Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton on what fans can expect from the third season
LUKE NEWTON
How has your character, Colin Bridgerton, changed from Season 2 to 3?
At the end of last season, we saw Colin say some not-so-nice things about Penelope – I’ve heard a lot from the fans about that comment to this day! This season there has been a kind of a transformation; he’s matured, he’s grown up, he’s on the hunt for a purpose. His style has changed, his confidence has changed, he’s got this element of swagger to him now.
What has it been like to have the focus be on your character and your love story?
Having the focus on Colin and Penelope’s story really has been one of my favourite parts of this season. I’ve loved the attention to detail on every scene that we do, every line that we say, every decision that is made. It’s all been so carefully crafted. I’ve also felt very supported – there are no silly questions. My journey’s just been so different character-wise. It’s very nice to feel so involved.
How has it been for you and Nicola to go from playing friends to lovers?
From day one, Nicola and I knew this would be a possibility, that our characters might eventually get to showcase their love story, and we were always excited about that transition. It’s been really fun to change the dynamics of Colin and Penelope’s relationship. Working with Nic has been so cool because we’ve known each other for years. We can just kind of laugh and play around a little bit. And when we need to, we will support each other in the moments that feel really vulnerable.
What is it like when Colin discovers Penelope is Lady Whistledown?
I had anticipated that moment for so long. It was actually a really difficult scene to shoot. It was like a really tense moment on set and we didn’t really know how we were going to play it, and we shot multiple versions. Ultimately, it was a really fun day but also really emotional, because we’ve been building up to this revelation for three years now. What was really important was that, in the end, he relies on knowing her better than anyone and knowing and understanding the reasons behind it, even though he’s hurt.
PREVIOUS COUPLES SEASON 1 (right)
Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page)
SEASON 2 (left)
