Nicola Coughlan: From Derry Girls to new series Bridgerton

The Galway-born star on her major new Netflix show, her friendship with Jonathan Van Ness, and how one of The Young Offenders' cast was such a help to her

Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan is to star in Bridgerton, a new series from Shonda Rhimes (right), creator of Gray’s Anatomy and Scandal.

It is not a huge surprise that actor Nicola Coughlan turns out to be a chatty and engaging interviewee. In her breakout role as the kind-hearted goody-two-shoes Clare Devlin in the television series Derry Girls, she is a luminous and compelling presence. However, so convincing is she in the part that it is quite the shock to hear her talking in a lilting Galway accent.

“We have two real Derry Girls and two fakers — I’m one of the fakers,” she laughs. “People are massively surprised when I open my mouth. I think it is disappointing for people when they realise that I’m not Clare.”