When it comes to Nicola Coughlan and weight loss (or weight gain), she prefers people to mind her business.
Out of Derry girls To Barbie, Bridgerton Star Nicola Coughlan is an absolute success.
Unfortunately, far too many people on social media seem to focus on their body shape rather than their actual performance.
It’s strange and overwhelming. And Nicola would love it to stop – for her and countless other women.
Nicola Coughlan has focused her activism on liberating the body
During an April interview with The Irish TimesNicola Coughlan enjoyed discussing society’s constant, toxic surveillance of women’s bodies.
The shape of her body has been commented on for years. Sometimes the comments are ostensibly positive. But in bulk it becomes overwhelming.
She’s asked people before to keep that opinion to themselves.
In 2018, Nicola Coughlan expressed her dismay when the British theater guide‘s critic (a man) commented on her weight in a review. In response she received an apology.
But when asked if things had improved in recent years, Nicola replied with a very honest and clear “no”.
She explained: “People love to undermine women and their hard work.” Truth!
If you ask Nicola Coughlan, society’s twisted fixation on weight and height hasn’t changed
“So unfortunately I don’t think anything has improved,” argued Nicola.
“But,” she added, “the only thing I can try to do is just go out there and do my best at whatever job I’m given.”
Nicola then continued: “And hopefully get as many different roles as possible.”
“All I care about is work,” Nicola then affirmed.
“Bodies change,” she emphasized. It can be easy to tie an actor’s professional brand to their body shape, but that can pose a danger to the industry.
Some actors suffer from lifelong health problems and try to remain extremely muscular or extremely slim. Or they fluctuate between extremes during (and between) projects. This takes a terrible toll on the body and mind.
Remember, Nicola Coughlan is an actress
“If I lose weight or gain weight or do anything, it’s nobody’s business,” she correctly affirmed.
“I just care about doing good acting,” emphasized Nicola.
“And,” she concluded, “being judged by it.”