Nicola Coughlan to have reduced role in Bridgerton Season 5

Actress Nicola Coughlan has confirmed she will have a reduced role in the upcoming fifth season of the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’. After serving as a central figure in recent seasons, Coughlan’s character, Penelope Featherington, will appear in fewer episodes to accommodate the actress's filming schedule for the Hulu production ‘Only Murders in the Building’.

Coughlan described the transition as “bittersweet” but noted that the change offers a “low pressure” environment. She expressed appreciation for the show’s anthology format, which allows the series to reinvent itself by focusing on different members of the Bridgerton family each season.

Following the events of Season 4, where Penelope retired from her secret identity as Lady Whistledown, the character's role in the narrative has shifted. Coughlan also revealed that she has not been informed of the identity of the new Lady Whistledown, a decision made by producers to prevent spoilers.