Spoiler alert: This article contains details about season 3 of Bridgerton.
Dear Gentle Reader, Third season of the phenomenon that tears the bodice and heats up under the tie Bridgerton descended upon the tonne (short for ‘the bon ton’, or British upper class, for those who don’t watch), and brings with it the official start of the season of “Polin” – that is, the season of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton.
Following its release on May 16, fans of the regency-era romance eagerly devoured the first half of the most recent season, breaking Netflix records with 45.05 million views worldwide.
Now, forced to wait until June 13 for the second batch of episodes, fans are eagerly counting down the days until the conclusion of Season 3 — which promises to be especially spicy, given star Nicola Coughlan’s request for her character Penelope to be “as naked as possible.”
Coughlan’s Sizzling On-Screen Romance With Co-Star Luke Newton as Colin not only makes viewers fan themselves frantically (particularly during that thrilling carriage ride), but also makes them root for plus-size representation in the romantic role.
“Plus size actresses have been portrayed as fat, single or funny friends for a long time. They deserve the main character treatment,” Kate Sturino, body acceptance advocate and beauty brand founder Megababe told Yahoo Entertainment.
“When I was watching the sex scene, I noted to myself how unusual it was to see a larger body getting the sex scene treatment. The lighting, the close-ups, the passion! And with a protagonist, no less, like the beautiful Colin Bridgerton, not a secondary character”, added Sturino. “It was so exciting to see Penelope attract not just one, but two suitors. It was also great to see how Colin had such sexual desire for her. It’s important to show this!”
Although the season is based on the novel by Julia Quinn Dating Mister Bridgertonthe room in Bridgerton series, the producers cut an important plot point that the book follows: Penelope’s weight… and weight loss.
“We think Penelope is beautiful and I don’t think that’s really part of her story,” said showrunner Jess Brownell. Variety. “I think her being a wallflower on our show has more to do with her confidence level than her outward appearance. So I think that’s more what we’re playing with this season.”
One plot from the book they kept, however, was Penelope’s transformation – which fans call “Bridgerton glow,” a wardrobe transformation that characters undergo when they transition into the romantic lead role.
In Season 3, gone are Penelope’s citrus dresses and tight poodle curls. Now, as her character leaves the role of wallflower and enters the role of protagonist, her look is more glamorous.
But more important than what Penelope is wearing is what she’s not wearing — which, according to Coughlan, won’t be much, per her request.
“I specifically requested certain lines and moments [from the book] to be included… There’s a scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice,” said Coughlan Stylist.
“It felt like the biggest ‘fuck you’ in all the talk around my body; It was incredibly empowering… I felt beautiful in that moment and thought, ‘When I’m 80, I want to look back and remember how hot I looked!’”
It’s this on-screen empowerment that has fans in the plus size community cheering.
Body Positive Model and Content Creator Remi Bader recently took to her Instagram story to share a message she received from a follower.
“Between Nicola being the protagonist of this season of Bridgerton and Hunter McGrady on the cover of SI Swimsuit all in one week, the little chubby girl in me is so happy to see this. I’m still a chubby adult, but I really wish we had this kind of representation when I was a kid in the early 2000s.”
To this, Bader responded, “That’s true. As much as I’ve been saddened by the lack of representation of curvy, positive bodies in fashion lately, we have to look at what’s being done, and both are huge!
McGrady, a plus-size model, piggybacked on Bader’s Instagram story.
“We are seeing such a devastating decline in body representation [and] diversity on all boards. I know the plus community is really feeling this… We’re back to revering just one body type,” she said in the video.
“We need representation more than ever… We’ve made a lot of progress and now we’re taking a step back. I stopped seeing plus size women in ads on every forum… We still deserve to be valued.”
However, some feel that Coughlan’s role as Penelope is not enough to advance body representation.
“I think it’s cool to see someone bigger than a size 2 on screen. Is it revolutionary? It is not enough? No,” Rafaela Mancusoa mental health and body image activist shared with Yahoo Entertainment.
“I think a lot of people see themselves in [the role]. It helps people feel normal in their bodies. It’s validation, in that sense, when we’ve been in a society that has taught us to hate ourselves for so, so long. [But] We’re not done yet.”
As for Coughlan herself, the actress said she hopes one day her work will be more important than her real body.
“I hope that in the future more people talk about our work, our inspirations, our motivation, and not about our appearance. A revolution is happening and I want to play my part in it,” Coughlan wrote in a 2018 article for Guardian.
She echoed the same sentiment more recently in a 2021 interview with Tatler. “I know the world is very obsessed with body image, but I always hope that people focus more on my acting than that. … Your relationship with your body is very personal. If I suddenly decide to become a bodybuilder and [apply a] fake tan and covered in muscles, I can do this – because it’s my body and no one else can own it or decide what to do with it. I always wished I wasn’t known as a body positivity influencer and was just known as an actor.
The first part of Bridgerton The third season is now streaming on Netflix.
