How 'New Girl' Inspired Nicola Coughlan & Luke Newton's Steamy Kiss in 'Bridgerton' & More

The Hollywood Reporter
20 May 202412:02

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging interview, the cast of 'Bridgerton' Season 3, Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, and Claudia Jessie, share their excitement about the new season and discuss the evolution of their characters' relationships. They reflect on the chemistry between Colin and Penelope, which has deepened over time, mirroring their own growth as actors and friends. The cast also touches on Eloise's storyline, hinting at her journey toward self-discovery and potential love. The conversation is filled with humor and camaraderie, offering fans a glimpse into the dynamics behind the scenes of the popular period drama.

Takeaways

  • 🎬 The cast of Bridgerton, including Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, and Claudia Jessie, are excited about the release of season 3.
  • 🎉 There is a sense of accomplishment and surprise as the cast reflects on the release of the new season and the congratulatory messages they received.
  • 🔥 Season 3 is perceived to elevate the romance and steaminess, aligning with the love story of Colin and Penelope, who have been connected since season one.
  • 💕 The chemistry between the lead actors is attributed to their real-life friendship that has been developing over the years, enhancing their on-screen relationship.
  • 🌟 Nicola Coughlan discusses how her character Penelope's confidence parallels her own personal growth, making the role more relatable and authentic.
  • 🤔 Claudia Jessie, as Eloise, faces challenges in her storyline, including conflicts with friends and a secret that could impact her journey towards love and happiness.
  • 🕺 The cast playfully debates who the best and worst dancers are, with a newcomer being highlighted for their professional dancing skills.
  • 😅 There's a humorous moment where the cast recalls an incident of broken furniture during filming, which they have kept secret from the audience and even their co-stars.
  • 🎵 The cast shares their thoughts on Penelope's taste in music, suggesting she might enjoy Taylor Swift's album, with a playful nod to the song 'Fortnite' by Ed Sheeran.
  • 📱 Luke Newton reveals that he has not actively searched for 'thirst trap' TikToks but has seen and shared them with his co-star, sparking a humorous revelation about social media algorithms.
  • 💌 The cast appreciates fan edits and the emotional connection they feel when watching these tributes to their characters and the show's journey.

Q & A

  • What was the cast's initial reaction to the release of season 3 of Bridgerton?

    -The cast expressed surprise and excitement. Nicola Coughlan mentioned waking up and forgetting about the release until receiving congratulatory texts.

  • How does season 3 of Bridgerton differ in terms of romance and steaminess from the previous seasons?

    -The cast believes that season 3 feels true and appropriate to Colin and Penelope's love story, building upon the connection they established since season one.

  • Did the actors' real-life friendship off-camera influence their on-screen chemistry?

    -Yes, the actors' real-life friendship and history contributed to their on-screen chemistry, making it more authentic and easier to portray their characters' relationship.

  • How did the actors' personal growth reflect in their characters' development in season 3?

    -Claudia Jessie and Luke Newton discussed how their personal growth, such as finding confidence in their work, mirrored their characters' journeys in the series.

  • What was Claudia Jessie's experience like taking on a more elevated role in season 3?

    -Claudia expressed a mix of pride and amusement, as she watched her friends take the leading roles while also dealing with the more intimate scenes.

  • How does Eloise's storyline evolve in season 3, and what challenges is she facing?

    -Eloise is depicted as struggling with her priorities, including a secret she's keeping, which complicates her path to love and happiness.

  • Is there a 'Bridgerton boy boot camp' for the male actors to prepare for their roles?

    -No, there isn't an official boot camp. The actors rely on their understanding of the scripts and their characters' development throughout the series.

  • What was the most challenging aspect of portraying Colin Bridgerton's transformation in season 3?

    -Luke Newton focused on embodying Colin's inner strength and character, highlighting that Colin didn't need a significant transformation because Penelope loved him for who he was.

  • Who is considered the best Regency Era dancer among the cast?

    -Nicola Coughlan is considered the best dancer, with her professional dancing background giving her an advantage.

  • What piece of furniture was broken during the filming of certain intimate scenes?

    -The specific piece of furniture remains a secret, with even the cast not knowing what it was.

  • What is Penelope's favorite song from Taylor Swift's album 'The Tortured Poets Department'?

    -The cast jokingly suggests 'Fortnite' as Penelope's favorite song, indicating a humorous take on the question.

  • How many 'thirst trap' TikToks of Colin Bridgerton has Luke Newton watched?

