Nicola Coughlan's Penelope is the leading lady 'Bridgerton' fans were waiting for

is culture and trends editor for NBC News Digital.

Nicola Coughlan has been called a lot of things since stepping into the leading lady role in the third season of “Bridgerton.” “Brave” by some viewers who believe she is a champion of body positivity for not losing weight as her character, Penelope Featherington, takes the spotlight. “Not hot” by a columnist for The Spectator, who criticized “Bridgerton’s big fantasy.” But many of Coughlan's fans — who see themselves in the actor — prefer to describe her as something else: normal.

The Netflix show veers away from that storyline. “Bridgerton” characters typically do get a “glow up” in terms of their clothing, hair and makeup when their storyline becomes the focus of the season. But showrunner Jess Brownell was adamant that Penelope’s body should not be part of the transformation. “I think Penelope’s outer appearance has nothing to do with her story,” Brownell told Refinery29 Australia. “Her story is absolutely about her internal journey — that’s what matters.

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