Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan reveals the beloved Stranger Things role she missed out on
She could have been one of the show's most loved characters!
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has revealed that she missed out on a huge role in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things.
The Irish actress disclosed that she auditioned for the role of Robin Buckley in the globally successful sci-fi show, the quick-witted fan favourite character who was ultimately played by Maya Hawke.
"It would be being generous to myself to say I narrowly missed out on it," she admitted on Capital Radio to host Siân Welby.
"I did a first round audition for Stranger Things to play Robin, which Maya Hawke then played."
She reflected on missing out on the role with humour and went on to praise Hawke's rendition of the character, adding that she was definitely the right choice for the role.
"You know you watch a show and you go 'Well thank God I didn't get that because I would have been way worse!'
"I don't think I was anywhere close to being in Stranger Things but I did audition," she confessed candidly.
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Robin Buckley was introduced in season three of Stranger Things as a colleague of Joe Keery’s character Steve Harrington at the ice cream shop he worked at.
She quickly became a fan-favourite character thanks to her quick wit and humour, as well as the onscreen chemistry between the two actor.
Although it was not Maya Hawke's first acting role, the Netflix hit launched the 27-year-old daughter of Hollywood actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke into stardom.
Missing out on the role has not been a detriment to Nicola Coughlan's career though, and she's since gone on to star in a Netflix series of her own — Bridgerton, as Penelope Featherington, aka Lady Whistledown.
She is also known for portraying Clare Devlin in the wildly funny Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, Maggie in the dark comedy-drama series Big Mood, and also plays Silky in the upcoming film adaptation of the book The Magic Faraway Tree.
Stranger Things and Bridgerton are both available to stream on Netflix.
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Authors
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
