April 30, 2021 • 30 mins
#PenEloise is the enviable friendship from the Bridgerton book series that blossoms with the Shondaland treatment. Actresses Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton) and Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington) discuss the similarities between their on-screen friendship and their real-life friendship while sharing memorable behind-the-scenes moments.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now that I have you both here. Thank you for Bert.
It was all us. We did the whole thing, and
there's no one else invoved. Thank you, Thank you About
time someone gave us to the credit Nichola, For God's sake,
I know if I'm thinking about Welcome Back to Bridgerton
(00:20):
the official podcast, I'm Gabby Collins and I'm your guide
behind the scenes of Shondaland's hit show on Netflix. My
conversation with Julia Quinn about the backstories and relationships between
the characters beyond the central love story got me all
tangled up and watching the show again. And one of
those relationships that is I think an obvious fan favorite
(00:42):
was the Peneloise friendship. For all of its candor, it's
wit and it's shade, especially knowing what we know about Penelope, right,
Bridgerton is about love. There are love stories all over
the place, but this relationship that I want to talk about,
it's a different kind of love story. It's the kind
(01:03):
that can actually make you jealous. It's that platonic homie's
sister friend story that just grows out of genuine respect
between two people. I thought it would be a treat
to hear these two real life friends, Claudia Jesse, who
plays Eloise Bridgerton, Hi, how are you? And Nicola Coughlin, Hello,
my love, who plays Penelope Featherington, talk about their time
(01:26):
on set. Hi, Nicola, I love her little host. So
I'm on a zoom call with the actresses. Nicola is
setting up in her home studio and can we clap
one more time? Because my thing absolutely boom so hard there,
I hurt my hands. I was really steep. I was
like trying to impress you that I could clap really hard.
And Claudia is joining us, just a bit short of
(01:48):
breast because I just had to move the boat, so
I filled up with diesel and had to change the
gas and then bring it back around. So it was
raining outside. So that's why I'm wearing, like you said,
your boat. Yes, I live on a canal boat. Wait,
you have to tell us about this. I spent a
lot of time on a boat when I was a kid. Wow,
it was always something I wanted to do again, So
(02:08):
I started looking into it and then started saving for one,
and then about three years ago I bought it, and
then I spent like the rest of those three years
building it. So yeah, oh my goodness. Yeah. Yeah, So
after talking about our days and what we had for breakfast,
we started talking about the show. It's funny because I mean,
Bridgeton for me started way before filming sort of started.
I got cast April twenty nineteen, and Claudie and I
(02:30):
were the first two people cast in the show. Actually, really, yes,
we were. I have a picture that I sent her
the other day of the costume office, so there was
head shots on the wall, and I remember going in
for like a couple of things. It was just my
head shot, and then I was like, is there anyone
else cast? And they were like, not yet. And I
had started to read the books. I was like, who's Colin,
Who's Eloise? And then when I saw Claudia's head shot
was the second one that went up, Oh my god,
(02:52):
I'm so glad it's her because we had met very
briefly prior to Bridgeton. She was on a comedy show
called Porches, which one of my best friends wrote on.
So I met her at the rat party of that
and she was just an angel and delight full and
effervescent and all of those things. But yeah, I was
so glad it was her. But then she's not on
any social media, and me, being the keen being that
I am, was like determined to like make her my friend.
(03:13):
So I was messaging a bunch of actors that I knew,
and I'd forgot, I'd forgotten I did this until very recently,
I think, doing the junkets, and I said to Claudia,
you do know what, like I desperately tried to make
contact with you before filming. And thank god Claudia has
the lovely open personality that she has, because someone else
might have been really put off by how like keen
I was to become friends with her, but thankfully she
(03:35):
she wasn't. Yeah, we will get along really well, so
we'd hang out, we'd like just be together and stuff
like that. And now, you know, being together as human
beings's absolutely beful. How long for that to happen again?
Like one day? And I used to look at Nicola
on that she would be the only person I'd look
at really just to see that what she was up to,
which I really enjoyed. And she'd do like really romantic
(03:57):
things where she'd be like sent me a theay message,
just be like just in case, Claudia like scrolls across
this and I did on my birthday. It was the
most romantic thing. And she's done it like a few
times for me to find It's like little treat. I
think in a funny way, our real life relationship is
a bit of a flip of Penelope and ELOI and
I just constantly talk at Claudia and I just hope
(04:20):
that she'll respond at any point and I'll be really happy,
or I just like send her means all the time.
I don't know what. It is, like an odd blend
of being able to absolutely handle a room whilst being
what happens. It's just it's like, do you know what
someone wants described me as I've got it so funny.
I mean it's probably remember, but I thought it was
really funny. One percent confidence, zero sense of safe to say, Nicola,
(04:46):
I'm either resident reclosed. We always say about one another
like we're very different in a lot of ways, but
we're similar in all of the important ways. Yeah, and
that I'm like constantly on the internet. It's like an
actual problem, Like my phone is. It's like a permanent
thing in my aunt, especially since the show has come out,
is like bonkers. Yeah, And like I tell Claudia like,
there's four million people following reggae on Instagram. She's like
(05:09):
my grandmother. I'm like, pull up a chair and let
me tell you about what the youngsters are doing on
the net. It's like that. It's like that, I know
you've seen the Peneloi's fan art, though I know you've
at least seen that. Yeah, And I do really appreciate.
I think it's porous. I create little things to send
her and she should just see some of it. I
(05:30):
love fan her and I save it all the time
and I will send it to Claudia and I'll send
it to my mom. And I so appreciate like the
time that people take and what the characters mean to people.
Like yeah, but then that, yeah, there's lots of horrible
sides of social media as well. I'm not like it's
all great, there's nothing bad that's ever happened. It's yeah,
it can be terrible. You have to take it with
a pinch of salt. But I do. I do send
(05:52):
you the night Is some nice things. Yeah, and I
love it. I do like you. Yeah. Yes, So many
people that I've talked to for this podcast, I've talked
about the idea of Whistle Down and the ton and
the society that you all are in this show is
very similar to the like nature of everything we're talking
about right now, social media and gossip and all that. Well,
(06:13):
that's why I loved about reading the script because it
didn't read like a period drama, and I sometimes take
issue with period drama and then it feels very flat
and not real and a bit like you have to
take these certain boxes and it all has to be
very rehearsed, and I think, like with art, you wanted
to make you feel something, you want to have a
connection to it. And I think that's what's been so
lovely about art, your characters, that people have really connected
(06:35):
to them. It's also like, because it's a chandaland show,
they don't shy away from writing complicated women that sometimes
make really terrible choices. There's nothing more challenging and being
a human being is it because of our capacity to
hurt and to heal and you know, to be right
nasty little buggers. It's funny because some people will send
(06:58):
me messages and saying like, I'm really mad at Penelope
for doing this, and go, yeah, she's human. Though she's human,
she's not going to be No one's perfect all the time. Yeah,
what she does is absolutely terrible, but it's we do
sometimes do terrible things. And I think, yeah, that's a
big strength of the show. I think that those two
things coexisting, how beautiful and how lavish it is, but
coupled with the fact that it's got real depth to it.
