Nicola Coughlan, the beloved Bridgerton star who charmed audiences as Penelope Featherington, is now gracing our screens as Diplomat Barbie in Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated Barbie movie. But this dream casting almost didn't happen, thanks to a scheduling conflict with Bridgerton.

In a recent appearance on the Irish edition of The Late Late Show, Coughlan revealed the behind-the-scenes drama that nearly cost her the role.

“I was about to film Bridgerton, and Bridgerton were like, ‘You can’t go and film an entire movie, by the way,’” she recalled, mimicking the stern tone of the show's producers. “I was like, ‘Yes, that does make sense.’”

From Heartbreak to Elated Cameo

Coughlan, known for her infectious laughter and down-to-earth personality, admitted that she was initially heartbroken when she realized she wouldn't be able to take on a larger role in Barbie.

"When I found out [Greta Gerwig] wanted to have me be part of @barbiethemovie, and then that I probably wouldn’t be able to make it work because of my schedule, I was firstly elated and quickly heartbroken," she confessed in an Instagram post last July.

But fate, it seems, had other plans.

"So when I was asked if I wanted to pop into Barbieland even briefly, my answer was an immediate, and very emphatic yes," Coughlan shared, her voice brimming with excitement.

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