Nicola Coughlan hope that Bridgerton will forever help to change the way people think about period pieces.
The actress, who stars as Penelope Featherington in the hit Netflix drama series, appeared on the British daytime talk show This morning on Tuesday, January 12th. During the visit, Nicola explained that his conversation with the co-star Adjoa Andoh helped her understand the importance of how the program dealt with the cast of people of color.
“I’m talking to Adjoa Andoh … who is brilliant like Lady Danbury,” she said. “I said, ‘Colorblind cast, it’s great, it’s totally the right thing.’ And she said, ‘Well, it’s not, in a way, because it kind of erases the race and erases people’s struggles.’ And I thought: It never occurred to me, ever. And I think the world we create is a completely reimagined world, it’s a fantasy. “
Regardless of how it became what it is, Nicola is proud that the audience has clearly embraced the vision of the program that is based on the series of books by Julia Quinn and also stars Regé-Jean Webpage like Simon, the Duke of Hastings and Phoebe Dynevor like Daphne Bridgerton.
“I would say to people, ‘You can watch War of Thrones, and you can completely suspend your disbelief that there are dragons in this world, ‘”she continued. Bridgerton, you can suspend your disbelief that we have a black queen and a black duke, and they are the most fantastic actors. “
see the Bridgerton Cast backstage photos
She added: “And I am very proud of that, and the reaction we have had is really encouraging and I hope it is a reference to what period dramas can be in terms of diversity.”
It is not the first time that Nicola expresses admiration for the inclusiveness of the program. After the Netflix Queue account tweeted on January 4 that 63 million families watched the series in the first four weeks, the 34-year-old actor Derry girls alum added: “You know how some people used to say ‘Diversity in period dramas doesn’t work’ … 63 million families thought so, but [skull head emoji]. “