When we think of Nicola Coughlan, most of us immediately picture her as the delightfully sharp-witted and endlessly charming Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton. But long before she stole hearts in Regency-era London, the Irish actress was quietly vying for a completely different kind of fame.
We’re talking one that existed in the eerie, thrilling, and supernatural world of Hawkins, Indiana. That’s right! Coughlan once auditioned for a role in the global phenomenon Stranger Things, and it’s a revelation that makes you stop and marvel at the twists of fate in Hollywood. If you watched all five seasons of the hit sci-fi horror series, you’d know that Coughlan doesn’t appear anywhere on screen. However, that doesn’t make her connection to the Netflix show any less fascinating.
Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan auditioned for the Stranger Things role of Robin Buckley
This is true! In a new candid and refreshingly honest interview with Capital Radio, Coughlan revealed to the host that she had once auditioned for the role of Robin Buckley in Stranger Things. For fans of the sci-fi horror show, you’d know that Robin quickly became one of the series’ most beloved characters after her introduction in the third season.
Known for her sarcastic edge, Robin became a fiercely loyal addition to the Hawkins crew. While she was pretty much cool with everyone, she was the closest to Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). Ultimately, the Robin role went to Maya Hawke, but Coughlan’s revelation opens a fascinating window into what might have been.
“It would be being generous to myself to say I narrowly missed out on it. I did a first round audition for Stranger Things to play Robin, which Maya Hawke then played. You know you watch a show and you go ‘Well thank God I didn’t get that because I would have been way worse!’ So but, yeah I don’t think I was anywhere close to being in Stranger Things but I did audition.”
Hearing Coughlan describe her near-miss is like peeking behind the curtain of Hollywood’s mysterious workings. One audition, one callback, and a single decision can pivot an actor’s trajectory entirely. And yet, sometimes, not getting a role can lead to something even bigger. For Coughlan, missing out on Robin didn’t derail her career. Instead, it helped pave the way for her breakthrough role as Penelope in Bridgerton.
Still, the imagination can’t help but wander to the “what if.” What if Coughlan had stepped into the Hawkins universe and had to navigate the chaos of the Upside Down, decode Russian messages beneath Starcourt Mall, and trade rapid-fire banter with Steve behind the counter at Scoops Ahoy? It’s a version of Stranger Things that feels both wildly different yet undeniably intriguing.
It’s also worth mentioning that actors play characters in different ways. Coughlan’s take on Robin would probably have been very different from how Hawke ultimately portrayed her. Do we think that she would’ve done a great job? Of course!
However, we believe things went the way they should in the end. Hawke was meant to bring Robin to life in Stranger Things, just like Coughlan was meant to shine in her breakout role as Penelope in Bridgerton. They both found the part that would allow them to truly flourish and leave a lasting impression on audiences.
