Nicola Coughlan may appear to be an example of “overnight success,” but the reality is quite the opposite. She had a difficult time making a name for herself.
During an interview with GLAMOUR magazine, she spoke candidly about the most difficult time of her life, with real tears in her eyes. Nicola stated that she needed to return to Ireland from London. She hadn’t had an audition in about a year, so she had to move back in with her parents because she didn’t have any money in her bank account.
She was 28 years old, depressed, and,
“I was unable to get out of bed. I felt as if I had failed at everything. I felt as if I had nothing to offer and had let my family down…”
She continued,
“I needed to ask my parents if I could go out for coffee. I thought to myself, ‘I’m 28, I’m too old to have done this!’ I began to believe – and this is a dangerous thought – that I didn’t want to be around people because I didn’t want to make them feel bad. I was afraid that if I went out with my friends, I’d be the worthless person in the corner, but that’s a dangerous way of thinking.”
Nicola eventually turned her life around with the help of her “amazing” parents and friends, and she now has a much more positive outlook on life.
She claimed that her sister, Mary Coughlan, literally dragged her out of bed, forced her to go for a run, and instantly restored her sense of purpose.
And now that she has it all and has achieved success, Nicola finds it especially difficult to accept that her father (who died five days before she was cast in Derry Girls) will not be able to witness it. She revealed herself on a radio show,
“Unfortunately, he had no idea I had received it. It’s too bad he didn’t get to see it. I’m so privileged, so lucky, and I have such a wonderful life.”
