Nicola Coughlan Calls Out “Trolls” Who Claimed She Was “Photoshopped” In ‘Bridgerton’ 

Nicola Coughlan is facing scrutiny amid the recent release of Bridgerton Season 3, which shows her wallflower character finally taking a stand – both romantically and professionally. But that means more eyes are on Coughlan, for better or for worse.

The actress recently shut down speculation that her waist had been “photoshopped” on the show, crediting it to the period costumes she wears for her distinct shape.

“I think if you wear corsetry for long enough, your body really molds to it,” she told People. “Sometimes they come in a fitting for a fashion designer and they put a corset on me and I’m like, ‘Oh, you can go tight,’ and they go, ‘What do you mean?’ I’m like, ‘My body now will go whew.’”

She added, “I saw some trolls. They were like, ‘They photoshopped your waist,’ and I was like, ‘No, they did not.'”

The show was also called out by fans on social media who believe Coughlan’s face and appearance were heavily edited in promotional stills, while her co-star Luke Newton‘s appeared to have been left alone.

But the actress, who has proven to be a real breakout star on Bridgerton, has been handling the fame with ease. She recently had a bold reaction after a fan told her she was “very brave” for stripping down in the show.

She responded, “You know, I think it is hard because I think women with my body type — women with perfect breasts — we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough.”

“I am a very proud member of the perfect breasts community. I hope you enjoy seeing them!” she added.

The Shonda Rhimes-produced regency romance series stars Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, who finally gets her shot at true love this season with her longtime friend and crush, Colin Bridgerton. Their friends-to-lovers storyline — which has been stewing since they were youngsters in Season 1 — finally climaxes in Season 3 with a steamy carriage hookup.

Coughlan was not shy about baring it all for this season of Bridgerton. In fact, she said she encouraged it.

“I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included. There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice,” she told Stylist magazine last month. “It just felt like the biggest ‘fuck you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering.”

Bridgerton Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix in its entirety.