(07:19):
And also, like we talked about this Claudia like at
the very sort of beginning, that the casting choices that
were made Kelly Hendry and col Edwards, who are the
casting directors on it, they didn't go for like the
obvious choices of people. They went for really great actor
actors that I had amire, Like Claudia I had admired
before I knew her as an actor. Johnny Bailey, you know, super,
(07:40):
super brilliant, a lot of people. You know, Polly Walker,
he's just he plays my mom. Is unbelievable. But yeah,
really interesting choices and complex actors that have come from
lots of different backgrounds. I think that really enriched it. Yeah,
we won't say who it is, but we've gone with
a list of who they could have cast that would
have been so much less interesting. Yeah, whistle down shape,
(08:01):
Like wait, some day on our Tails. Yeah, No, I
think I was very excited by the actors that they chose.
I felt like that really spoke to the type of
show they wanted to make. Yeah, to have that bonding
time was just brilliant. I'm just so glad it's the
two of us, you know, because just it's such a
(08:22):
mad journey to go on with a show like this,
and then you have someone that you know, she's so
level headed and so just sweet and kind and lovely,
and yeah, I'm just very grateful really that it's her.
I remember Nicholas last scene, right, so just before this,
we'd had vegan hot dogs because sometimes that Nicola would
do poper like combaradoie and have vegan food with me
when i'd be next I'm vegan. So she's very, very,
(08:43):
very supportive. But you were amazing because then she rapped
and then turned around and Nicola was so adoring because
she was sort of like, well, thanks everybody for the opportunity.
This has been wonderful, Like, you're very lovely, You're so nice.
Here's casting director Kelly Valentine Henry. The Beauty is the
Panell Louise crossover. The two of them and they're crossover
(09:06):
kind of girlments that they have across the street. They
take and they have fun with it. They bring their
own mark to it, and that's why those two work.
And we want to talk about chemistry. There's chemistry. Those
two fantastic chemistry. When we come back from the break,
we'll get back to our conversation with Claudia Jesse and
(09:27):
Nicola Coughlin and learn more about their experience on set
behind the scenes of Bridgerton. Stick around, Welcome back. Let's
get back into my conversation with Nicola and Claudia. We're
talking about the backstories of their characters and a little
(09:49):
bit more about their relationship and why it resonated with
so many viewers. You know, you go through those phases
where a friend sort of takes a leap ahead of
you and certain things like they get a brapher store,
someone gets a boyfriend, the other one doesn't get a boyfriend.
And I think Claudie and I that was the final
scene we shot in the show, and we hated shooting
it because we didn't like when they don't get on,
(10:10):
but also that's true friendship. You know, you don't always
get on and you know, Penelope I think she adores Eloise,
of course she does, but I think it's frustrating for her.
You know that Eloise is like, well, this is all stupid.
I don't even care. But Penelope, it's a it's a
reality of life for her that she has to go
out and you know, be presented to these men and
(10:30):
she's not you know, doesn't want to do and she's
just desperately in love with Eloise's brother. And it's all
these things again internalizing Penelope not good. Let some of it.
Tell Eloise she's your best friend. Yeah, that affects her,
and I would like to see her not because I
feel like she's in awe of Colin m and he's lovely,
but he's just a guy. You want to go, Penelope
like you're good, you know, like you've got it if
(10:52):
you have to have. She's been holding onto that crush.
Oh my god. But do you remember that, like how
intoxicating those crushes were at that age. I know for me,
they just took over everything, Oh hexicating, yes, completely, And
I just yeah, it's all you think about. And reading
back on some of my old diaries when I didn't
(11:12):
I wasn't like a regular diary keeper, but I have
certain things from that age, And you know, I used
to keep a list of boys that I kissed, and
too often like boys like I cut their pictures out
of the yearbook and put it in the diary. But
I'm like, I wish I had that level of crush now,
I feel like you don't get it to that extent
(11:32):
when you're a little older. You're like, I'm like, oh gosh,
I would love that right now. So true, which is
I think part of the escape of this show. I like,
romance is not one of those things I gravitate to. Yeah,
but it's chandaland I'm going to watch this. I know
there's going to be more witch and like, yeah, dialogue
(11:53):
and all that good stuff. And I've found myself, like
the second time watching it, really enjoying the romance of it,
and like I'm giving love and romance more respect. Do
you know what. I'm so glad you said that because
I feel the exact same genuinely, because I would always
(12:13):
have thought, like, I'm not really drawn to roman Like
I don't really know. It's a genre I was not
familiar with, to be honest, really distinctly remember shooting the
Hastings ball, which is the final ball in the show,
and it's the dance that Reggae and Phoebe do you know,
in front of everybody, Honest to god, on set that day,
we were in tears because it was breathtakingly beautiful and
(12:35):
I was like, I've just like pushed romance aside and
it's like so much citizen and then you're like, oh, look,
it's one of the most important things in the world.
And it was just like, oh, this is a celebration,
this is beautiful, and I think I'm so thrilled that
came across on screen at Genuary that day that I
remember Bessie and Harriet and I the three Featherington's were
in tears because it was just genuinely and I think
(12:58):
also the show is made with such a huge amount
of love and care and what Chris puts into it,
like his heart and soul is in the show, and
you know, we really care about making a good show,
and it's it's a real pleasure and honor as an
actor when you can make people feel things, whether you're
making them laugh or cry or you know, experience any emotion.
It's just the most wonderful thing. I love it so
(13:20):
so so true. I completely agree. Speaking of emotions, did
you ever have guests of emotion come up in you
during filming in challenges that you had to overcome? Yeah, definitely.
I mean I think with Penelope, like you know, knowing
that feeling of unrequited love, it's such a painful feeling,
you know, and I just think and also because it
(13:42):
just makes you think about those times in your life.
We've all had that time when the person that we've
liked is dancing with somebody else. It rips your heart out.
And I think that's what I love about acting, is
the parts that you can relate to you but then
are totally different. I think the parts that you can
relate to or what gives it roll the grounds and
the human feeling, but then the parts that are different
(14:02):
are the fun and the colorful parts. That's the challenge,
you know. There was a lot of super emotional scenes
and I was very very lucky that I was with
Claudia for a lot of those, the sort of crying scenes,
because I think within acting, I'm not a method actor.
I don't stay in character. I don't do that, but
I do want to bring true emotion to it, so
you know, I think you have to be in a
(14:23):
very safe environment in order to do that, and you
know you're crying real tears. It's like, you know that's
no tearstic yea. Also having a lovely supportive set and
feeling safe to go to those places. Also staying in
a corset for many hours also another challenge yet right.