    -Luke didn't specify a number but mentioned that he saves and sends them to his co-star, indicating a playful dynamic off-camera.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Season 3 Premiere and Cast Dynamics

The cast of Bridgerton, including Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, and Claudia Jessie, discuss the release of Season 3. They share their surprise at forgetting the release date and the excitement surrounding the new season. The actors reflect on how the show has evolved, particularly the deepening relationship between their characters, Colin and Penelope. They also discuss the advantage of having built a real-life friendship that has translated into strong on-screen chemistry. The cast members express pride in each other's performances and the show's growth, and they address the character development of Eloise, who is facing personal challenges this season.

05:00

💃 Dancing, Transformation, and Tea Time

The conversation shifts to the actors' experiences with dancing in the show, with a particular focus on the skills of Nicola, who is a professional dancer. The cast also talks about the physical transformation of the character Colin, emphasizing that it was more about embracing his existing qualities rather than a drastic change. During a segment called 'Tea Time with Bridgerton,' the actors answer a series of fun questions while holding teacups. They discuss who the best and worst dancers are among them, a memorable broken furniture incident during filming, and their thoughts on Penelope's taste in music. The actors also share their experiences with social media, specifically TikTok, and how they engage with fan edits and content.

10:02

📺 Favorite TV Couples and Inspirations

The cast members of Bridgerton talk about their favorite 'friends to lovers' storylines from TV shows and movies, drawing parallels between these stories and the relationship between Colin and Penelope. They mention iconic couples like Ross and Rachel from 'Friends' and Jess and Nick from 'New Girl,' which have inspired their performances. The actors also discuss which love story they are most excited to see developed in future seasons of the show. The conversation is filled with humor, camaraderie, and mutual admiration, showcasing the strong bond between the cast members.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bridgerton

Bridgerton is a popular television series set in the Regency era, known for its romance, glamour, and portrayal of high society. In this script, the cast members discuss their roles and experiences in the show's third season. The series is a central theme of the video, with the cast reflecting on their characters' development and the show's impact on viewers.

💡Season 3

Season 3 refers to the latest installment of the Bridgerton series that the cast is promoting. It is a significant concept in the script as the cast members express their excitement and emotions about the new season being released for the audience. They discuss how this season ups the ante in terms of romance and steaminess compared to the previous two seasons.

💡Chemistry

Chemistry in this context refers to the authentic and believable interaction between the characters, particularly the romantic leads, played by Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton. Their on-screen chemistry is a key element of the show's appeal, and the script highlights how their real-life friendship has contributed to the authenticity of their on-screen relationship.

💡Confidence

Confidence is a recurring theme in the script, especially when discussing the character development of Penelope, played by Nicola Coughlan. It is mentioned in relation to her character's growth in finding herself and her relationship. The concept is also tied to the actors' personal growth, as they find their footing in their roles and the industry.

💡Eloise

Eloise is a character from the Bridgerton series who is discussed in the script. She is depicted as going through a challenging time, with the cast speculating on her journey towards love and happiness. Eloise's storyline is integral to the narrative, and the script suggests that her defiance and priorities will shape her path.

💡Trio

The term 'trio' is used to describe the three main cast members present in the interview: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, and Claudia Jessie. They form a significant part of the season's narrative and dynamics. The script highlights their camaraderie and the importance of their characters in the unfolding story.

💡Regency Era

The Regency Era is the historical period in which the Bridgerton series is set. It is characterized by its distinct fashion, social norms, and etiquette. The script references this era in discussions about dancing and the show's setting, which is crucial for understanding the cultural context of the series.

💡Thirst Trap

A 'thirst trap' is a term used to describe a provocative or alluring image posted on social media to attract attention or admiration. In the script, it is humorously mentioned in the context of an actor posting such content, reflecting the modern-day social media culture that contrasts with the show's historical setting.

💡Friends to Lovers

The concept of 'friends to lovers' is a common romantic trope in the Bridgerton series and is discussed in the script. It refers to the narrative where two characters who are friends develop romantic feelings for each other. The cast members relate this to their characters' journeys and also to iconic on-screen couples from other TV shows and movies.

💡Tea Time with Bridgerton

Tea Time with Bridgerton is a segment of the interview where the cast members are asked a series of questions while holding teacups and saucers, a nod to the traditional British custom of afternoon tea. This segment adds a light-hearted and interactive element to the interview, allowing the cast to share fun anecdotes and insights.

💡Fan Edits

Fan edits refer to the creative works made by fans of the show, often involving video montages or image edits that celebrate the characters and storylines of Bridgerton. The script mentions the cast's appreciation for these edits, highlighting the strong fan engagement and the impact the show has had on its audience.

