The Bridgerton carriage scene may have gone viral, but for Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan, staying true to their characters was paramount. Ahead of the highly anticipated release of the second part of season 3, Newton — who portrays Colin Bridgerton in the hit Netflix series — reveals to FENOMENCO the importance of authenticity in the show’s steamy scenes.
“Ultimately, the goal was for it to seem really authentic to those two characters,” Newton says in a joint interview with Coughlan, who plays his on-screen love, Penelope Featherington. “We wanted to honor that because people have a lot of love for their relationship, and we wanted to keep it really true to that.” The pair discussed at length how their first intimate encounter would unfold, consulting with the show’s intimacy coordinator to ensure the scene’s intensity was just right.
Newton, 31, emphasizes that he and Coughlan, 37, deliberated on the gentleness of their characters’ interactions. “We talked about how gentle they would be with each other when it’s the start of something and where we can take it from there.”
Coughlan echoes her co-star’s sentiments, highlighting the grounded nature of their on-screen intimacy. “I think what’s really beautiful about this season is, the intimacy stuff feels very real,” she notes. “It feels very grounded in two people that are awkward in front of one another, and then they become intimate in a very real and beautiful way.”
In a heartfelt reflection, Coughlan delves into the experience of playing Penelope, a character naive about sex before her romance with Colin, a story arc detailed in the fourth Bridgerton book, “Romancing Mister Bridgerton.” Recalling the nuances of filming their first kiss, she shares, “They had to remind me that Penelope has never kissed anyone before, which influenced even the placement of her hands.”
Adding a touch of humor to their intense scenes, Coughlan recounts how the pair broke a piece of furniture while filming a sex scene. She describes the filming process as “really funny,” recalling how they would relax under the blankets between takes. “We would be like, ‘Do you wanna get up and put your clothes on?’ And we’d be like, ‘We’ll just chill here.’” Their long-standing friendship added a layer of comfort to the experience.
As Bridgerton fans eagerly await the second part of season 3, which drops on June 13, they can expect an intimate portrayal of Colin and Penelope’s relationship that is both authentic and deeply affecting. The stars’ dedication to capturing the true essence of their characters ensures that viewers will be treated to a romance that is as genuine as it is captivating.