One of my favorite scenes for Eloise when li is
so like the line thanks for being so perfect so
(14:45):
I do not have to be, which is like the
most amazing thing to say, and to say as I'm
actually want a line every now and again, you're like, yes,
like I get to say that one. Yeah. You also
have a few lines where you're going back and forth
with Daphnie with Phoebe, and those were killer for me.
Alois tells Stephanie that she's really good at pretending and
(15:07):
I was like, dan, oh yeah, she just he just
really came for your sister. That's a really good one.
Shut to the hut? Can you come over to Can
you come over to the feathering to now and bread
my sisters? Yeah? Exactly, Because she's just takes it and
(15:28):
I'm like I'm trying to be like, shut up, gave
me alone. In your orange dress. Who do you think
you are? Yeah, my prudence. Yeah, there's one I really
distinctly remember. It's the final ball when Colin comes over
to Penelope, And the actual song that was playing when
he came down the stairs was as heavy as the
Heads that wears the Ground by Stormsy. So when I
(15:51):
see that scene, that's the music that I hear, and
it was him and Benedict coming down the stairs, and
I think it's just a crushing moments. You see him
coming and you're like maybe, and I've the thought of
that she's going to profess her love to him, Like
I'm so glad she didn't. But then you know, I
talked to Chlode. I've totally done that wherever, like I
really like you and they're like, no, you just don't
(16:14):
want to see her like get crushed, and like it's
so crushing for her and she just can't cope with it.
It's funny when you film scenes, there's always what's on
the screen and then your experience, yeah, and all the
internal stuff. And then I remember, like we shot me
bumping into you and yes, yeah going off and of that,
and that's the only ball that you were You were
(16:34):
asked Your's executive producer, Betsy Beers. It goes back to
the beautiful theme of these books, which is the beautiful plot,
which is what do you do for love of yourself?
It's not just love of another person, but it's how
(16:55):
much do you love yourself? And how much can you
love herself? And it's a mother who's trying to create
an environment which our children can become their best versions
of themselves. I'm the youngest in a family of three girls,
and my sense of what my responsibility is it's very
weighty and I wave my hand too, but it's really
different than my older sister. Eloise can dream, and Eloise
(17:16):
can explore these other options because Daphne is doing the
heavy lifting. To Eloise, we may relate to in a
very modern way, Penelope in a different way. I suppose
it's quite prevalent when Eloise and Penelope are chatting as mates,
when they're talking about what they want, what they could want,
(17:39):
like and you can see them getting excited about other stuff,
not like the bulls and stuff like that. That's why
you see it the most for me and me and
Nick to be young girls talking about their autonomy and
when impression stuff we've spoken because they're correct, aren't they
(17:59):
They're allowed to use their thoughts and explore their thoughts
and talk about what we could be. I find it
interesting as well. That is, whilst it's beautiful, it's also
a symbol of their privilege that they even get the
time to think about the stuff like this. But do
you know, I mean they're there with they're like they're
made to a following them behind as they go on
their little promenade. It's like, you know, in their little
(18:20):
trots to then be like, ah, I want to be
here and there and everyone and what about this? And
we've got time to do this and then go home.
I mean, I'd say Eloise is emotionally more privileged than
Penelope and her sort of domestic setting. Yeah, Penelope has
it a bit rough, don't She's sort of emotionally with
like love and stuff. Whereas Eloise got the freedom to
then walk into a living and be like, how does
(18:41):
an aid to come to be a child? And it's
like absolutely fine. Like even when Ruth is like what
you're talking about? You can't say that? You know, It's
still fine, isn't it. Whilst Marina's story is slightly more
dynamic or complex, because actually she's like, it's what an
unthinkable situation that's not anyone's fault but sort of everyone
one's responsibility now, and like it's just happening. I don't
(19:03):
know how much I fully feel attached to the idea
that there's something that's been set out for me that
I can't have, and that would be a lot to
do with my privilege as well. But I think what
I found most joyful is that Nicola and I had,
you know, we'd sort of gone into this being like
they are young and they fucking love each other, so
here it is, here's this safe space for them to
(19:24):
be able to be like say silly things and be
explorative and stuff like that, both in real life and
in fiction. By the way, I'm like, it's good. I'm
going to have more filming time with Claudia and it's
going to be great. Yeah. Yeah. I talked with Julia
Quinn and she said that the main thing that she
really likes about Penelope and Aloise Peneloise is she thought
of you too when she was writing as trail Blazers,
(19:47):
that you two come in to break down the castle,
like riding in on your horses, and Daphanie is more
of a like I'm just going to remove this brick
and place it here. Yeah, but I also a revolution
in my own way. I'm just not charging in like
these two girls. Yeah, I think Claudia is really right
to say what she said about their privilege. They don't
see like that. You know, it's hard for Daphne. They
(20:09):
just like, well, she doesn't even care and she's doing whatever.
I think, you know, Eloise thinks that more than Penelope does.
As Claudia said, we had to always think they're super young,
and they're young for eighteen thirteen because they're really privileged
in garden. They've you know, always had this protection around them.
And I think, you know, everyone is a product of
their upbringing, and you know how you can't really control that.
(20:30):
So I never want to judge them for you know
what I mean. You know that time in your life
you're a teenager and you start maybe realizing things about
certain cause through this and you become a little bit sanctimonious. Yes,
I really remember that time of being like but like
going to parents like do you know about the whole
ozone laer? And are you even doing anything about it?
Like I feel like there's a real level of that
(20:51):
to the two of them, that they're like and they
also they are like weirds and we're s murder than
everyone else and were this. But I don't think the
two of them necessarily understand anyone else that's struggles very well.
But look who does it seventeen And I think with Marinas,
it's so beyond them to really understand this. Also, I
think it's a bit of a selfish age as well,
(21:12):
because you're like, well, what's going on with me, and like, yeah,
I really just want your characters to, like spend a
weekend with Sienna and Madame Delacois like yeah, the oh
my god. They would They would love They just don't
have a clue. They would lose their minds if they
had to have a day in their shoes, they would
not cope. Elois and Penelope are delightful to me because
(21:33):
they are these two young, excited, young women with hopes
and dreams that feel like they're trapped in this world
that they don't quite understand, and Eloise is always railing
in something and Penelope is always hoping for something. They
just felt very sweet to me, and I like them
very much. And I hoped for them very much. That
was executive producer Shanda Rhimes. The Peneloise relationship was one
(21:56):
of her favorites to talk about. Stick around, We'll be
back with more from nick La Cocklin and Claudia Jesse.
