The Hidden Beauty of Wallflowers: Nicola Coughlan's Representation in Bridgerton
Nicola Coughlan in Bridgerton. Photo by Liam Daniel
SPOILER WARNING: For the identity of Lady Whistledown & Bridgerton season 3.
As a former wallflower, I can confidently say that this season of Bridgerton fulfilled every wallflower's dream of finding romance. Netflix’s thrilling third season, Bridgerton, focuses on Nicola Coughlan, playing avid reader Penelope Featherington and her love story with long-time friend, Colin Bridgerton. Penelope Featherington's characterization as a wallflower symbolizes the struggles of being introverted in a society that values everything but those qualities. Wallflowers are often shy, pleasant-smelling plants that can survive in hostile conditions, and Penelope's position in society makes her an excellent keeper of secrets.
As the season begins, Pen is on a mission to find a husband as she desperately tries to forget her feelings for Luke Newton’s Colin. However, on her journey to find a husband, she finds herself in the process as both a confident young lady and an accomplished writer. The season's tagline, "Even a wallflower can bloom," refers to Penelope's transformation from a shy young lady to a beautiful and powerful heroine. Her fashion and color palette change to reflect her growing confidence, with stronger shapes. As if to prove this, she gazes into the mirror and declares that she does not “wish to see a citrus color ever again”—the very daffodil yellow that has always defined her, won’t tie her down any longer. It is a color signifying enlightenment, yellow speaks to Pen's unexpected loneliness and great ability to read others. She also starts to wear her hair down in soft curls and changes her makeup to highlight her cheekbones. Owning her new wardrobe by costume designer John Glaser, Pen uses her stylish flair to add to her confidence. Even in her revamped wardrobe, her clothes had a hidden meaning behind it.
Her now emerald green style dress is adorned with a clear message: It’s time for a change. While it’s a peculiar choice, she certainly turned heads as the “emerald of the season”, rather than a diamond.
At every society ball, Penelope retreats to a corner, preferring to blend into the background. Unnoticed by others, she remains silent, as one wallflower does. Pen is a quiet onlooker who is overlooked by her more vibrant peers. Wallflowers can feel isolated and invisible at social gatherings, even though they are physically present. Penelope Featherington is practically invisible. However, as Lady Whistledown, she is everything but.
Nicola Coughlan playing Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton. Photo by Laurence Cendrowicz
Penelope secretly writes a gossip column about London's high society under the identity of Lady Whistledown. Everyone in high society eagerly listens to and reads her writing religiously as she spreads all the gossip among the ton.
Lady Whistledown serves as a powerful symbol in Bridgerton, embodying the themes of anonymity, power, and the subversion of societal norms. Her character represents the unseen influence and control that information and gossip can wield over high society. By remaining anonymous, Lady Whistledown subverts the traditional power dynamics, challenging the status quo and highlighting the hidden truths and hypocrisies of the ton. Her keen observations and sharp commentary reflect the importance of voice, especially from those who are often overlooked or underestimated.
In the season three finale, Penelope reveals herself as Lady Whistledown, saying, "I wrote about all of you because I was captivated by you living your lives so out in the open. And in writing about all of you I suddenly felt as if I had a life I had power". This is perfectly illustrated by how she uses Lady Whistledown to transform from a wallflower into a stunning bloom.
In an interview with VanityFair, Coughlan reveals that before Bridgerton she’d “never read a romance novel.” Coughlan said she was very surprised by the steamy parts the novel had, but laughed when thinking about herself in that role and how it could never be her.
Calling herself an “oddball in the corner,” Coughlan emphasizes her role as a leading lady to inspire others in their search for romance or self-discovery. She offers viewers hope as she plays a young woman entering society to a powerful writer with truth in her heart. This season of Bridgerton is a heartfelt tribute to all the gentle readers who see themselves as wallflowers.
