Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan tease rocky romance for their 鈥楤ridgerton鈥 characters

Luke Newton, left, as Colin Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in episode 301 of Bridgerton are shown in this handout image provided by Netflix. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Netflix *MANDATORY CREDIT*

TORONTO - "Bridgerton" star Nicola Coughlan says the ups-and-downs of her character's long-anticipated romance with a high society noble are not over.

The second half of the period romance's third season, beginning Thursday, will dive into the newly minted engagement of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, played by Luke Newton and Coughlan.

During a recent promotional stop in Toronto, the duo teased that more drama awaits in four remaining episodes that will also focus on Featherington's struggle to maintain her secret identity as "Lady Whistledown," the name behind a scandalous gossip newsletter.

鈥淲e filmed these beautiful romantic scenes and it was all wonderful and nice, and then I go, 鈥極h God she hasn鈥檛 told him鈥,鈥 Coughlan says of the upcoming episodes.

鈥(It was) very stressful. I know that sounds really silly because it鈥檚 not real but I really hate lying, I鈥檓 a bad liar.鈥

Still, the stars of the Regency era saga say their characters' shifting relationship from friends in the first and second seasons to lovers in the third is satisfying to put on display.

鈥淭here鈥檚 just like a beautiful sense of closeness and intimacy. And I want to say they鈥檙e being completely honest with each other, aside from the Whistledown stuff,鈥 says Coughlan, a native of Galway, Ireland.

Previous seasons focused on newly introduced couples, but already having an on-camera dynamic in some form was something unique to Newton and Coughlan.

鈥淧eople really resonate with these two characters, and I think it鈥檚 something to do with the shared experience that fans and viewers have watched their relationship sort of develop very slowly through seasons one and two,鈥 Newton explained.

鈥淭hey feel very invested.鈥

Netflix has previously announced a fourth season of "Bridgerton," but the direction the series will take remains unknown.

The 37-year-old Coughlan, who also starred in "Derry Girls," says she'd like the show to explore different types of love stories.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited for there to be hopefully queer love stories in this show, I think there鈥檚 so much room for that,鈥 she says.

This report by 春色直播was first published June 9, 2024.

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