Maybe it’s her accent, maybe it’s her insanely cool earrings, maybe it’s the way her blue eyes look sickening paired with her bright pink lipstick… but there’s something about Nicola Coughlan that just makes you want to lean in and listen to whatever she has to say. Between Derry Girls and Bridgerton, most of our office felt like they’ve known her for years. She’s got this fabulous warm energy that takes over as soon as she walks in the room and makes this gross, rainy NYC day brighter. Nicola is promoting her new series Big Mood, which is a bit of a departure from her past roles.

“It’s quite dark,” she tells me. “I think people, if they’ve seen Derry Girls, are expecting another light, fun comedy. It’s really not that because it explores mental illness in a very serious way.” Nicola plays Maggie, one part of a best friend duo. Her counterpart Eddie, played by Lydia West, have a decades long friendship that’s put to to the test with Maggie’s bipolar disorder makes a return. The show is a dramedy and Nicola says that fans of “30 Rock, Arrested Development, Parks and Rec, The Office, all those classics” will love it. Welcome to the Hall of Betches, Nicola!

HALL OF BETCHES INDUCTION:

NICOLA COUGHLAN

Nicola couhlan HOB

What is your death row meal?

Oh, god. I do really love fried chicken. I change my answer to this all the time, but I feel like really good fried chicken, fries with something on it, and lots of dips. I love when it’s a different dip with each bite, and really good coleslaw. You know when it’s not super mayo-y? It’s just crunchy, crisp, delicious. And a good diet soda or something on the side.

Obsessed. Who would be at your dream dinner party?

Sonja Morgan, Beyoncé, Liza Minnelli. Oh, god. How many is that? Three? Okay, two more. Judy Garland. And Tina Fey.

Sonja Morgan being your first one is perfect in every way.

I just love her. I love her so much. She makes me so happy. International Lifestyle Brand. Her parties when she only invites gay men. That would be a dream.

A literal dream and that dinner party sounds fab. Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Oh, gosh. Maybe, Alison Oliver who’s in Saltburn because I know her and she’s Irish. She’s from Cork. Because I feel like you got to get the accent right, because my accent is specific and hard to do, but I feel like she can nail it.

What would the movie be called?

It would be called, What Is She Doing parenthesis What’s Happening Here?

I’d watch it for sure. What’s your weirdest obsession?

My weirdest obsession… I do love those videos where they remove earwax, if you want weird. It’s really satisfying, but I will clench my jaw until they get it out. But the algorithm tells you what you like…

It’s none of my business what my algorithm tells me I’m into! Looking back, the biggest fashion regret as a kid or something that just makes you roll your eyes?

Oh, god. Just so many. I think not having a full-length mirror… Nothing went together. I’d be like, “I love these shoes.” And this jumper and this skirt. And then I see the photos and I’m like, “What? None of that.” So actually, just looking at yourself before you leave the house is just a really good thing to do, I’ve learned.

Okay. This is my favorite question. Perfect for a day like today, you’re in the backseat of an Uber. It’s raining, you’re looking out the window. What song is playing in your head?

Oh, I keep listening to that Caroline Polachek song, “Welcome To My Island.” And normally, I’m really bad for knowing modern musicians. My friends make fun of me. But then my friends, last year, they were like, “Your Spotify playlist wasn’t just surfing the Forties.” I’m like, “I know. I’m cool now.” Who knew?

Old music hits different. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done to impress someone you’ve had a crush on?

Oh, so many. When I was six, I had a crush on a boy in my class, and I took it super serious. So I made him… I don’t think you have this here. We had a thing called Subbuteo, which was a little table foosball type thing. But I was like, “I’ll make him a Subbuteo table.”But it was a piece of paper colored green and then some tinfoil men on it. And he didn’t quite get it, and I was crushed. But I’m still a big gift giver. If I have a crush on someone, I’m like, “Do you want me to buy you this one thing?” I’ve been better at expressing my feelings through gifts than say anything.

I love that. It’s your love language. Be honest. How often do you Google yourself, if ever?

I do because I think people who say they don’t, lie. And also sometimes, if I can’t find pictures of myself from an event, I’ll look at the tag pictures on Instagram because the British and fan accounts will have them way before I do.

So smart. Okay, last Q: If you had to go in the Witness Protection Program, what’s your fake name?

Fake name… Judy Bonanza. I don’t know why. It just came into my head and I guess that’s what it must be.

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