With Lady Whistledown's quill feverishly working up the fictional London elite in the second season of Bridgerton, and season 3 of Derry Girls about to drop in the next couple of weeks, it's safe to say that Nicola Coughlan's name will be in the limelight for a while.
However, while the Irish actor may have risen to prominence due to her performance in these roles, some fans might not have realized that Coughlan also has quite an impressive tv/movie resume too (particularly in the voice acting department). They are certainly worth watching if anyone has a spare moment or two.
Thor: Legend Of The Magical Hammer - 5.0
- No Streaming Information Available Yet
This is a 2011 animated film that takes a few figures from the Norse tradition and spins a fresh fantastical tale with them. Thor: Legend Of The Magical Hammer reunites Thor with his father Odin in a battle of good over evil adventure. The magical hammer is a character of its own reminding the viewer of Disney's Beauty & The Beast.
In this movie, Coughlan is Edda - a confident, strong-willed woman, who is a friend of Thor's. When the fighting starts, the village girl shows a warrior's bravery, stepping up to ward off giants. It's not the first time that Coughlan has voiced a character, but this one stands out for the independence of her character and clear billing in the cast.
Summer Of The Flying Saucer - 5.3
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This is a spunky 2008 Irish movie set in Ireland's County Mayo in 1967. It's a mix of sci-fi fantasy, comedy, and coming of age. The plot focuses on Dan, who has come home looking a bit out of place with a hippie-like style, and his encounter with a pair of aliens that have crashed in his backyard. Here, Coughlan provides the voice for Janis.
What's unique about Coughlan's contribution in this film is that hers is a vocal-only portrayal. All of the other characters use their own voices. Joanne Kernan is physically on screen as the alien Janis, but it is with Coughlan providing her voice. It works to help add another element of oddity to the character - very fitting for this alien.
Svengali - 5.6
- Available To Stream On IndieFlix
Svengali is 2013 comedic film set in London. It's a feel-good flick that centers on Dixie, a lovable guy with big dreams. Dixie is committed to a band he discovers and loves his girlfriend. The film follows his struggle to juggle his love life and band manager ambitions.
In this movie, Coughlan's role is simply called "Club Girl." There's not a stand-out opportunity for her in this film. However, her role does give her some screen time, as opposed to providing more voiceovers for children's animated projects. It's also an opportunity to share credits with actors like Martin Freeman and Vicky McClure.
Bridgerton - 7.3
- Available To Stream On Netflix
Now two seasons in, Bridgerton is keeping fans on their toes with its twists and surprises. The Netflix original series is set in Regency London and focuses on the sensational matchmaking seasons of the London elite. Coughlan stars as one of the main characters Penelope Featherington, who is also the secretive writer Lady Whistledown.
Coughlan's character is a bit of an intentional wallflower, pulling quite the ruse on the ton. It's fun to see Coughlan in another period piece and brings an edge of sass to the role. It's also an interesting turn to see Lady Whistledown veiled in by the voice of Julie Andrews.
The Phantom Cnut - 7.4
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This is an Irish indie short film that was produced in part by The Irish Film Board. The story centers on a Catholic classroom, where a priest walks into the classroom and is dismayed by spotting writing on the chalkboard. He proceeds to have a face-off with a student named Katie, who is played by Coughlan.
This is one of Coughlan's first on-screen performances. There's little dialogue in the project, but her body language and expressions speak volumes. Her performance exhibits a spark that foretells the talent that she'll get to hone in later roles.
SimsalaGrimm: Die Märchen Der Brüder Grimm - 7.6
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SimsalaGrimm: Die Märchen Der Brüder Grimm is a German children's animated series. The series takes viewers on a journey to the fictional land of Simsala to tell the tales of the Brothers Grimm in a cozy feel-good fashion.
Nicola Coughlan is a member of the voice-over ensemble in the series. Outside of Yoyo and Doc Croc, no characters get individual billing. Fans can tune into episodes such as "Der Eisenhans (Iron Hands)" and "Die Drei Kleinen Schweine (The Three Little Pigs)" to hear her.
Harlots - 7.7
- Available To Stream On Hulu
Running for 3 seasons on Hulu, Harlots was an engaging and saucy show set in London in the 1760s. The main plot of the series is the drive of Margaret Wells, played by Samantha Morton, to make a better life for herself and her family. Coughlan joins the cast in 2018 as Hannah Dalton, who is in the employ of Wells.
This is a role where Coughlan really steps into her own. She is no longer just a voice actor. That early spark from The Phantom Cnut is more rounded out here. She holds her own as one of Wells' ladies and also gets a fantastic warm-up for playing other period piece roles.
The Fairytales - 7.9
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The Fairytales, also known as The Fairytaler, is a Danish animated series that's similar to SimsalaGrimm. It was created to celebrate the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. His stories are told one each over the course of numerous episodes.
Coughlan joins the cadre of voice actors. She can be found in episodes such as "Den Lille Havfrue (known as The Little Mermaid)" and "Kejserens Nye Klæder (The Emperor's New Clothes). This is one of her first gigs, which undoubtedly helped to get her started at building up credits.
Derry Girls - 8.4
- Available To Stream On Netflix
Derry Girls is a British sitcom that focuses on the lives of 5 teens in Derry, Northern Ireland in the 1990s. While fictitious, Derry Girls sometimes reflects real-life events. It's a quirky comedy fantastically fleshed out by the cast and one of the central teens is Clare Devlin, played by Nicola Coughlin.
Clare is a delightfully smart and anxious character. Coughlan makes Clare most lovable - awkwardness and all. She also has great chemistry with her other castmates too as it really feels like they have always been friends. A trailer for the third season has dropped giving a great glimpse at the adventures ahead for Clare and her friends.
SimsalaGrimm II: The Adventures Of Yoyo And Doc Croc - 8.8
- No Streaming Information Available Yet
SimsalaGrimm II: The Adventures Of Yoyo And Doc Croc is a sequel installation of the German children's animated series. There are more stories from the Brothers Grimm as well as the additional other legendary tales. The series is fun-filled viewing for the whole family.
Just like the inaugural series, Coughlan resumes her place in the voice-over ensemble to create a pleasant atmosphere for the tales to breathe. "Bearskin" is one of the charming tales told, one of a classic hero's journey that must be completed before he can settle down with the woman he loves.