‘Bridgerton’ Actress Simone Ashley Speaks Out Against Body Shaming Of Nicola Coughlan

Simone Ashley, known for her role as Kate Sharma in Netflix’s hit series ‘Bridgerton,’ has come forward to defend her co-star Nicola Coughlan against recent instances of body-shaming. Coughlan portrays Penelope Featherington in the series’ third season.

At an event, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Ashley addressed the criticisms directed at Coughlan, stating, “Yeah, the haters are going to hate, and I think we can all relate to that, but I really don’t think that she’s allowing that to bother her,” highlighting Coughlan’s resilience and strength.

Ashley expressed her admiration for Coughlan, saying, “She has a strong and fruitful career and entire life ahead of her. And I really believe in her, as the world does as well.” She also praised Coughlan’s impact, noting, “I think Nicola is just absolutely flying. She is a gorgeous, strong, confident, intelligent woman, seeing her do this press tour and spread so much joy and inspiration to everyone especially women, all over the world. And I’m inspired by her as well.”

Ashley further highlighted Coughlan’s kindness, describing it as a universal trait that resonates with people. “She’s also a really kind human being, and I think that’s such a universal language that people can relate to,” Ashley added.

Earlier this month, Nicola Coughlan addressed speculation about her appearance in ‘Bridgerton’ season 3, particularly comments suggesting her waist had been photoshopped. In an interview with People magazine, Coughlan clarified, “I saw some trolls. They were like, ‘They photoshopped your waist,’ and I was like, ‘No, they did not.'”

Coughlan explained the effects of wearing corsets for her role, elaborating, “I think if you wear corsetry for long enough, your body really moulds to it. Sometimes they come in for 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.'”

‘Bridgerton,’ renowned for its Regency-era costumes and intricate storytelling, continues to captivate audiences worldwide on Netflix.