Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center|Bridgerton Unveils First Look at Penelope and Colin’s Glow Up in “Scandalous” Season 3

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Netflix dropped the official first photos from Bridgerton season three on June 17, revealing Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) stepping into the spotlight as the dazzling new stars.

Penelope—who has a side hustle as town gossip Lady Whistledown—looked radiant in multiple pale blue dresses that complemented her red hair, styled in soft waves.

"Do contain your excitement," the show tweeted, adding on Instagram, "The author is about to become the main character."

And according to Nicola, fans are in for a wild ride. The 36-year-old described her season—which doesn't yet have a release date—as "magical," "romantic" and "quite scandalous" while speaking at Tudum's Brazil event, per Shondaland.

"This year is the year Penelope thought she was having last year, if that makes sense," Nicola told the outlet. "Because I think she thought that she and Colin were a thing and it was happening, and then she got a really rude awakening at the end. I always say year one is ‘girl,' year two is ‘not a girl, not yet a woman,' and this year is ‘woman.' So, she's entering into a woman era this time."

And as Pen and Colin may be getting closer than ever, so has she with her co-star.

"Luke and I sharing this experience together has been great, because he's someone who completely gets what you're going through, and we can kind of be a united front on stuff," the Derry Girls star noted. "We can talk about scenes that we're nervous about or whatnot. Obviously, we've had scenes together since the beginning, but it's definitely different this time around."

Teasing that there will be a "massive shift this season," Nicola said her character has "really grown up" since the first episodes in 2020. Now that she's "having to sort of step up and film these romantic scenes," the actress is embracing moments that are "totally out of my comfort zone."

"I often think about playing characters who are a lot younger than you, and one of the most important things is not to patronize them and to realize that everyone, regardless of age, is a human being," she explained. "I've been on a bit of a journey with her this time around—she's embracing her womanhood."

Find out everything to know about Bridgerton season three here, and keep reading for all of the dreamy first look photos.

Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton) take center stage as the duo to watch in season three of Bridgerton.

Penelope is "grown up" now, Nicola shared in June 2023, adding it was "definitely different this time around" as all eyes are on her journey from Lady Whistledown to leading lady. 

The actress has known for a while that she'll be the focus. 

"I've known for, like, two weeks into filming season two, so I had a lot of time to adjust to it," she told E! News' Justin Sylvester and Loni Love in May 2022. "But then, you know, last night when they were like, ‘The news is coming out. You can talk about it,' I was like, ‘I don't want to. I'm too scared.' When I say it out, it makes it real."

One more secret about season three? It appears another extravagant ball will be taking place: London's Osterley Park estate was seen in July totally made-over with white flowers, Regency-era carriages and purple decorations seemingly for filming. Colin better have his dance moves perfected!