Welcome back to Bridgetain, the official podcast. We're hanging out
with actresses MICHAELA. Coughlin and Claudia Jesse. In this part
(22:16):
of our conversations, the ladies tell us pinch me. I'm
in the period drama of my dreams. I'm working with
some of my television production role models, and I'm sitting
across from theater grades like Aduwa and Golder like, oh so,
I mean, I just remember really distinctly in the read throughs,
those two women have presence, you know. I'm sure Claudia
(22:38):
can attest to this. Literally when they open their mouths,
you're like whoa. And I think it's also what I
said about the actors that they cast in this show,
like Gold and Adua are. You know, they come from
the theater and you can feel that. And I think
how embodied the characters were right away, and also how
gracious they are. And I always love to tell people
how little Golda is like the Qui's like the complete opposite,
(23:01):
because she's so chilled out and she's so warm and loving,
and it's often, you know, the nicest people pay. She's
not a baddie, but you know, she's the nice people
play those kind of big parts the best, and I
love how much people have responded to them, because I think,
you know, it can also be a thing that television can.
Often we're still limited in the roles for women on TV.
Let's just put it out there. We're even more limited
(23:23):
in the roles for women of color on television, and
then we're also limited by roles of women of a
certain age on television. And how much people adore Golden Aduet,
You're like, there you go. It's like not an excuse
not to cast people or tell these stories. And they're
just yeah, they're just phenomenal. And I think, you know,
when you are on a job with people like that,
you learned so much from watching them. It's like it's
like free acting classes by the best actors in the
(23:45):
world every day. It's brilliant and also like they're proper,
like they're proper actors, professional and it's so beautiful to
be around what I'm saying, the rest of us lights
swinging from the RUSS wasn't like it was a very
very beautiful like do you know what you mean, Like
it's a very respectful environment. All of us really cared
(24:05):
about it and loved it a lot. But they're like
the next level, like they you want I want to
be when I grow up, you know what I mean?
Like this they they like everyone up there game. You've
got no excuses for anything when you see women like
this being this tremendous, such a consistent, tremendous. Yeah, really
(24:27):
beautiful and also like Adrea and gold A really really supportive,
great interesting women being interested in other people's lives, being interesting.
While we were on the subject, I asked Claudia and
Nicola about their favorite moments and said, you know, the
food is whatever you have there, So you can't go
to the shop, you can't do anything, you don't have
any while you so like the importance of the food
(24:49):
I set is is huge and like it would always
be like you'd asked TDS like what one is it
today and liked you're like someone over here, you know,
someone got the text with the menu and it was
just like it was like some sort of drug deal,
but you're like, give me information. We'll find out what's happening.
Because then because we had the most beautiful coffee trunk, right,
they had this coppee trunk. And then they do like
afternoon snacks as well as sometimes you'd get like casadas
(25:10):
or something, do you know what I mean? Or like
a toasty. You'd get a toasty. Oh my god, I
love the toasty so much. I'd get vegan cheese and
like harm toasty. I was kater too, so well, it's
the best cater I've ever had as a vegan honor
set before this was like hey, we've got like vegan cheesy,
garlic bread, lasagne, Like what do you want? It's so good?
(25:34):
It was epic. Clearly, this is what we really care about.
This is this is what we want to know. What
were you eating? Yeah, my magic worker sandwich, the magic sandwich,
and then the desserts. Row is really good. What is
this magic represent It's the best sandwich in the world.
It's cash brown veggie sausages, catch up in like a roll. Yeah,
(25:59):
and it's my every breakfast. Oh it's but it's like
I started off really healthy. I started off with like
my armlets. And then by the like last month, I
was like, I have the magic sandwich please for breakfast
with brown sword. I like it with ketchup, Okay, I
have it with brown swords. So because Linda mccar'tey do
like really stellar vegan sausages. They're like really really good.
So you put the vegan sausages hash brown brown swords
(26:19):
like in a bath, like a rat, like a burger
battle saft soft Well. It works in lots of different
types spread Sometimes they would bring it to me in
Surado when I was like, no, this is funny, but
it's not good. This doesn't hold in the sausages. And
you know, I think my favorite times on set well
when I'd have the really really early calls, so I
(26:42):
get picked up and maybe like forty five or something
in the morning, and then get brought to bass. This
is when we were at the studio and it was
cold and like pitch black, and I'd feel like it
would be like me and a second debut that had arrived,
and I'd be able to slowly walk in and like
get a coffee because the legendary catering team and already
be pre prepped the coffee machine for all of us
(27:04):
like ridiculous. So I'd go in get a coffee and
I've come back to the trader. I'm a smoker. I
would sit and I would have a roll up on
the steps and like the freezing cold and dark, and
it was just like my favorite thing. Because I think
those moments, I don't wish to sound ungrateful. It's not.
It's just life, isn't it. You get very used to
something quite quickly because you're a human being, and that's
fine and natural. It doesn't mean that you're not taking
(27:27):
everything in in every single moment and making sure you're
really grateful for the time. It's exhausting. But it would
be those slow moments where you're not filming, where you're
not being an actor, where you're not with your mates
on set. I'd be on my own and then I'd
realize this is so beautiful, like this is where I
get to be. It's just for you about to turn
into someone you've got the great good fortune of playing.
And also, as I'm Buddhist, I practice Buddhism, I have
(27:49):
done like my whole life basically, so I chant I'm
one of the noisy Buddhists chant a chant Ngok, same
as Tina Turner. Don't even worry about it. I would
do that in the trailer in the morning as well,
a chant before for everyone to have a really good day.
Just lovely and yeah, I think those are my favorite moments.
(28:14):
It's hard to pick a single moment because there were
a lot of amazing moments. But there's something I really
love about the first days of the actors being together.
And this would have been back from May twenty nineteen,
and it was myself, Claudia, Luke Thompson, Harry Kines and
Phoebe and Jenny Bailey. We're all together and I just
(28:37):
think that like buzzy nois at the start of something.
And you know, I love the ensemble quality of any job.
I think nothing happens in isolation. It's what you can
all create together. And it was just like knowing that
we had all these talented people and then having it
be Shanda Land and having it be Netflix and all
that stuff, Like, I think that just buzzy excitement. It's
(28:58):
an addictive, brilliant and feeling. I'm also very excited for
season two to see where our characters go, how they grow,
it's a privilege to get to continue playing a character
and go on a journey with them. Just yeah, what
a pleasure, What a pleasure. Hey ladies, thank you so
(29:20):
much for spending hours with me this afternoon, and take
care and enjoy filming season two. Thank you, absolute pleasure.
Hi bye bye bo take care and thank you listeners
for hanging out with me. Claudia Jesse and Nicola Coughlin
Behind the scenes of Bridgerton. Bridgerton The Official Podcast is
(29:44):
executive produced by Lauren Holman, Sandy Bailey, Holly Fry and
me Gabrielle Collins. Our producer is Chris Van Duson and
our editor is Vincent de Johnny. Bridgerton. The Official Podcast
is a production of Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeartRadio.
