Nicola Coughlan is set to return for Bridgerton Season 5, but fans should expect to see less of Penelope Featherington this time around. While the Netflix star is stepping back from a central role, she has made it clear that she has no plans to leave the world of Bridgerton behind completely.

Season 5 will shift its focus to Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, and Michaela, played by Masali Baduza, as their love story takes center stage. With Penelope’s storyline moving into a different phase, Coughlan says she is happy to let her fellow cast members take the spotlight.

Coughlan recently opened up about her smaller role in the upcoming season, describing the change as the “best of both worlds.” While she has been filming Only Murders in the Building, she has still been able to return to the Bridgerton set from time to time.

The actor previously had a major role in the series as Penelope, particularly during Season 3, which centered on her romance with Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton.

After leading that season, Coughlan said she was comfortable with having a more relaxed presence in Season 5. She described the experience as feeling “low pressure” and said she enjoys being able to return without carrying the same responsibility.

Coughlan also made it clear that she remains open to appearing in future seasons.

“I’ll always pop back to Bridgerton if they want me,” she said, joking that she would even be happy to return simply as “set dressing.”

Another major change for Coughlan’s character is Penelope’s relationship with Lady Whistledown.

After years of secretly writing the society column, Penelope has stepped away from the role. That leaves the identity of the new Lady Whistledown as one of the show’s biggest mysteries heading into Season 5.

For Coughlan, saying goodbye to that part of Penelope’s story is a bittersweet experience. She acknowledged that she had an “epic run” as the character and suggested that the changing identity of the narrator reflects what makes Bridgerton unique.

Each season introduces a new central romance and allows different characters to move into the spotlight, keeping the world of the series constantly evolving.

Even though she once portrayed the mysterious writer herself, Coughlan has no idea who will take over the role this time.

The actor admitted that the production team has deliberately kept her in the dark. She even joked that she is not particularly good at keeping secrets, recalling that she revealed to members of the Season 1 set that she was Lady Whistledown.

This time, Coughlan said she genuinely has no idea who the new identity belongs to and is perfectly happy not to know.

With Bridgerton Season 5 moving toward a new central romance and a new chapter for Lady Whistledown, Penelope may have a smaller presence, but Coughlan’s comments suggest her connection to the series is far from over.

Bridgerton Season 5 premieres in 2027 on Netflix.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/