Nicola Coughlan's romance with Jake Dunn and how acting is her 'true love'
Nicola Coughlan might have found a romantic partner in real life after viewers saw her character, Penelope Featherington, experience love in the most provocative season of Bridgerton yet.
It seems the actor is ready to seek genuine love in real life now that her character Penelope has spent years hoping to tie the knot with her best friend, Colin Bridgerton (played by Luke Newton). Fans of Bridgerton might feel a bit let down knowing that Coughlan hasn't decided to explore a real romance with Newton, especially after their on-screen chemistry as Polin captivated so many viewers.
Coughlan herself even made a light-hearted comment to TIME magazine last week: "Many people are really hoping that I marry Luke." Behind the scenes, they share a strong friendship after years of collaborating on Bridgerton, but it's entirely just friends.
Luke Newton plays Colin Bridgerton, while Nicola Coughlan takes on the role of Penelope Featherington in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
This week, photos have surfaced showing Coughlan, 37, holding hands with actor Jake Dunn, 24, during a night out in London, as reported by MailOnline. If Coughlan's rising fame is any indication, this rumored couple could turn into one of the most talked-about celebrity pairings of the season.
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Meet Nicola Coughlan’s New Boyfriend, Jake Dunn
Coughlan, originally from Ireland, relocated to London to pursue her aspirations of becoming an actress. In contrast, Dunn is a British actor who also resides in the city.
He has been gaining recognition as an actor since he took on the role of Thomas Blancheford in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell. His resume also features roles in Netflix's Get Even, BBC's Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series, and Channel 4's Big Boys.
Jake Dunn was present at the global debut of the Disney+ series Renegade Nell. (Getty)
According to MailOnline, Louisa Harland, a mutual friend and actress who has collaborated with both members of the rumored couple, is said to have played the role of matchmaker. She and Coughlan became friends while working together on Derry Girls, and more recently, she teamed up with Dunn on the Disney+ series Renegade Nell.
Coughlan and Dunn were first seen together in March of this year, suggesting they've been keeping their relationship relatively low-key for the past seven months. They were also spotted together again in August at the All Points East music festival in London.
It's said that Louisa Harland played a role in bringing them together. (Getty)
Just last week, the actress shared her thoughts on discovering "genuine love" in her profession. She admitted that there were times when it seemed almost "unrealistic" to believe she could achieve success in the acting industry.
"It's all about that deep connection," she shared with TIME magazine. "You need to have a bit of a fantasy mindset to believe that you can keep going while acting as someone else."
Her part as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls transformed her life, opening the door to the acting world, and later, her role in Bridgerton followed.
Achieving recognition in her 30s has given her the sense that she has experienced an entire lifetime before stepping into the limelight.
In an interview with Radio Times last May, she shared, "My twenties were incredibly tough – it's really challenging when you're not able to pursue what you want most. However, I believe that being famous back then would have been a nightmare, so I wouldn’t want to alter my past. I’m sure my 22-year-old self would be angry me for saying this – but you learn from your mistakes."
Looking back, I realize that examining my experiences can be tough, but it becomes simpler with age to ignore some things. I've had a full life before any of this unfolded. I’ve held countless jobs, moved around to various locations, and dealt with awful living situations, like shared homes that had mold on the walls.