For more pot casts from Shondaland Audio, visit the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your favorite shows.
Now that I have you both here. Thank you for Bert.
It was all us. We did the whole thing, and
there's no one else invoved. Thank you, Thank you About
time someone gave us to the credit Nichola, For God's sake,
I know if I'm thinking about Welcome Back to Bridgerton
(00:20):
the official podcast, I'm Gabby Collins and I'm your guide
behind the scenes of Shondaland's hit show on Netflix. My
conversation with Julia Quinn about the backstories and relationships between
the characters beyond the central love story got me all
tangled up and watching the show again. And one of
those relationships that is I think an obvious fan favorite
(00:42):
was the Peneloise friendship. For all of its candor, it's
wit and it's shade, especially knowing what we know about Penelope, right,
Bridgerton is about love. There are love stories all over
the place, but this relationship that I want to talk about,
it's a different kind of love story. It's the kind
(01:03):
that can actually make you jealous. It's that platonic homie's
sister friend story that just grows out of genuine respect
between two people. I thought it would be a treat
to hear these two real life friends, Claudia Jesse, who
plays Eloise Bridgerton, Hi, how are you? And Nicola Coughlin, Hello,
my love, who plays Penelope Featherington, talk about their time
(01:26):
on set. Hi, Nicola, I love her little host. So
I'm on a zoom call with the actresses. Nicola is
setting up in her home studio and can we clap
one more time? Because my thing absolutely boom so hard there,
I hurt my hands. I was really steep. I was
like trying to impress you that I could clap really hard.
And Claudia is joining us, just a bit short of
(01:48):
breast because I just had to move the boat, so
I filled up with diesel and had to change the
gas and then bring it back around. So it was
raining outside. So that's why I'm wearing, like you said,
your boat. Yes, I live on a canal boat. Wait,
you have to tell us about this. I spent a
lot of time on a boat when I was a kid. Wow,
it was always something I wanted to do again, So
(02:08):
I started looking into it and then started saving for one,
and then about three years ago I bought it, and
then I spent like the rest of those three years
building it. So yeah, oh my goodness. Yeah. Yeah, So
after talking about our days and what we had for breakfast,
we started talking about the show. It's funny because I mean,
Bridgeton for me started way before filming sort of started.
I got cast April twenty nineteen, and Claudie and I
(02:30):
were the first two people cast in the show. Actually, really, yes,
we were. I have a picture that I sent her
the other day of the costume office, so there was
head shots on the wall, and I remember going in
for like a couple of things. It was just my
head shot, and then I was like, is there anyone
else cast? And they were like, not yet. And I
had started to read the books. I was like, who's Colin,
Who's Eloise? And then when I saw Claudia's head shot
was the second one that went up, Oh my god,
(02:52):
I'm so glad it's her because we had met very
briefly prior to Bridgeton. She was on a comedy show
called Porches, which one of my best friends wrote on.
So I met her at the rat party of that
and she was just an angel and delight full and
effervescent and all of those things. But yeah, I was
so glad it was her. But then she's not on
any social media, and me, being the keen being that
I am, was like determined to like make her my friend.
(03:13):
So I was messaging a bunch of actors that I knew,
and I'd forgot, I'd forgotten I did this until very recently,
I think, doing the junkets, and I said to Claudia,
you do know what, like I desperately tried to make
contact with you before filming. And thank god Claudia has
the lovely open personality that she has, because someone else
might have been really put off by how like keen
I was to become friends with her, but thankfully she
(03:35):
she wasn't. Yeah, we will get along really well, so
we'd hang out, we'd like just be together and stuff
like that. And now, you know, being together as human
beings's absolutely beful. How long for that to happen again?
Like one day? And I used to look at Nicola
on that she would be the only person I'd look
at really just to see that what she was up to,
which I really enjoyed. And she'd do like really romantic
(03:57):
things where she'd be like sent me a theay message,
just be like just in case, Claudia like scrolls across
this and I did on my birthday. It was the
most romantic thing. And she's done it like a few
times for me to find It's like little treat. I
think in a funny way, our real life relationship is
a bit of a flip of Penelope and ELOI and
I just constantly talk at Claudia and I just hope
(04:20):
that she'll respond at any point and I'll be really happy,
or I just like send her means all the time.
I don't know what. It is, like an odd blend
of being able to absolutely handle a room whilst being
what happens. It's just it's like, do you know what
someone wants described me as I've got it so funny.
I mean it's probably remember, but I thought it was
really funny. One percent confidence, zero sense of safe to say, Nicola,
(04:46):
I'm either resident reclosed. We always say about one another
like we're very different in a lot of ways, but
we're similar in all of the important ways. Yeah, and
that I'm like constantly on the internet. It's like an
actual problem, Like my phone is. It's like a permanent
thing in my aunt, especially since the show has come out,
is like bonkers. Yeah, And like I tell Claudia like,
there's four million people following reggae on Instagram. She's like
(05:09):
my grandmother. I'm like, pull up a chair and let
me tell you about what the youngsters are doing on
the net. It's like that. It's like that, I know
you've seen the Peneloi's fan art, though I know you've
at least seen that. Yeah, And I do really appreciate.
I think it's porous. I create little things to send
her and she should just see some of it. I
(05:30):
love fan her and I save it all the time
and I will send it to Claudia and I'll send
it to my mom. And I so appreciate like the
time that people take and what the characters mean to people.
Like yeah, but then that, yeah, there's lots of horrible
sides of social media as well. I'm not like it's
all great, there's nothing bad that's ever happened. It's yeah,
it can be terrible. You have to take it with
a pinch of salt. But I do. I do send
(05:52):
you the night Is some nice things. Yeah, and I
love it. I do like you. Yeah. Yes, So many
people that I've talked to for this podcast, I've talked
about the idea of Whistle Down and the ton and
the society that you all are in this show is
very similar to the like nature of everything we're talking
about right now, social media and gossip and all that. Well,
(06:13):
that's why I loved about reading the script because it
didn't read like a period drama, and I sometimes take
issue with period drama and then it feels very flat
and not real and a bit like you have to
take these certain boxes and it all has to be
very rehearsed, and I think, like with art, you wanted
to make you feel something, you want to have a
connection to it. And I think that's what's been so
lovely about art, your characters, that people have really connected
(06:35):
to them. It's also like, because it's a chandaland show,
they don't shy away from writing complicated women that sometimes
make really terrible choices. There's nothing more challenging and being
a human being is it because of our capacity to
hurt and to heal and you know, to be right
nasty little buggers. It's funny because some people will send
(06:58):
me messages and saying like, I'm really mad at Penelope
for doing this, and go, yeah, she's human. Though she's human,
she's not going to be No one's perfect all the time. Yeah,
what she does is absolutely terrible, but it's we do
sometimes do terrible things. And I think, yeah, that's a
big strength of the show. I think that those two
things coexisting, how beautiful and how lavish it is, but
coupled with the fact that it's got real depth to it.
