyline was changed at the last minute.
We know now, of course, that Penelope is none other than Lady Whistledown, the Gossip Girl of Regency London.
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But Coughlan previously revealed that this season one cliffhanger may not have happened were it not for an alteration to the script.
Indeed, the ending to the first instalment was originally very different, and who knows how this could have impacted Penelope's narrative in the future?
Speaking at Netflix's Tudum event back in 2021, Coughlan explained the storyline had changed rather last minute, and the scene actually had to be reshot.
It seems the original plan was to stretch out the reveal of Lady Whistledown until season two.
"It was a reshoot in July, so they had filmed a different ending," she said. "They were going to make it seem like it [Lady Whistledown] was Cressida Cowper."
Coughlan also explained that she didn't even know her character was Lady Featherington until she read it on a fan forum.
"It was only after getting cast that then I found out, and I found out on an internet fan forum because I realised that there was this huge, huge fandom behind these books.
"It was like this whole other world opened up, but they were like, 'when Penelope is revealed as Lady Whistledown' And I went, 'WHAT?'"
Speaking to Tyla ahead of season three, Coughlan said she felt 'really excited' for fans to see the third series of Bridgerton, which she said was the 'the most romantic' yet.
The 37-year-old actor told us: "I feel like I've been waiting forever. And I feel like the fans of the show have been waiting forever."
She teased the new season is 'really funny' while also being 'very action-packed', adding that there's even a 'cliffhanger midway' too.
"So, there's two parts, and I'm very excited," Coughlan said.
The star explained how this season sees Penelope 'get to do the romance', which she said 'was terrifying' at first.
However, she quickly noted she 'loved it', telling us she had an 'amazing time'.
The star noted her character is one she thinks 'a lot of people will relate to', resolving: "I think she's someone who feels invisible and I think anyone that's ever felt like that is going to really connect to the story."