This is Nicola's big moment just like it's Penelope's in Bridgerton ...no one could deserve it more

STAR'S FORMER TEACHER CAROLINE MOGGAN

- AMANDA EVANS

BRIDGERTON fans are well used to the sight of poor Penelope Featherington standing on the sidelines of the ballroom, snubbed by eligible bachelors.

Constantly belittled by her mother and sisters too, this season her misery was multiplied when she was abandoned by her only friend too.

Penelope has always been the bridesmaid, never the bride - until now.

Today, the final four episodes of Bridgerton are released on Netflix and the one-time also-ran is finally the belle of the ball as she heads down the aisle with Colin Bridgerton, played by handsome hunk Luke Newton.

And for the actress who plays her, the story has a kind of parallel.

After years in the chorus of school plays and a career relegated to bestfriend roles, Nicola Coughlan is finally getting her own time in the limelight.

She was certainly the centre of attention as she rocked up to the season three, part two premiere at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in the West End of London last night in a glittery gown fit for any society ball.

Caroline Moggan, who taught her at Calasanctius College in Oranmore, Galway, Ireland, had to break it to a teenage Nicola that she would not be the lead in the school musical.

"She had a real presence on stage, even back then," Caroline reveals. "Even though she hadn't landed the main part, we would always say, "There's no such thing as a small part'.

"When introducing them to the stage, you want pupils to understand what makes the bigger parts look good."

That lesson has clearly stood the Irish star in good stead.

"Nicola was always very positive," Caroline says. "She was a real open book. She seemed to be able to click with adults and her peers at the same time. She was happy in her own skin, with always a smile and a "Hello"." Caroline is incredibly proud of how well Nicola has done since school despite some setbacks.

"It doesn't surprise me at all how well she has done," she says.