(07:19):
And also, like we talked about this Claudia like at
the very sort of beginning, that the casting choices that
were made Kelly Hendry and col Edwards, who are the
casting directors on it, they didn't go for like the
obvious choices of people. They went for really great actor
actors that I had amire, Like Claudia I had admired
before I knew her as an actor. Johnny Bailey, you know, super,
(07:40):
super brilliant, a lot of people. You know, Polly Walker,
he's just he plays my mom. Is unbelievable. But yeah,
really interesting choices and complex actors that have come from
lots of different backgrounds. I think that really enriched it. Yeah,
we won't say who it is, but we've gone with
a list of who they could have cast that would
have been so much less interesting. Yeah, whistle down shape,
(08:01):
Like wait, some day on our Tails. Yeah, No, I
think I was very excited by the actors that they chose.
I felt like that really spoke to the type of
show they wanted to make. Yeah, to have that bonding
time was just brilliant. I'm just so glad it's the
two of us, you know, because just it's such a
(08:22):
mad journey to go on with a show like this,
and then you have someone that you know, she's so
level headed and so just sweet and kind and lovely,
and yeah, I'm just very grateful really that it's her.
I remember Nicholas last scene, right, so just before this,
we'd had vegan hot dogs because sometimes that Nicola would
do poper like combaradoie and have vegan food with me
when i'd be next I'm vegan. So she's very, very,
(08:43):
very supportive. But you were amazing because then she rapped
and then turned around and Nicola was so adoring because
she was sort of like, well, thanks everybody for the opportunity.
This has been wonderful, Like, you're very lovely, You're so nice.
Here's casting director Kelly Valentine Henry. The Beauty is the
Panell Louise crossover. The two of them and they're crossover
(09:06):
kind of girlments that they have across the street. They
take and they have fun with it. They bring their
own mark to it, and that's why those two work.
And we want to talk about chemistry. There's chemistry. Those
two fantastic chemistry. When we come back from the break,
we'll get back to our conversation with Claudia Jesse and
(09:27):
Nicola Coughlin and learn more about their experience on set
behind the scenes of Bridgerton. Stick around, Welcome back. Let's
get back into my conversation with Nicola and Claudia. We're
talking about the backstories of their characters and a little
(09:49):
bit more about their relationship and why it resonated with
so many viewers. You know, you go through those phases
where a friend sort of takes a leap ahead of
you and certain things like they get a brapher store,
someone gets a boyfriend, the other one doesn't get a boyfriend.
And I think Claudie and I that was the final
scene we shot in the show, and we hated shooting
it because we didn't like when they don't get on,
(10:10):
but also that's true friendship. You know, you don't always
get on and you know, Penelope I think she adores Eloise,
of course she does, but I think it's frustrating for her.
You know that Eloise is like, well, this is all stupid.
I don't even care. But Penelope, it's a it's a
reality of life for her that she has to go
out and you know, be presented to these men and
(10:30):
she's not you know, doesn't want to do and she's
just desperately in love with Eloise's brother. And it's all
these things again internalizing Penelope not good. Let some of it.
Tell Eloise she's your best friend. Yeah, that affects her,
and I would like to see her not because I
feel like she's in awe of Colin m and he's lovely,
but he's just a guy. You want to go, Penelope
like you're good, you know, like you've got it if
(10:52):
you have to have. She's been holding onto that crush.
Oh my god. But do you remember that, like how
intoxicating those crushes were at that age. I know for me,
they just took over everything, Oh hexicating, yes, completely, And
I just yeah, it's all you think about. And reading
back on some of my old diaries when I didn't
(11:12):
I wasn't like a regular diary keeper, but I have
certain things from that age, And you know, I used
to keep a list of boys that I kissed, and
too often like boys like I cut their pictures out
of the yearbook and put it in the diary. But
I'm like, I wish I had that level of crush now,
I feel like you don't get it to that extent
(11:32):
when you're a little older. You're like, I'm like, oh gosh,
I would love that right now. So true, which is
I think part of the escape of this show. I like,
romance is not one of those things I gravitate to. Yeah,
but it's chandaland I'm going to watch this. I know
there's going to be more witch and like, yeah, dialogue
(11:53):
and all that good stuff. And I've found myself, like
the second time watching it, really enjoying the romance of it,
and like I'm giving love and romance more respect. Do
you know what. I'm so glad you said that because
I feel the exact same genuinely, because I would always
(12:13):
have thought, like, I'm not really drawn to roman Like
I don't really know. It's a genre I was not
familiar with, to be honest, really distinctly remember shooting the
Hastings ball, which is the final ball in the show,
and it's the dance that Reggae and Phoebe do you know,
in front of everybody, Honest to god, on set that day,
we were in tears because it was breathtakingly beautiful and
(12:35):
I was like, I've just like pushed romance aside and
it's like so much citizen and then you're like, oh, look,
it's one of the most important things in the world.
And it was just like, oh, this is a celebration,
this is beautiful, and I think I'm so thrilled that
came across on screen at Genuary that day that I
remember Bessie and Harriet and I the three Featherington's were
in tears because it was just genuinely and I think
(12:58):
also the show is made with such a huge amount
of love and care and what Chris puts into it,
like his heart and soul is in the show, and
you know, we really care about making a good show,
and it's it's a real pleasure and honor as an
actor when you can make people feel things, whether you're
making them laugh or cry or you know, experience any emotion.
It's just the most wonderful thing. I love it so
(13:20):
so so true. I completely agree. Speaking of emotions, did
you ever have guests of emotion come up in you
during filming in challenges that you had to overcome? Yeah, definitely.
I mean I think with Penelope, like you know, knowing
that feeling of unrequited love, it's such a painful feeling,
you know, and I just think and also because it
(13:42):
just makes you think about those times in your life.
We've all had that time when the person that we've
liked is dancing with somebody else. It rips your heart out.
And I think that's what I love about acting, is
the parts that you can relate to you but then
are totally different. I think the parts that you can
relate to or what gives it roll the grounds and
the human feeling, but then the parts that are different
(14:02):
are the fun and the colorful parts. That's the challenge,
you know. There was a lot of super emotional scenes
and I was very very lucky that I was with
Claudia for a lot of those, the sort of crying scenes,
because I think within acting, I'm not a method actor.
I don't stay in character. I don't do that, but
I do want to bring true emotion to it, so
you know, I think you have to be in a
(14:23):
very safe environment in order to do that, and you
know you're crying real tears. It's like, you know that's
no tearstic yea. Also having a lovely supportive set and
feeling safe to go to those places. Also staying in
a corset for many hours also another challenge yet right.
