Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan discusses the show’s ‘reimagined world

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has discussed the ‘colourblind’ casting of the hit Netflix show during Tuesday morning’s episode of This Morning.

The actress, 34, who plays Penelope Featherington in the drama, said the series was a ‘reimagined world’ where there was a black queen and duke in the 1800s.

Nicola said if Game Of Thrones viewers could ‘suspend their belief’ for dragons in the fantasy series, they could do the same for the colourblind Bridgerton cast.

‘Reimagined world’: Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has discussed the ‘colourblind’ casting of the hit Netflix show during Tuesday morning’s episode of This Morning

She told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘It was colourblind casting. It’s not in a way because it erases race and it erases people’s struggles.

‘The world we have created is a reimagined world. On Game of Thrones, you can suspend your belief for dragons, for Bridgerton, you can suspend your belief that we have a black queen and a black duke.’

Bridgerton, created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes, casts  Regé-Jean Page as the Duke Of Hastings and Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte.

In reality, historians have regarded Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz as the country’s first mixed-race royal, however in previous adaptations of her life she has been portrayed by white actresses such as Helen Mirren.

Bridgerton: The actress, 34, who plays Penelope Featherington in the drama, said the series was a 'reimagined world' where there was a black queen (pictured) and duke in the 1800s

Bridgerton: The actress, 34, who plays Penelope Featherington in the drama, said the series was a ‘reimagined world’ where there was a black queen (pictured) and duke in the 1800s

Character: The Duke Of Hastings (Simon) is played by Regé-Jean Page

Character: The Duke Of Hastings (Simon) is played by Regé-Jean Page

In the reimagined series, Rosheuvel’s Queen Charlotte embraces her African roots and paves the way for the rest of society, for example Lady Dunbury is played by black actress Adjoa Andoh.

Rosheuvel previously told Insider: ‘It’s so empowering for an actress to have that background and that feeling that a person in the 1800s could have been fighting for her people and could have been fighting for representation.’

The publication reported that her acceptance in the royal family leads the way for people of colour to hold titles as dukes, duchesses, earls, lords, and ladies. 

High society: In the reimagined series, Rosheuvel's Queen Charlotte embraces her African roots and paves the way for the rest of society, for example Lady Dunbury is played by black actress Adjoa Andoh (pictured)

High society: In the reimagined series, Rosheuvel’s Queen Charlotte embraces her African roots and paves the way for the rest of society, for example Lady Dunbury is played by black actress Adjoa Andoh (pictured)

She told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: 'It was colourblind casting. It's not in a way because it erases race and it erases people's struggles'

She told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘It was colourblind casting. It’s not in a way because it erases race and it erases people’s struggles’

However talking to Square Mile, Regé-Jean, 31, the son of a Zimbabwean nurse and an English preacher, insisted the show is not a ‘colourblind production’.

He said: ‘I don’t think it helps when folks say that they don’t see colour… Please do. Because if you don’t, you don’t see me. And you don’t see how I walk through the world, or have any understanding of the conversations that we’re having about colour, because to you it doesn’t exist.’

Regé-Jean added that the show has people of colour in it because people of colour existed in the 19th century. 

On-screen: Nicola is cast as Penelope Featherington in the Netflix hit

On-screen: Nicola is cast as Penelope Featherington in the Netflix hit

He said: Once you watch the show, it’s the most irrelevant thing in the world. It just slots into place. You go “holy s***, how were we never doing this before?”‘ 

The star compares the concept to ‘trying to explain the internet before we had the internet and said ‘people won’t get it and then they suddenly will.’  

Elsewhere during her interview, Nicola discussed the show’s racy reputation, and said: ‘It’s Regency London but like you’ve not seen before. It’s colourful, it’s racy, it’s diverse. It’s probably not one to watch with your granny, that’s what I tell people.

‘It’s a complete fantasy. There’s zero bonnets on this series. Historical accuracy wasn’t the main concern. It was more, what could a reimagined Regency London look like?’ 

Nicola also detailed her surprise about being offered the role, and said: ‘You hear ShondaLand is doing a Netflix show and you think well that’s a big American thing I’ll do 50 auditions for and never get. 

‘Then I got a call 2 weeks later offering me the part, it was absolutely mad.’

Nicola also admitted she was ‘hopeful’ for a second series following ‘outrageous’ viewing figures.

She said:''The world we have created is a reimagined world. On Game of Thrones, you can suspend your belief for dragons, for Bridgerton, you can suspend your belief that we have a black queen and a black duke'

She said:”The world we have created is a reimagined world. On Game of Thrones, you can suspend your belief for dragons, for Bridgerton, you can suspend your belief that we have a black queen and a black duke’