Nicola Coughlan and Bridgerton’s intimacy coordinator, Lizzy H Talbot, have shared an amusing on-set photo featuring Coughlan and co-star Luke Newton next to a broken piece of furniture.
Coughlan shared the image on Instagram on Thursday (June 13) showing her sporting a cheeky grin and a thumbs-up at the sight of the damaged chaise longue (reclining chair). “Part Two is out now, we put our hearts and souls into it, hope you love watching it as much as we loved filming it,” she wrote in the caption.
The image has given fans of the hit Netflix show a glimpse into the effort behind the steamy moment between Coughlan’s character Penelope Featherington and her new fiancé, Colin Bridgerton (Newton).
Talbot also posted the image, saying: “Been waiting FOREVER for this to come out! It might be my most favourite work picture I’ve ever taken. You just KNOW it’s going to be a great scene when something like this happens.”
“You absolutely SMASHED this season in every sense of the word and it was a total joy and privilege to work with you,” Talbot added. “Two of the kindest people to ever walk on set. We knew we had something special and it’s just incredible to get to share it. This was a scene I won’t ever forget and couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved."
This scene appears in episode five of Bridgerton, part of the second half of season three recently released on Netflix.
Fans have affectionately called Coughlan and Newton “Polin”. The intense on-screen chemistry between the pair has led viewers to speculate about a real-life romance.
“Nicola Coughlan is brilliant...I refuse to believe her and Luke Newton are not an item,” one fan said on X, formerly Twitter.
Another viewer said: “I swear to you, I’ve never seen something as delicate as the mirror scene. It was full of intimacy, complicity, pure love and trust. The best love making scene I’ve ever seen in my life, I almost felt I was intruding in their most intimate moment.”
“Dear directors, THAT is how you do a sex scene,” another fan added.
I swear to you, I've never seen something as delicate as the mirror scene. It was full of intimacy, complicity, pure love and trust. The best love making scene I've ever seen in my life, I almost felt I was intruding in their most intimate moment. #BRIDGERTON
— louisa #POLIN🪞 (@TAESRIVERS) June 12, 2024
Coughlan had previously mentioned breaking furniture while promoting Bridgerton season three in May. She told the Capital Breakfast radio show: “It snapped and I have a picture of the snap.
“I would say it’s like a piece of furniture that you would more see in the past than the present. But yeah, we did break it during a sexy scene because we were really going for it.”
Coughlan has also said how “empowered” she felt during her sex scenes with Newton and highlighted the importance of working with the “amazing” Talbot.
Almost two years after the second season, the hit show returned in May with the first part of season three, which saw Penelope and Colin finally express their hidden feelings for each other. Given how the first part ended with an intimate scene in a carriage, it's no surprise that the risqué moments continue into part two.
Coughlan and Newton shared the details of the accidental mishap during a recent appearance on ITV’s This Morning. The Irish actress confessed: “We did stop because we broke the furniture when we were doing it. We were really going for it.”
The Derry Girls star added: “We’ve worked together for so long that we can communicate without having to say much, and I knew that we were both thinking ‘We’re killing this.’”
Newton spoke to virginradio.co.uk and other press about the “mad experience” of being the new leading man in The ‘Ton.
“There are so many twists and turns,” he said. “It feels like we don’t settle for more than two minutes, but I can’t wait to share it.”
