NICOLA Coughlan is worlds away from Netflix’s period romp Bridgerton in Channel 4’s gritty new comedy-drama Big Mood.
Nicola, who is best known for playing Penelope in Bridgerton. The upcoming third season of the period drama will see her take centre stage as it focuses on her character’s love story with Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton.
The Irish star, who also played Claire in Derry Girls, is now taking on the role of 30-something-year-old Maggie in the Channel 4 series. She will share the screen with It’s A Sin’s Lydia West who plays her best friend Eddie.
Big Mood is described by Channel 4 as a “vivacious and rebellious portrayal of female friendship when infiltrated by the complexities of a serious mental illness.”
Maggie and Eddie have been best-friends for over a decade, going through all the ups and downs of life together.
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“But with the rest of their lives looming, careers hanging in the balance, and Maggie’s bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return to form, Eddie begins to question whether this friendship is really in their best interests,” the official synopsis teases.
It chronicles “a pivotal point in both their lives” that leaves the women re-evaluating everything as they search for “the key to happiness.”
“With their twenties behind them, Maggie and Eddie’s relationship faces the future – can it survive?”
The newly released images of the series give viewers a first look at Nicola’s new role.
Showcasing different moments from the series, the pictures depict a few parts of Maggie and Eddie’s long friendship. In one, they’re closer than ever as they walk down the street hugging.
Another shows the pair having a decidedly not fun moment at a fancy dress party, and others show snippets of Maggie’s life in turmoil.
Written by Camilla Whitehill, Big Mood stars The Virtues’ Niamh Cusack, The Witcher star Eamon Farren, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin actor Luke Fetherston and The Wheel of Time’s Kate Fleetwood.
Miranda and Bridget Jones’ Diary alum Sally Phillips will also star in the series, while Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page will make a guest appearance as herself.
The series also welcomes Rob Gilbert, Rebecca Lowman, Ukweli Roach and Amalia Vitale in supporting roles.
Big Mood is partially inspired by Nicola’s long-time friendship with writer Camilla. The Bridgerton star told Variety that the pair met while at drama school in Oxford, and have been friends since.
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“When we left drama school, we were both in various states of not working and everything being a bit crap. And she was like, ‘I’m not gonna be an actor, I want to write.’”
“I went to see her first short play night, and she was just – she’s always been insanely funny. But then, when I saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, she’s gonna be a famous writer.’”
Big Mood will be coming to Channel 4 in 2024.
