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She plays Diplomat Barbie.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has explained why her role in the Barbie movie is briefer than expected.
The actress was confirmed as a cast member in April when the Barbie posters dropped online, joining the likes of Simu Liu, Issa Rae and Sex Education stars Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey in the Barbies and Kens line-up.
"This Barbie is a diplomat," Coughlan's poster teased, with the actress sporting a red hairdo and a pink taffeta puff-sleeved dress for her Barbie character.
Fans going to see the film will soon learn that the reality of Coughlan's Barbie role is very much a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment.
Related: Barbie is every bit as good as you wanted it to be
Her role's briefness may be a blow for Derry Girls fans who were looking forward to seeing her on the big screen.
However, Coughlan has explained why her part was so short: scheduling conflicts.
The Bridgerton star uploaded an Instagram post on July 13, reflecting on her experience after the Barbie movie's London premiere.
Coughlan shared her delight at learning she'd bagged a role after her audition — a big feat considering she's "obsessed" with director Greta Gerwig.
"When I found out she wanted to have me be part of @barbiethemovie, and then that I probably wouldn't be able to make it work because of my schedule I was firstly elated and quickly heartbroken," Coughlan explained.
"So when I was asked if I wanted to pop into Barbieland even briefly my answer was an immediate, and very emphatic yes."
Related: Barbie star Michael Cera admits being "desperate" for movie role
Coughlan didn't clarify what project she was working on that led to the filming clash, but she's certainly had a busy schedule recently.
The actress was filming scenes for Bridgerton season 3 up until March this year, after filming kicked off in July 2022.
Barbie is in cinemas now.
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Emily Stedman
Deputy News Editor, Digital Spy
Emily is an experienced entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow. She joined Digital Spy as Acting Deputy News Editor in May 2023, and became Deputy News Editor the following year.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She's interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB's Kate Garraway (who "loved" her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn
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