One of my favorite scenes for Eloise when li is
so like the line thanks for being so perfect so
(14:45):
I do not have to be, which is like the
most amazing thing to say, and to say as I'm
actually want a line every now and again, you're like, yes,
like I get to say that one. Yeah. You also
have a few lines where you're going back and forth
with Daphnie with Phoebe, and those were killer for me.
Alois tells Stephanie that she's really good at pretending and
(15:07):
I was like, dan, oh yeah, she just he just
really came for your sister. That's a really good one.
Shut to the hut? Can you come over to Can
you come over to the feathering to now and bread
my sisters? Yeah? Exactly, Because she's just takes it and
(15:28):
I'm like I'm trying to be like, shut up, gave
me alone. In your orange dress. Who do you think
you are? Yeah, my prudence. Yeah, there's one I really
distinctly remember. It's the final ball when Colin comes over
to Penelope, And the actual song that was playing when
he came down the stairs was as heavy as the
Heads that wears the Ground by Stormsy. So when I
(15:51):
see that scene, that's the music that I hear, and
it was him and Benedict coming down the stairs, and
I think it's just a crushing moments. You see him
coming and you're like maybe, and I've the thought of
that she's going to profess her love to him, Like
I'm so glad she didn't. But then you know, I
talked to Chlode. I've totally done that wherever, like I
really like you and they're like, no, you just don't
(16:14):
want to see her like get crushed, and like it's
so crushing for her and she just can't cope with it.
It's funny when you film scenes, there's always what's on
the screen and then your experience, yeah, and all the
internal stuff. And then I remember, like we shot me
bumping into you and yes, yeah going off and of that,
and that's the only ball that you were You were
(16:34):
asked Your's executive producer, Betsy Beers. It goes back to
the beautiful theme of these books, which is the beautiful plot,
which is what do you do for love of yourself?
It's not just love of another person, but it's how
(16:55):
much do you love yourself? And how much can you
love herself? And it's a mother who's trying to create
an environment which our children can become their best versions
of themselves. I'm the youngest in a family of three girls,
and my sense of what my responsibility is it's very
weighty and I wave my hand too, but it's really
different than my older sister. Eloise can dream, and Eloise
(17:16):
can explore these other options because Daphne is doing the
heavy lifting. To Eloise, we may relate to in a
very modern way, Penelope in a different way. I suppose
it's quite prevalent when Eloise and Penelope are chatting as mates,
when they're talking about what they want, what they could want,
(17:39):
like and you can see them getting excited about other stuff,
not like the bulls and stuff like that. That's why
you see it the most for me and me and
Nick to be young girls talking about their autonomy and
when impression stuff we've spoken because they're correct, aren't they
(17:59):
They're allowed to use their thoughts and explore their thoughts
and talk about what we could be. I find it
interesting as well. That is, whilst it's beautiful, it's also
a symbol of their privilege that they even get the
time to think about the stuff like this. But do
you know, I mean they're there with they're like they're
made to a following them behind as they go on
their little promenade. It's like, you know, in their little
(18:20):
trots to then be like, ah, I want to be
here and there and everyone and what about this? And
we've got time to do this and then go home.
I mean, I'd say Eloise is emotionally more privileged than
Penelope and her sort of domestic setting. Yeah, Penelope has
it a bit rough, don't She's sort of emotionally with
like love and stuff. Whereas Eloise got the freedom to
then walk into a living and be like, how does
(18:41):
an aid to come to be a child? And it's
like absolutely fine. Like even when Ruth is like what
you're talking about? You can't say that? You know, It's
still fine, isn't it. Whilst Marina's story is slightly more
dynamic or complex, because actually she's like, it's what an
unthinkable situation that's not anyone's fault but sort of everyone
one's responsibility now, and like it's just happening. I don't
(19:03):
know how much I fully feel attached to the idea
that there's something that's been set out for me that
I can't have, and that would be a lot to
do with my privilege as well. But I think what
I found most joyful is that Nicola and I had,
you know, we'd sort of gone into this being like
they are young and they fucking love each other, so
here it is, here's this safe space for them to
(19:24):
be able to be like say silly things and be
explorative and stuff like that, both in real life and
in fiction. By the way, I'm like, it's good. I'm
going to have more filming time with Claudia and it's
going to be great. Yeah. Yeah. I talked with Julia
Quinn and she said that the main thing that she
really likes about Penelope and Aloise Peneloise is she thought
of you too when she was writing as trail Blazers,
(19:47):
that you two come in to break down the castle,
like riding in on your horses, and Daphanie is more
of a like I'm just going to remove this brick
and place it here. Yeah, but I also a revolution
in my own way. I'm just not charging in like
these two girls. Yeah, I think Claudia is really right
to say what she said about their privilege. They don't
see like that. You know, it's hard for Daphne. They
(20:09):
just like, well, she doesn't even care and she's doing whatever.
I think, you know, Eloise thinks that more than Penelope does.
As Claudia said, we had to always think they're super young,
and they're young for eighteen thirteen because they're really privileged
in garden. They've you know, always had this protection around them.
And I think, you know, everyone is a product of
their upbringing, and you know how you can't really control that.
(20:30):
So I never want to judge them for you know
what I mean. You know that time in your life
you're a teenager and you start maybe realizing things about
certain cause through this and you become a little bit sanctimonious. Yes,
I really remember that time of being like but like
going to parents like do you know about the whole
ozone laer? And are you even doing anything about it?
Like I feel like there's a real level of that
(20:51):
to the two of them, that they're like and they
also they are like weirds and we're s murder than
everyone else and were this. But I don't think the
two of them necessarily understand anyone else that's struggles very well.
But look who does it seventeen And I think with Marinas,
it's so beyond them to really understand this. Also, I
think it's a bit of a selfish age as well,
(21:12):
because you're like, well, what's going on with me, and like, yeah,
I really just want your characters to, like spend a
weekend with Sienna and Madame Delacois like yeah, the oh
my god. They would They would love They just don't
have a clue. They would lose their minds if they
had to have a day in their shoes, they would
not cope. Elois and Penelope are delightful to me because
(21:33):
they are these two young, excited, young women with hopes
and dreams that feel like they're trapped in this world
that they don't quite understand, and Eloise is always railing
in something and Penelope is always hoping for something. They
just felt very sweet to me, and I like them
very much. And I hoped for them very much. That
was executive producer Shanda Rhimes. The Peneloise relationship was one
(21:56):
of her favorites to talk about. Stick around, We'll be
back with more from nick La Cocklin and Claudia Jesse.