Highlights

The cast of Bridgerton discusses the release of season 3 and their emotions around it.

The actors feel season 3 ups the steaminess and romance compared to previous seasons.

Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton built a strong real-life friendship off camera which helped their on-screen chemistry.

Claudia Jessie discusses her elevated role in season 3 and watching her co-stars take on the leading roles.

Eloise's character is going through a rough time in season 3, but there are hints she may open up to love and happiness.

Luke Newton jokes about the physicality required for his role as Colin Bridgerton.

The cast shares funny stories about dancing and breaking furniture on set.

They discuss Penelope's love for literature and who her favorite Taylor Swift song might be.

Luke and Nicola talk about the fan edits they've seen and how they're a beautiful tribute to the characters' journeys.

The actors pick who they would want to be the diamond of the season in Hollywood.

They discuss their favorite friends-to-lovers stories in movies and TV shows, including When Harry Met Sally and Ross and Rachel.

The cast shares which Bridgerton love story they're hoping to see next.

The interview concludes with a toast to the new season.

The cast reflects on the primary force that guides people along their paths in life.

Transcripts

00:00

people were like what does she saw that

00:01

Nick was saving them yeah no way yeah

00:04

they saw yeah stop it that's the best

00:07

thing i' yeah and they were like why is

00:09

she saving this what does it mean them

00:11

to send Luke at a convenient time cuz we

00:13

have a giggle hello we are the cast of

00:16

Bridgeton I'm Nicola cin I'm Luke Newton

00:18

and I'm Claudia Jesse and we are in

00:20

studio with Hollywood

00:21

[Music]

