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Sorry, that’s my momIm just on an interview, Mom!
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(You’re all right, dont worry.
you might pull the door [closed] if you want, Coughlan calls out to her.)
Her platinum-blonde hair is down and flowing past her shoulders in slight bends.
At the New York CityBridgertonseason three premiere on May 13.
I bet you know the one: Shoes…More Shoes.
But hey, I guess thats just how things go when youre really, really good at everything.
Allure: First of all, what does it feel like to be winning at life?
I’ve never done that much travel.
I’ve never been that many places in the world, met that many people.
It was incredible, but I’m definitely in the post-immune-system-collapse period right now.
But I had a few days off, and my immune system went, “See ya.”
I’m like, “That’s so tragic that that’s me.”
Allure: Speaking of premieres, youve become known for bold, high-fashion red carpet looks.
How do you and your stylist plan and execute them?
Coughlan:Well, Aimee [Croysdill]s been with me since the beginning ofBridgerton.
It’s like any relationship, whether it be a friendship, a romantic relationship, a work relationship.
You just have an instant connection sometimes with people, and I had that with her.
Her and I work together well because we have different approaches to things.
And she has incredible fashion knowledge, obviously.
She knew exactly which designer would make that work.
We’ve come on such a journey.
Allure: Where do the hair and makeup fit into the planning process?
Coughlan:It always starts with the dress, then we all have our different ideas.
We have a WhatsApp group where we throw ideas around.
I remember for the New York premiere, we changed up something quite last minute.
[Danielle is] an amazing bridal designer, but we wanted to take it away from bridal.
And I just couldn’t get the image of Marilyn Monroe out of my head.
They’re great at not following trends but setting them.
They just have impeccable taste.
Allure: Is there a signature Nicola Coughlan look?
Coughlan:Gosh, I don’t know.
But I always like to try something different.
There’s been so much brilliant method dressing over the last few years fromZendayaandMargot Robbie.
Allure: Youve clearly got a deep affection for over-the-top femme characters like drag performers andThe Real Housewives.
Do you take any inspiration from them on the red carpet?
I learned so much fromDrag Race.
The industry that I’m in, it’s hard.
There’s a lot of scrutiny.
People don’t think of actors as freelancers, but we all are.
We go from job to job.
You do have to prove yourself again each time.
it’s possible for you to grow a lack of confidence [from rejection].
But I remember watchingDrag Race10 years ago and the drag queens talking about themselves in the third person.
They were like, “She’s the fiercest and she’s the coolest.
It’s a fake-it-till-you-make-it mentality.
Im not who I am on the day-to-day.
I remember my friends asking about the Met Gala.
They were like, “How did you feel?”
I was like, “I don’t know.
Because I don’t know that I believed I was there…
It’s quite bizarre.
Maybe my red carpet [presence] is my drag persona.
Allure: And when youre off duty, what does your beauty routine look like?
Coughlan:I’m abig freak for my skinand I have been since I was quite young.
You say that now and people go, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
But people don’t remember the early oughts.
It was a struggle.
We were scrubbing micro-plastics into our face and not using moisturizer at all.
[Skin care] was seen as a novelty.
I would just wet the Face Halo and then I’d lather myself up.
That’s not as good.
I really love theCharlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Blush.
It makes your skin look so fresh and glowy.
I absolutely love mascara.
I’m very guilty of putting on too much of it.
Is it theLancome HypnoseI’m using at the minute?
I switch around with mascaras a lot, I have to say.
But I just like that instant change.
I have very long lower lashes.
I wish my top ones were as long, but they’re sort ofClockwork Orange-y lower lashes.
Coughlan:I wanted to go from a bob to long hair [while filmingBridgerton]… All the Olaplex products really protect it.
I bring them around the world with me because you could’t use hotel shampoos because they range in quality.
The brush is really nice and gentle with soft bristles.
And using a silk bonnet at night, that’s one thing that Ive started doing.
Allure: Did you pick up any tips from theBridgertonseason three set?
Penelope wore so much stunning makeup.
Coughlan:We used a lot of sheet masks before the big days, like the wedding and balls.
What people need to know is we’re getting makeup checks every three minutes.
I would put hair masks in under the wig.
We would do theOlaplex No.3, slick it in, and then the wig would go on top.
Olaplex
Olaplex No.
I think in this day and age we hold ourselves to such unrealistic standards of beauty.
It’s not realistic.”
Allure: When it comes to beauty, whats onyourmind these days?
Coughlan:I’m really fascinated by a lot of people’s nighttime routines now.
But seeing peopletape their mouthsand do all these masks…
I don’t know that I can do all of that.
Coughlan:That cracks me up.
But I do love a good beauty treatment.
I love lymphatic drainage and all that kind of stuff.
That form of self-care is really satisfying to me because I feel like women have to take that time.
It resets your body, it just puts everything back in place.
I would take a massage over anything.
Allure: OK, one last thing, at the risk of sounding like a creep.
Coughlan:Go for it.
Allure: What do you smell like right now?
Coughlan:Right now!?
Oh, I don’t know.
Maybe just, like, toothpaste.
I actually use this one moisturizer all the time.
And I do always get complimented on my soft skin.
