BRIDGERTON STAR FINALLY SHUTS DOWN THE WILDEST FAN THEORY — AND FANS ARE STUNNED 👀👶
After weeks of speculation that a beloved Bridgerton couple secretly welcomed a baby offscreen, the actress at the center of the rumor is speaking out. What she revealed surprised fans just as much as the theory itself.
One quiet detail sparked everything — and now the truth is sending the fandom into chaos 👇
‘Bridgerton’ Actress Addresses Fan Theory She Has a ‘Secret Baby’ With Her Co-Star
Fans have speculated that one of the show’s couples started a family offscreen.
Key Points
Nicola Coughlan denied rumors of a real-life romance or secret baby with Luke Newton.
Both actors are in separate relationships; Coughlan feels the intense scrutiny affects her mental health.
Coughlan appreciates her late-found fame’s perspective, stressing awareness of what really matters.
Nicola Coughlan wants to put rumors about her offscreen relationship with Bridgerton co-star Luke Newton to rest.
The actress, 38, and Newton, 32, portray love interests Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, respectively, on the Netflix series. When their fictional romance took center stage during season 3 in 2024, fans began speculating that the pair were a couple in real life too, even going so far as to theorize that they secretly tied the knot and welcomed a baby together.
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In an interview with The Guardian published on Saturday, December 6, Coughlan shut down the rumors once and for all.
“The maddest thing they thought was that I’d had a secret baby and was hiding it,” she told the outlet. “I would like to go on the record and say, ‘I don’t have a secret baby.’”
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Coughlan then attempted to redirect the attention to her and Newton’s characters, emphasizing, “But it’s real in the show! They’re married forever in the show! They have a baby in the show!”
Coughlan also denied that she was sending fans signals about her personal life via Easter eggs hidden in her clothing, her social media posts and the like.
“I’m definitely not,” she insisted. “I definitely just put a jumper on and the color doesn’t mean anything.”
In reality, Coughlan and Newton are both in relationships with other people. Since 2024, Coughlan has been linked to boyfriend Jake Dunn, and Newton has been linked to girlfriend Antonia Roumelioti.
After Coughlan went public with Dunn, 25, their romance came under intense scrutiny.
“Imagine if you had an evening at the pub and then you walked around, talking, having a lovely time. And a few days later, you see pictures of that,” she said. “The violation is immense.”
As her popularity skyrocketed, fans began sharing photos of Coughlan online anytime she was seen out and about.
“People go, ‘Oh, there’s so-and-so from TV,’” she explained. “They forget you’re a person.”
As a result of the invasion of privacy, Coughlan’s mental health suffered.
“That level of attention is hugely intense. And I don’t know how well that suits me. The intensity gave me horrific anxiety,” she said. “I was like, ‘I really want to go away.’”
Despite the negative effects of her fame, Coughlan believes she has her priorities straight because she found success once she was older.
“I had to live in the real world and learn how to pay my council tax, etc.,” she noted. “It made me aware and appreciative of what I have. I also know what’s real and what’s important.”