00:27

Reporter well hello guys thank so much

00:30

for being here congratulations season 3

00:33

is finally out there for the entire

00:35

world to see how does that feel because

00:37

I know a lot of people have been

00:38

patiently awaiting this matchup so what

00:41

emotions are going through your head

00:42

right now weirdly when I woke up this

00:44

morning I sort of forgot I went to check

00:46

my text and obviously you know we mostly

00:49

live in London so it's not a very

00:51

different so everyone was wake up when I

00:52

was looking and then someone text me

00:53

like congratulations out and I was like

00:54

oh my God how did I forget yeah crazy so

00:57

I did want to ask how do you think

00:59

season 3

01:00

UPS the steaminess and the romance

01:03

compared to the past two seasons or how

01:05

do you think that it's different

01:07

entirely I think it just again like

01:10

previous Seasons just feels really true

01:12

and appropriate to their love story it

01:14

feels yeah you know we had sort of that

01:17

longingness of last season where they

01:20

didn't quite get there whereas Colin and

01:22

Penn have had a connection since we

01:24

first saw them in season one so it's

01:27

like about time do you feel like you

01:29

guys had a leg up chemistry-wise because

01:31

you did have that opportunity to build

01:33

up the real life friendship off camera

01:35

for a number of years now yeah

01:37

absolutely what's the question

01:39

sorry did we have did we have a leg up

01:42

from building the chry I think so yeah I

01:44

think so and it I don't think it could

01:45

have been any other way like we needed

01:48

that history not only that we've

01:50

experienced as a couple but also as the

01:53

audience has come along with us for that

01:55

whole ride I feel like sometimes you

01:56

watch a show and like someone goes those

01:58

actors didn't get on you go yeah you can

02:00

of tell but with us like we genuinely

02:02

have such a love for each other that you

02:03

know it made it really easy and also I I

02:06

was talking with claud's about this but

02:08

I was saying like how like for me I had

02:11

you know there's always like life and

02:12

art imitating one another and stuff but

02:15

for me like for this season like

02:17

Penelope's confidence was growing in her

02:18

finding herself in a relationship and

02:19

stuff my confidence grew in finding

02:21

myself in my work and being a leading

02:23

lady I think our relationship grew not

02:26

as like friends to lovers but it grew

02:27

and that we had we developed such a

02:29

closeness this time that we always got

02:30

on really really well but we have a very

02:32

different relationship to what we had

02:34

you know before we started this season

02:35

and it's been beautiful and we've such a

02:37

strong we're such a strong unit within

02:39

this that it's been amazing yeah well I

02:41

wanted to ask Claudia you're you're the

02:43

trio to this to this group right here no

02:46

it's you think it's weird I love it

02:50

because the the three of you are so

02:52

important to this season and of itself

02:55

so I wanted to ask what was it like to

02:57

kind of take on a more elevated role

02:59

this season and ALS Al watch these two

03:00

take up the leading mantle gross what

03:03

disgusting did you how did you feel

03:05

watching a snugg

03:07

in she said I don't want to answer that

03:09

on camera um like okay I can the thing

03:14

is as a as a bunch like the Lo we're

03:16

well proud like obviously season one

03:18

we're introduced to the to Bridgeton

03:21

season two obviously we knew Johnny and

03:23

he did a beautiful job and then we were

03:25

introduced to the amazing Sharma family

03:27

but this is obviously we've known these

03:28

guys for ages and then for us as actors

03:31

we're like watching our best mates like

03:33

lead the show so we're

03:35

like and then they have sex and stuff so

03:39

then you're

03:43

like like it is weird it's weird but

03:46

we're most like it's mostly Pride well I

03:48

wanted to follow up on Eloise's

03:51

storyline this season I feel like she's

03:52

having a rough time right now she's on

03:55

the outs with her friend she's watching

03:56

all of her siblings fall in love what do

03:59

you think it's going to take for her to

04:01

maybe open herself up to not only love

04:03

but happiness I feel like she's just

04:05

like in the trenches right now yeah I

04:08

think there's a really interesting uh

04:10

school of thought that happens with

04:12

Eloise sometimes that because she's so

04:14

um defiant in in in her idea of what she

04:18

thinks she should have and what she

04:20

wants that that somehow means she's

04:22

anti- love Yeah and I don't I don't know

04:25

if that I think that's true and what I

04:27

loved about season 2 was that we were

04:28

able to see that she could have a

04:29

connection with someone like with the

04:31

with with Theo the printer I just think

04:34

right now she wants the choice and right

04:35

now she's got other priorities cuz she's

04:37

got this big secret and she's got her

04:38

brother and her ex best mate and all of

04:41

that I think there's a lot going on for

04:42

her yeah are we all

04:46

friends friends well Luke I wanted to

04:49

ask you I saw there's been a lot of

04:51

memes asking about what kind of boot

04:53

camp they're putting these Bridgerton

04:55

men through is there a Bridgerton boy

04:58

boot camp there's not

05:00

no there's not like a nothing really

05:02

happens I don't know what it is I guess

05:04

like part of growing up in the show and

05:06

and just leaning into the scripts I

05:08

guess I like I read the very first line

05:11

when Benedict says under what foreign

05:13

son did you apparently get so sturdy so

05:15

I was like okay time to get a little

05:17

sturdy whatever that means in whatever

05:19

capacity I can so yeah just dived into

05:22

that and wanted to portray this new

05:24

version of Colin I think like the almost

05:26

the best part of his transformation is

05:28

that he didn't need to transform it all

05:30

because pen has always loved him for who

05:33

he is in his soul because he's kind and

05:35

he's sweet and he's caring and he's he's

05:38

funny and he's not the coolest and it's

05:41

yeah come

05:42

on and he actually is and I think he's

05:45

really cool now we're going to head into

