Nicola Coughlan is an Irish actor, best known for her roles in the sitcom "Derry Girls" and Netflix's period drama "Bridgerton."

Born in Galway, Ireland, Coughlan made her first foray into acting at the age of 10, when she had an uncredited role in the 1997 James Brolin action thriller "My Brother's War." After graduating from the Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting, Coughlan did some voiceover work in animated series including "Summer of the Flying Saucer" and "Thor: Legend of the Magical Hammer." However, due to financial difficulties, she then returned home to Ireland and took a break from acting.

Coughlan's big break came in 2018, when she was cast as Clare Devlin, one of the main characters in the Channel 4 sitcom "Derry Girls," which follows five teenagers growing up in the Northern Ireland town in the 1990s. After the series was licensed to Netflix, it exploded in popularity and ran for three seasons. In the midst of "Derry Girls," Coughlan was cast in "Bridgerton," Netflix's adaptation of the book series of the same name set in Regency-era London. In "Bridgerton," Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington, a friend of the Bridgerton family who shakes things up in the ton when she begins writing a gossip column under a pseudonym. The series is currently in its third season, which focuses on the love story of Penelope and Colin Bridgerton (played by Luke Newton).

Coughlan also made an appearance in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" as Diplomat Barbie, and stars in the Channel 4 dark comedy "Big Mood." She will next be seen in an upcoming episode of "Doctor Who" alongside her "Barbie" co-star and 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa.