Nicola Coughlan Reveals The ‘Fear’ She Had While In Debt Before Breakout Role

 

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Before her breakout role in Derry Girls led to another leading role in Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan has revealed that she was struggling financially and in debt.

Speaking with the RTÉ Guide, Nicola shared: “The fear of having nothing is still there.

“I was in debt with student loans, I was working minimum wage and the rent was so high,” she explained.

“I only got Derry Girls five years ago so it’s not that long since I’ve been able to go and buy a coffee and not have a panic attack. So I reckon I’ll have a few more years of thinking ‘I hope I have some money in my bank account’.”

Nicola went on to share that her previous financial issues have made her feel even more grateful as she now appreciates her stable income even more so.

 

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“You know what it’s like not to have all those things and you know how hard you’ve worked to get there,” she said.

“So for me to even be on a set is a privilege, to get an audition is a privilege because for years I couldn’t even get in an audition room.”

Previously, Nicola explained how being famous feels, and she admits it isn’t always the best, sharing that “Being famous is like being a dog on the Tube. It’s exactly the same energy. When you get on, everyone looks at you.”

Speaking in an interview with ELLE, Nicola continued, “Some people are so smiley, while some are afraid of you and don’t want to go near. Some people touch you without asking.

“I can still do the things I want to do, obviously, but it is different”

“I went to the pub with my friend a while back and it was like being an animal at the zoo. People just watching and looking.”

• derry girls
• nicola coughlan