05:47

the second portion called tea time with

05:49

Bridgerton you're each going to get a

05:51

teacup and saucer we're going to ask you

05:54

a series of questions and if you

05:57

absolutely do not want to answer it you

05:59

can just sip take a sip of tea who is

06:03

the best Regency Era dancer in the

06:06

cast oh newon it's n it you're very

06:10

about the dog thank you she stepped in

06:12

this year and was like she's a

06:13

professional dancer but I think she

06:15

she's a professional Dan she had she had

06:18

too much of an advantage yeah that's

06:20

true we have one scene in F six I want

06:23

to say where we danced together and we

06:25

watched back we were like that was

06:26

incredible that we did that cuz we were

06:28

like it was quite complic

06:30

and we were doing like like a lot of

06:31

dialog and I'm like we rehearsed a

06:33

lot for who is the worst dancer in the

06:36

cast wow oh my good God that's when we

06:39

use isn't it Luke and Nicola you've said

06:42

you broke some furniture while filming

06:44

certain scenes can you disclose what

06:47

piece of furniture it

06:50

was

06:51

no we've kept it secret for so long now

06:54

that I'm like no one has guessed it yet

06:57

no one has guessed it no way the

06:58

craziest guess we've had Candlestick and

07:00

I'm like what do you mean what do they

07:03

mean what are you doing in your house

07:05

crazy so no one like no one in the cast

07:08

knows either I don't know if they do I

07:10

feel

07:11

like I do yeah oh you've seen it yeah of

07:15

course you do like how you oh yeah

07:19

yeah blink twice if it had to do with a

07:23

mirror well well that's a difficult one

07:27

one BL maybe there was one in the room

07:29

yeah there is one

07:31

that's as a writer or a poet dare I say

07:34

I think Penelope would be a big fan of

07:36

Taylor Swift's new album The tortured

07:38

poets Department what would Penelope's

07:40

favorite song off the album be what with

07:42

host Malone fortnite fortnite yes that

07:45

would okay I was I was going to say

07:47

who's afraid of little old me oh yes

07:49

I've seen that one I feel like I've seen

07:52

some I've

07:53

seen okay okay Luke how many thirst trap

07:57

Tik toks of Colin Bridgerton have you

07:58

watched

08:00

what the hell does this mean so it's

08:02

like a thirst trap is like a sexy video

08:04

or if you if you fancied someone you

08:06

might put a hot picture of yourself

08:07

online to be like hope they see it but a

08:10

thst trap Tik Tok but I send him loads

08:14

so see them multiple I don't know the

08:17

number I but I'll find like

08:20

funny I was not on my algorithm

08:22

whatsoever so it's basically like you

08:24

don't search it just whatever comes up

08:25

comes up got it so I like I'll save them

08:27

and send them to him but then I didn't

08:29

know that you could see yeah save them

08:32

so then people were like what dides she

08:33

sa saw that Nick was saving them yeah no

08:36

way yeah they saw yeah stop it that's

08:39

the best thing I've yeah and they were

08:41

like why is she saving this what does it

08:43

mean them to send Luke at a convenience

08:45

yeah cuz we have a giggle you get a

08:48

notification or fans get a notif know

08:51

that I know now oh that's W okay sweet

08:55

how many pollen fan edits have you seen

08:58

oh million

09:00

we s to each other all the time we got

09:02

we got really emotion about that one the

09:03

other day we were in Verona we were

09:06

actually watching them I was like you

09:08

watch this is pretty beautiful it's like

09:10

seeing their whole journey it's like

09:12

never seen I haven't watched back season

09:14

one and two in ages so it just is like

09:17

memory if you could name someone in

09:19

Hollywood to be the diamond of the

09:21

Season who would you pick oh Cy C

09:25

Keys C I want to do a good answer oh no

09:28

I I'm C at things like this we'll give

09:31

you a minute okay I know who I'm going

09:33

to say because I really want her to play

09:35

Queen Charlotte on SNL Maya Rudolph yeah

09:38

it makes sense it makes sense so her

09:40

yeah I love her yeah correct agreed I'm

09:43

not going to single anyone out go I'm

09:45

using my thing I'm using my thing back

09:48

yeah you you haven't used it as much so

09:50

I've got one I've ear one pass what is

09:53

your favorite friends to lovers movie

09:56

When Harry Met s that's my favorite as

09:58

well that's a good

10:00

yeah classic we need more Billy Crystal

10:01

type men and movie R yes can I go TV

10:04

show yeah go TV show yeah cuz I'm said

10:07

it before but Ross and Rachel because I

10:10

think they replicate how like well they

10:13

don't replicate we replicate how they we

10:16

were

10:17

first how they uh how Colin and Pen just

10:20

never it never works out at the right

10:23

time they're constantly missing each

10:24

other and there's obstacles in the way

10:26

were they on a break yeah they were on

10:28

they they were on on a break you

10:30

better believe they were on a

10:31

break do you think no say not on a break

10:35

think they were on a break you

10:37

definitely wouldn't have thought they

10:38

were on a break uh Jess and Nick from

10:40

new girl I think because also that's

10:42

mine and Nicholas's favorite on screen

10:45

kiss

10:47

yes I love that kiss so much I've

10:49

watched him do interviews about that

10:51

kiss when like Liz Maryweather the

10:53

creator of the show was he was giving

10:55

him notes and he was like you don't need

10:55

to tell me how to kiss a woman lives on

10:58

the floor was on the

11:01

floor that kiss was in our group chat

11:03

when we were discussing the first I was

11:05

sending him yeah we were send each other

11:08

like sexy scenes sounds weird it's not

11:10

it's not it's just what it is so Jess

11:13

and Nick was inspiration for pollen well

11:16

yes but not for the F the first kiss it

11:18

would that wasn't right for that yeah we

11:19

have another one in episode I'm going to

11:24

whis yeah oh yeah yeah yeah yeah that's

11:27

more that who's bridg Love Story are you

11:30

hoping to see

11:32

next the Netflix snipers are there with

11:34

the guns we answer that I think can we

11:37

do a trio sip Cheers Cheers everybody

11:40

Cheers Cheers what is the primary force

11:44

that guides us along our

11:51

paths is it our minds or our Hawks

11:56

[Music]