Nicola hails from Galway, in the west of Ireland where she has been acting since childhood. She trained at both The Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting.
She made her on screen debut in the controversial short The Phantom Cnut directed by Tom Collins; director of the Oscar nominated Kings. As a teenager she appeared in animated series such as The Fairytaler, and the title role in France 3’s The Little Vampire.
In 2008 she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Individual Performance Award’ in ‘Acting Up’ the National Improvisation Competition; judges were former head of the Irish Film Board Leila Doolin and eminent actor/director Alan Stanford.
At Drama School she worked with Dana Andersen of The Second City and was directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Vik Sivalingam and Gemma Fairlie.
In Mill on the Floss at Birmingham Hippodrome, one reviewer commented: “Coughlan has the rare advantage of being able to play a vast age span of character…largely due to her small stature and dainty features (she) was able to play Maggie at aged nine years so convincingly well”
The Stage Newspaper nominated her as ‘One to Watch’ following her graduation showcase, Susan Elkin commented; “Coughlan is very small in stature but uses her diminutiveness to striking effect. Her stage presence shone through in the monologue using her native Irish accent.”
Nicola then went on to appear in BBC’s Doctors (2011).
Following this Nicola played Kirsty in Luke Barnes’ (Game of Thrones) Chapel Street directed by Bryony Shanahan, to rave reviews:
“Nicola Coughlan gave sensational a performance full of energy, verve and humour. Her characterisation was detailed and her delivery was unfaltering.” THE ARGUS -FIVE STARS ***** “An on-point, breathless rollercoaster (played) by the excellent Nicola Coughlan…she is superb in detail” WHAT’S ON STAGE-FIVE STARS *****
“NicoNicola hails from Galway, in the west of Ireland where she has been acting since childhood. She trained at both The Oxford School of Drama and Birmingham School of Acting.
She made her on screen debut in the controversial short The Phantom Cnut directed by Tom Collins; director of the Oscar nominated Kings. As a teenager she appeared in animated series such as The Fairytaler, and the title role in France 3’s The Little Vampire.
In 2008 she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Individual Performance Award’ in ‘Acting Up’ the National Improvisation Competition; judges were former head of the Irish Film Board Leila Doolin and eminent actor/director Alan Stanford.
At Drama School she worked with Dana Andersen of The Second City and was directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Vik Sivalingam and Gemma Fairlie.
In Mill on the Floss at Birmingham Hippodrome, one reviewer commented: “Coughlan has the rare advantage of being able to play a vast age span of character…largely due to her small stature and dainty features (she) was able to play Maggie at aged nine years so convincingly well”
The Stage Newspaper nominated her as ‘One to Watch’ following her graduation showcase, Susan Elkin commented; “Coughlan is very small in stature but uses her diminutiveness to striking effect. Her stage presence shone through in the monologue using her native Irish accent.”
Nicola then went on to appear in BBC’s Doctors (2011).
Following this Nicola played Kirsty in Luke Barnes’ (Game of Thrones) Chapel Street directed by Bryony Shanahan, to rave reviews:
“Nicola Coughlan gave sensational a performance full of energy, verve and humour. Her characterisation was detailed and her delivery was unfaltering.” The Argus- Five Stars ***** “An on-point, breathless rollercoaster (played) by the excellent Nicola Coughlan…she is superb in detail” What’s on Stage Five Stars *****
“Nicola Coughlan is outstanding as Kirsty” The Scotsman Four Stars ****
She has appeared in rehearsed readings for The National Theatre (New Playwright’s Workshop 2011), Duck directed by Stella Feehily and Max Stafford-Clark for Out of Joint at The St James’ Theatre. and Nadya by Chris Jury at The Park Theatre, which featured Phyllis Logan, Stephen Thompkinson, Michelle Terry, Shaun Prendergast & Dominic Mafham.
Most recently Nicola was chosen from 1,150 hopefuls to be one of seven emerging actors featured in the ‘Old Vic New Voices Festival’ last Summer at The Old Vic. She appeared as Jess in the two-hander Jess and Joe Forever by Zoe Cooper which received huge acclaim and a standing ovation on its first performance.
