Nicola Coughlan Reveals 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Has Started Filming

Dearest readers, actress Nicola Coughlan has some good news to share!

On Wednesday, the twentieth day of July, the beloved actress behind the character of Penelope Featherington revealed that the hit Netflix period drama, "Bridgerton" had officially commenced filming its third season.

In the video, various cast members hold up two fingers for the camera before they flip their hands around to show the number three. As a carriage door opens, Nicola Coughlan is sitting there, saying, “Bridgerton season 3 filming has officially begun.”

“Get ready for the (carriage) ride of your lives, filming for #Bridgerton Season Three has officially begun 🪶🪞🐝,” she wrote in the caption, along with some very applicable emojis for readers of the book.

Fans are excited to see Nicola returning as Penelope for the show's third season. Earlier this year, the "Derry Girls" alum revealed that Penelope's love match will be in the spotlight for season three, which deviates from the book series by author Julia Quinn. Fans were expecting that the season would focus on the love match between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Beckett.

Instead, the season will focus on Penelope's budding romance with Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton. For the past two seasons, fans have watched their childhood friendship start to blossom into something more and it seems the two might finally take a trip down the aisle in season three.

In an Instagram post on June 23, almost one month again, Nicola Coughlan posted a photo of her season one hairstyle along with the words: "But honestly like would you marry me with this sexy hair and the one really long weird bit?"

“Bridgerton Season One Throwback,” she wrote in the caption. “I used to lovingly call this look ‘The Hair Willy.’ Suffice to say she’s ready for the S3 glow up.”

Fans have noticed that Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) got a glow-up of his own when he became the romantic lead in season 2 opposite newcomer Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

"Bridgerton" fans piled on the post with supportive comments, eagerly awaiting a glimpse of Penelope's new look in season 3.

Back in May, Deadline reported major news from Nicola Coughlan at Netflix’s FYSEE Space’s opening night ATAS panel. At the event, Coughlan revealed that she was officially the romantic lead of season 3.

“Like Lady Whistledown, I have been keeping a secret for quite some time and I can confirm to you all that season 3 is Colin and Penelope’s love story,” Coughlan revealed. “I have kept that secret since two weeks into season 2. This is the first time I am saying it here.”

The following week, Coughlan appeared on E! News Daily Pop to answer questions about her upcoming love scenes. When asked if she was ready for her intimate scenes, the “Harlots” actress replied, “I’m gonna have to be!”

Although she said that it was “terrifying” to become the romantic lead of the season, she admitted that she’s “known for a really long time” that her friendship with Colin would eventually become more serious.

Coughlan also confessed that she first learned that she would be the season 3 lead “like two weeks into filming season two, so I had a lot of time to adjust to it.”

However, that didn’t mean she was prepared to break the news. “But then, [Sunday] night, when they were like, 'The news is coming out. You can talk about it,' I was like, 'I don't want to. I'm too scared.' When I say it out [loud], it makes it real.”

In another Instagram post, Nicola posted a photo of her and Luke smiling together in what fans believe to be a “Bridgerton” set.

Coughlan captioned the post, “Main Character Energy #BridgertonSeason3.”

“You are amazing,” one fan commented. “I can’t wait to see the #Polin love story.” Polin is the ship name for Penelope and Colin.

“You CANNOT tell me they don’t look good together,” said a third follower.

Luke also created a post showing the two leads alongside new showrunner Jess Brownell. Chris Van Dusen, who served as showrunner for the first two seasons, will be stepping back this season to allow Brownell a chance to helm the popular romantic series.

“S3: You are not ready!” Luke warned fans in the caption of his post.

Julia Quinn, who wrote the book series the Netflix show is based on, commented, “Aaargh! I want to be there!!!!”

“I most certainly am ready,” one fan commented. “I cannot wait to see Penelope’s and Colin’s love story unfold. I am so deliciously excited.”

Jess also posted the same photo to her Instagram page with the caption, “three bottles of pink champagne, two stars, and an unidentified woman #polin.”

Many fans and author Julia Quinn showered the post with heart emojis. “We’re ready,” Nicola wrote alongside five heart emojis.

“Will be the best season!!” one fan wrote. “Polin is the best.”

No release date has been announced, but fans are hopeful for a release in early 2023.