Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan Opens Up On ‘Exponential Growth’ Of Real-Life Friendship With Luke Newton

The highly anticipated third season of the period drama Bridgerton has finally arrived on Netflix. The blossoming romance between Penelope and Colin, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton, has captured fans’ attention. In a recent interview, Nicola Coughlan discussed her real-life friendship with co-star Luke Newton and how it influences their onscreen chemistry in the show.

Bridgerton’s third season gained praise for its portrayal of Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s characters in a new light. While the previous seasons of the series explored their friendship, this latest installment showcases their characters’ journey as their bond transforms into romance.

In a recent interview with Netflix Queue, Nicola Coughlan discussed the evolution of their characters, highlighting Penelope and Colin’s transition from friends to lovers in the new season. “It was like Luke and I going from scene partners doing small scenes together to our working relationship growing exponentially during filming,” she mentioned before adding that it was an experience that very few actors get. “We had two seasons of friendship, which we’re grateful for.”

During the interview, Luke Newton discussed how he thought the timing of their characters’ transformation from friends to lovers was ideal in comparison to other love stories depicted on the show. “The other [couples’] stories focus on the initial meeting, which was really passionate, whereas this has been the long game of friends to lovers,” he said. He added It was ideal that we did it in season 3, because any later would have been too long, and any sooner would have resulted in insufficient history between the two characters.

The anticipated third installment of Bridgerton will be released in two parts. The first four episodes premiered in May, and the final four will be available on the OTT platform on June 13. Other cast members on the show are Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Shonda Rhimes, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh and Claudia Jessie. The series is based on Julia Quinn’s novels.