All eyes are on Nicola Coughlan as Bridgerton season three finally lands on Netflix. In it, her character, Penelope Featherington rightfully takes center stage. Each season of the Shonda Rhimes-created, Regency-era production, which is based on the Julia Quinn novels of the same name, focuses on one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, whose key concerns revolve around friendships, family, social standing and, of course, love.
In the third installment, bachelor Colin Bridgerton (played by Luke Newton) finds himself falling in love with his long-time friend Penelope, who up until now has been relegated to the sidelines of romance, despite playing a pivotal role in the series as Lady Whistledown, the Gossip Girl-style observer of all the court’s drama.
Naturally, fans have already anointed Penelope and Colin with the ’ship name #Polin, and the chemistry between the two leads has contributed to a fun, buzzy press tour. At the world premiere of Bridgerton on May 13, held at New York City’s Alice Tully Hall, the Irish actress stunned in a white gown by bridal designer Danielle Frankel.
“Nicola plays a character coming into her own, and this gown represents a tulip in bloom,” Frankel told W of the look, which Coughlan’s team styled with matching opera-length gloves, Chopard jewels, and a bold red lip.
The look hinted at Penelope’s story, as she goes from wallflower to leading lady and, possibly, a bride.