Of course Nicola Coughlan brought 'Bridgerton' realness to the Met Gala

She's putting the feather in Featherington! Nicola Coughlan, the Irish actress behind Bridgerton's gossip queen herself Lady Whistledown, is the talk of the town with her Met Gala 2022 ensemble. 

Coughlan—whose character Penelope Featherington, along with longtime crush Colin Bridgerton, will reportedly be the focus of Bridgerton season 3—wasn't the only Bridgerton cast member featured on this year's red carpet, with costars Simone Ashley, Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor also stylishly stepping out in Moschino, Armani and Louis Vuitton, respectively. 

But it was Coughlan's plume-embellished pink-and-black gown from Richard Quinn that not only fit this year's "gilded glamour" dress code but also announced to the world: "I'm ready for that season three spotlight, dahling."

Nicola Coughlan Met Gala 2022 look:

Plumage also popped up in several other Met Gala looks this year, from Chloe Kim in Giambattista Valli Couture to Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton to Sarah Jessica "I put a bird on my head" Parker in Christopher John Rogers, but none served feathers up as boldly as the Bridgerton and Derry Girls star.

The party-ready, puffy-sleeved frock is just the kind of head-turning look we'd expect from one of Queen Charlotte's "diamond" debutantes. And it's especially impressive coming from a Met Gala newcomer, putting Coughlan right up there with gala veterans like Ms. "I always understand the assignment" Blake Lively. (Notably, both fashionistas took on the glam long gloves trend. BRB, adding the accessory to our shopping carts stat!)

Fans were quick to praise the look on social media, with one writing "Nicola Coughlan used her Bridgerton credentials to SHOW UP" and another posting "She really said FEATHERington." 

"The Met Gala is about being as extra as possible. Her feather aura, her unwieldy train... Nicola Coughlan is giving the people what they want," one Twitter user succinctly summed it up. 

If these are the kind of style serves we can come to regularly expect from Nicola Coughlan, we're absolutely ready for her to take the throne as the new leading lady next season on Bridgerton.