Simone Ashley Defends Bridgerton Costar Nicola Coughlan amid Body-Shaming Criticism: ‘Haters Are Going to Hate’

“I really don’t think that she’s allowing that to bother her,” Ashley said of Coughlan’s response to the negative online chatter

Simone Ashley is standing up for her friend and Bridgerton costar Nicola Coughlan.

During a press conference at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on June 15, Ashley, 29, addressed the unfortunate body-shaming that Coughlan, 37, has faced from some critics as her character, Penelope Featherington, stepped into the spotlight in season 3 as one half of the Netflix series’ central love story opposite Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton).

“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 of Coughlan, noting that her costar has more positive things to focus on. “She has a strong and fruitful career and entire life ahead of her. And I really believe in her, as the world does as well.”

Ashley, who plays Kate Bridgerton (née Sharma) in the series, went on to sing the Derry Girls star’s praises.

“I think Nicola is just absolutely flying,” she said. “She is a gorgeous, strong, confident, intelligent woman, 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,” Ashley added. “She’s also a really kind human being, and I think that’s such a universal language that people can relate to.”

Earlier this month, Coughlan hit back at online claims that her waist was “photoshopped” in Bridgerton.

“I saw some trolls. They were like, ‘They photoshopped your waist,’ and I was like, ‘No, they did not,’ ” she told PEOPLE, explaining that the show’s Regency-inspired costumes fueled the speculation.

“I think if you wear corsetry for long enough, your body really molds to it,” Coughlan explained of her character’s costumes. “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.’ ”

Days earlier, during a fan event in Dublin, Coughlan cheekily responded to a viewer’s comment that she had been “very brave” for stripping down for her more intimate scenes with Newton, 31, in the series.

As seen in a clip posted on social media, she responded, “You know, I think it is hard, because I think women with my body type — women with perfect breasts — we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough.”

“I am a very proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them,” she added.

As for Ashley, she revealed at the Monaco festival that she hopes she and Jonathan Bailey — who portrays her character’s husband, Anthony Bridgerton — will be able to reprise their roles in Bridgerton’s fourth season. The pair’s courtship and marriage were the focus of season 2.

“Both Johnny and I, we adore our characters, Kate and Anthony, so much and their relationship and what they mean for the show,” Ashley told PEOPLE. “I think we’ll do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully.”
The actress previously told PEOPLE at Bridgerton’s New York City premiere that she and Bailey, 36, offered their support to Coughlan and Newton as they became first-time leads — “just there to make sure that they had someone, that they had a friend.”

“Me and Nicola would check in on each other,” the Sex Education star added. “She is such an inspiration to me and I learned so much from her, and there were times she was giving me advice.”