Nicola Coughlan paid tribute to Victoria Beckham as she accepted the Television Actress honor at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards on Tuesday night.
The Irish actress, 37, was recognised at the annual event, hosted in partnership with The Platinum Card by American Express, at London’s Claridge’s Hotel, alongside fellow stars Sophie Turner, Ambika Mod, Raye and athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Taking the stage, the Bridgerton star opened her speech by sharing, “I love being a woman, I love being a female actor, but sometimes, it's f**king hard.”
Coughlan revealed that she’d Googled herself ahead of the ceremony, only to see the top searches were “Nicola Coughlan partner, Nicola Coughlan age, and Nicola Coughlan size” and admitted seeing the searches “didn’t make her feel great”.
Touching on the scrutiny and pressure women in the spotlight face, she spoke about her “favorite pop star” Victoria, surprising the designer in the audience, and applauding her for battling misogyny her entire career.
Coughlan recalled how, as a child, she’d even cut her hair into a Posh Spice-inspired bob. The Big Mood star went on to share how she watched a documentary on the Spice Girls, expecting a fun celebration of the band’s legacy but instead was struck by the “misogyny” they endured.
“[Victoria Beckham] was inherently cool... she was so funny. She was so deeply funny,” Coughlan shared on stage, referencing the star’s iconic humour with a line from Spice World The Movie.
Facing Beckham directly, the Derry Girls star continued: “You are my favourite, you'll always be my favourite. I admired you for all those things, but I admire you for your tenacity, because I watched a documentary as an adult of the Spice Girls and it horrified me.
“I thought if I watch it, it'd be fun, 'oh wow remember these women who I was inspired by' and the amount of bulls**t you dealt with. The amount of misogyny in the media... the things they asked you on live television, the scrutiny about your life, about everything.
Before admitting: “I just don't know how you have done it because I have a tiny, tiny amount and it's f**king hard.”
Coghlan then addressed the “responsibility” women in the industry have for the next generation, mentioning her own experience of inappropriate questions during Bridgerton’s press tour, particularly about her friendship with co-star Luke Newton, who is dating dancer Antonia Roumelioti.
“I did a six months press tour for Bridgerton for a show I love and am so proud of,” she said. “The amount of inappropriate questions I got asked about my appearance, about my relationships, it's not good enough, we're not doing good enough.”
Concluding: “I think we have to admit that and do better for the next generation so they can stand here and go, 'I didn't have to deal with any of that bulls**t'.”
Coughlan, who donned a Dior look for the evening with her Artists4Ceasefire pin, was honoured at the event alongside Beckham, author Jilly Cooper, actress Harriet Walters, Francesca Amfitheatrof, artistic director for watches and jewellery at Louis Vuitton and artist Rana Begum.
