Nicola Coughlan to announce shock retirement from acting?

Sad news for Coughlan fans. Speculation had been rife that the Irish actress best known for her role on the television series Bridgerton, will announce her retirement from acting, at age 39, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an actress isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an actress just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouNicola

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouNicola was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouNicola.”
— @DesireePlum, 20 May 2026

“I thought Nicola Coughlan retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 20 May 2026

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