Simone Ashley says Bridgerton costar Nicola Coughlan is able to shake off body-shaming trolls: 'The haters are going to hate'

By Adam S. Levy For Dailymail.com

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Simone Ashley says her Bridgerton costar Nicola Coughlan is squarely focused on her work - and not body-shaming from online trolls.

The English actress, 29, was asked about the nasty sentiments Coughlan, 37, has faced amid her role as Penelope Featherington on the Netflix series.

Ashley, who plays the role of Lady Kathani 'Kate' Bridgerton on Bridgerton, told reporters at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 15 that her costar is doing well and putting herself above the nastiness.

'Yeah, the haters are going to hate, and I think we can all relate to that, but I really don't think that she's allowing that to bother her,' Ashley said, according to People.

Ashley said Coughlan 'has a strong and fruitful career and entire life ahead of her,' and that she has full faith her colleague will continue to ascend.

Simone Ashley, 29, says her Bridgerton costar Nicola Coughlan, 37, is squarely focused on her work - and not body-shaming from online trolls. Pictured at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 15

'I really believe in her, as the world does as well,' Ashley said. 'I think Nicola is just absolutely flying.'

Ashley, who has leading roles in the forthcoming films This Tempting Madness and Picture This, called Coughlan 'a gorgeous, strong, confident, intelligent woman.'

She added, 'Seeing her do this press tour and spread so much joy and inspiration to everyone - especially women - all over the world. And I'm inspired by her as well.'

The Little Mermaid actress said that Coughlan - a pal of Taylor Swift's - is not just a standout as a performer, but as a person, as well.

'She's also a really kind human being,' Ashley said, 'and I think that's such a universal language that people can relate to.'

Coughlan told People earlier this month that 'some trolls' got it wrong in speculating that Bridgerton crew had digitally altered the size of her waist amid production on the series.

'They were like, "They photoshopped your waist," and I was like, "No, they did not,"' Coughlan said.

Coughlan cited the structure and impact of the costumes she wears on the series, which is set in London in the early 1800s.

Ashley, who plays the role of Lady Kathani 'Kate' Bridgerton on Bridgerton, spoke in defense of her costar at the event in Monaco 

Ashley, who has leading roles in the forthcoming films This Tempting Madness and Picture This, called Coughlan 'a gorgeous, strong, confident, intelligent woman'

'I think if you wear corsetry for long enough, your body really molds to it,' Coughlan told the magazine. 'Sometimes they come in for a fitting for a fashion designer and they put a corset on me and I'm like, "Oh, you can go tight," and they go, "What do you mean?" I'm like, "My body now will go, "Whew."'

Coughlan herself pushed back on a passive-aggressive remark about her weight when she attended a Bridgerton screening at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin, Ireland earlier this month.

After an attendee told her during a Q&A session that she was 'very brave' for performing in nude scenes on the series' third season, Coughlan responded with grace and wit.

'You know, it is hard, 'cause I think women with my body type, women with perfect breasts,' Coughlan said. 'We do not get to see ourselves onscreen enough. I am a proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.'

Ashley told People previously that she and costar Jonathan Bailey have offered their support to costars Coughlan and Luke Newton (who plays Colin Bridgerton) when they became first-time leads on the buzzy series, 'Just there to make sure that they had someone, that they had a friend.'

Ashley added: 'Me and Nicola would check in on each other. She is such an inspiration to me and I learned so much from her, and there were times she was giving me advice.'

Nicola CoughlanSimone AshleyNetflix