The "Derry Girls" and "Bridgerton" actress gets candid about being told to lie about her age for roles, sparking a wider conversation about the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.

The entertainment world was abuzz recently, not with the latest scandalous affair or red carpet faux pas, but with something far more insidious: ageism.

Nicola Coughlan, the beloved Irish actress known for her roles as the witty Clare in "Derry Girls" and the endearing Penelope Featherington in "Bridgerton", found herself at the center of this discussion. The reason? Her age.

Coughlan, at 37, has been captivating audiences with her youthful energy and comedic timing, often portraying characters much younger than herself. This led to a wave of shocked whispers and online exclamations when fans discovered her real age.

While many comments were well-intentioned, they highlighted a pervasive issue within the industry.

"It's a weird thing," Coughlan admitted in a recent interview with Refinery29, her voice a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "I had been advised many, many years ago by people in [the] industry to lie about my age."

The very idea seemed preposterous to the actress. "I'm like, I'm not a good liar," she laughed.

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