Welcome back to Bridgetain, the official podcast. We're hanging out
with actresses MICHAELA. Coughlin and Claudia Jesse. In this part
(22:16):
of our conversations, the ladies tell us pinch me. I'm
in the period drama of my dreams. I'm working with
some of my television production role models, and I'm sitting
across from theater grades like Aduwa and Golder like, oh so,
I mean, I just remember really distinctly in the read throughs,
those two women have presence, you know. I'm sure Claudia
(22:38):
can attest to this. Literally when they open their mouths,
you're like whoa. And I think it's also what I
said about the actors that they cast in this show,
like Gold and Adua are. You know, they come from
the theater and you can feel that. And I think
how embodied the characters were right away, and also how
gracious they are. And I always love to tell people
how little Golda is like the Qui's like the complete opposite,
(23:01):
because she's so chilled out and she's so warm and loving,
and it's often, you know, the nicest people pay. She's
not a baddie, but you know, she's the nice people
play those kind of big parts the best, and I
love how much people have responded to them, because I think,
you know, it can also be a thing that television can.
Often we're still limited in the roles for women on TV.
Let's just put it out there. We're even more limited
(23:23):
in the roles for women of color on television, and
then we're also limited by roles of women of a
certain age on television. And how much people adore Golden Aduet,
You're like, there you go. It's like not an excuse
not to cast people or tell these stories. And they're
just yeah, they're just phenomenal. And I think, you know,
when you are on a job with people like that,
you learned so much from watching them. It's like it's
like free acting classes by the best actors in the
(23:45):
world every day. It's brilliant and also like they're proper,
like they're proper actors, professional and it's so beautiful to
be around what I'm saying, the rest of us lights
swinging from the RUSS wasn't like it was a very
very beautiful like do you know what you mean, Like
it's a very respectful environment. All of us really cared
(24:05):
about it and loved it a lot. But they're like
the next level, like they you want I want to
be when I grow up, you know what I mean?
Like this they they like everyone up there game. You've
got no excuses for anything when you see women like
this being this tremendous, such a consistent, tremendous. Yeah, really
(24:27):
beautiful and also like Adrea and gold A really really supportive,
great interesting women being interested in other people's lives, being interesting.
While we were on the subject, I asked Claudia and
Nicola about their favorite moments and said, you know, the
food is whatever you have there, So you can't go
to the shop, you can't do anything, you don't have
any while you so like the importance of the food
(24:49):
I set is is huge and like it would always
be like you'd asked TDS like what one is it
today and liked you're like someone over here, you know,
someone got the text with the menu and it was
just like it was like some sort of drug deal,
but you're like, give me information. We'll find out what's happening.
Because then because we had the most beautiful coffee trunk, right,
they had this coppee trunk. And then they do like
afternoon snacks as well as sometimes you'd get like casadas
(25:10):
or something, do you know what I mean? Or like
a toasty. You'd get a toasty. Oh my god, I
love the toasty so much. I'd get vegan cheese and
like harm toasty. I was kater too, so well, it's
the best cater I've ever had as a vegan honor
set before this was like hey, we've got like vegan cheesy,
garlic bread, lasagne, Like what do you want? It's so good?
(25:34):
It was epic. Clearly, this is what we really care about.
This is this is what we want to know. What
were you eating? Yeah, my magic worker sandwich, the magic sandwich,
and then the desserts. Row is really good. What is
this magic represent It's the best sandwich in the world.
It's cash brown veggie sausages, catch up in like a roll. Yeah,
(25:59):
and it's my every breakfast. Oh it's but it's like
I started off really healthy. I started off with like
my armlets. And then by the like last month, I
was like, I have the magic sandwich please for breakfast
with brown sword. I like it with ketchup, Okay, I
have it with brown swords. So because Linda mccar'tey do
like really stellar vegan sausages. They're like really really good.
So you put the vegan sausages hash brown brown swords
(26:19):
like in a bath, like a rat, like a burger
battle saft soft Well. It works in lots of different
types spread Sometimes they would bring it to me in
Surado when I was like, no, this is funny, but
it's not good. This doesn't hold in the sausages. And
you know, I think my favorite times on set well
when I'd have the really really early calls, so I
(26:42):
get picked up and maybe like forty five or something
in the morning, and then get brought to bass. This
is when we were at the studio and it was
cold and like pitch black, and I'd feel like it
would be like me and a second debut that had arrived,
and I'd be able to slowly walk in and like
get a coffee because the legendary catering team and already
be pre prepped the coffee machine for all of us
(27:04):
like ridiculous. So I'd go in get a coffee and
I've come back to the trader. I'm a smoker. I
would sit and I would have a roll up on
the steps and like the freezing cold and dark, and
it was just like my favorite thing. Because I think
those moments, I don't wish to sound ungrateful. It's not.
It's just life, isn't it. You get very used to
something quite quickly because you're a human being, and that's
fine and natural. It doesn't mean that you're not taking
(27:27):
everything in in every single moment and making sure you're
really grateful for the time. It's exhausting. But it would
be those slow moments where you're not filming, where you're
not being an actor, where you're not with your mates
on set. I'd be on my own and then I'd
realize this is so beautiful, like this is where I
get to be. It's just for you about to turn
into someone you've got the great good fortune of playing.
And also, as I'm Buddhist, I practice Buddhism, I have
(27:49):
done like my whole life basically, so I chant I'm
one of the noisy Buddhists chant a chant Ngok, same
as Tina Turner. Don't even worry about it. I would
do that in the trailer in the morning as well,
a chant before for everyone to have a really good day.
Just lovely and yeah, I think those are my favorite moments.
(28:14):
It's hard to pick a single moment because there were
a lot of amazing moments. But there's something I really
love about the first days of the actors being together.
And this would have been back from May twenty nineteen,
and it was myself, Claudia, Luke Thompson, Harry Kines and
Phoebe and Jenny Bailey. We're all together and I just
(28:37):
think that like buzzy nois at the start of something.
And you know, I love the ensemble quality of any job.
I think nothing happens in isolation. It's what you can
all create together. And it was just like knowing that
we had all these talented people and then having it
be Shanda Land and having it be Netflix and all
that stuff, Like, I think that just buzzy excitement. It's
(28:58):
an addictive, brilliant and feeling. I'm also very excited for
season two to see where our characters go, how they grow,
it's a privilege to get to continue playing a character
and go on a journey with them. Just yeah, what
a pleasure, What a pleasure. Hey ladies, thank you so
(29:20):
much for spending hours with me this afternoon, and take
care and enjoy filming season two. Thank you, absolute pleasure.
Hi bye bye bo take care and thank you listeners
for hanging out with me. Claudia Jesse and Nicola Coughlin
Behind the scenes of Bridgerton. Bridgerton The Official Podcast is
(29:44):
executive produced by Lauren Holman, Sandy Bailey, Holly Fry and
me Gabrielle Collins. Our producer is Chris Van Duson and
our editor is Vincent de Johnny. Bridgerton. The Official Podcast
is a production of Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeartRadio.
For more pot casts from Shondaland Audio, visit the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your favorite shows.
Host
Gabrielle Collins
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