Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West once again embrace the chaos of female friendship in the series’ second season Great moodAnd they are happy about that.
“It’s kind of a role reversal in this series,” Bridgerton and Derry girls The star tells Hollywood Reporter About the success of Channel 4 creator Camilla Whitehill. She and West catch up with us over Zoom ahead of the release of Part 6 on Thursday, April 16, available on Tubi in the US.
The Irish actress refers to the lead duo, Maggie and Eddie, who continue to discover life as two 30-somethings in east London. Their silly adventures are still peppered with moments of shocking honesty — centered around Maggie’s bipolar disorder and Eddie’s unaddressed grief — bringing out the “darkness” in this dark comedy.
“Maggie is trying so hard to be the stable character, and Eddie is the one going through a crisis — not that she really realizes it,” Coughlan says of her character in this part. Season 2 revolves around the couple, who do not speak for a year after Eddie leaves for Los Angeles without Maggie, and re-enter each other’s lives. Except for Eddie’s return with his girlfriend Whitney (Hannah Onslow), whose ulterior motives everyone soon discovers. Excludes Eddie.
“She’s this hippie spiritual influencer on TikTok,” West explains. “But Eddie believes in her magic [and] A world Eddie had never seen before. And Eddie is really weak. Someone like this preys on the weak.
Fortunately, she has Maggie looking out for her. Even with the emotional and physical distance between them, the on-screen chemistry between Coghlan and West is a safe bet. “There is a real warmth and ease between them,” says Lottie Beasley, executive producer at Dancing Ledge Productions. “They are exceptional comedic actors, but they also deliver an emotional honesty that makes you root for Maggie and Eddie’s friendship, even when it’s at its messiest.”
Below, Coughlan and West dive into season two of Great mood. They discuss the pressure of representing the bipolar community on screen, their favorite British pop culture references and that perfect episode of celebrity guests: “It’s a good trait when someone isn’t afraid to take the piss out of themselves. And he really did.”
Where do we meet Maggie and Eddie in Season 2?
Lydia West We leave Season 1 with Eddie taking a flight to Los Angeles without Maggie, and we see them exit, and Eddie gets into the car. [In season two] Flash forward, a year later, and we’re at a friend’s wedding, and we’re both bridesmaids for that wedding. We haven’t talked in a year. Edie is now off the grid, so she doesn’t have a phone. She’s not on social media or anything. No one really knows if Eddie will attend or not. Then do it.
Was there any personal growth for either of them that happened off camera?
Nicola Coughlan Yes, I think Maggie is definitely trying her best. She’s trying to do all the right things you’re supposed to do as a stable person. She does yoga and Peloton and takes vitamins and does all that stuff.[[He laughs.]Just trying to improve herself. But I think it’s gone [for] An extreme version of that, which I’m not sure is entirely true to her actual character. She missed Eddie terribly, and yes, she got the shock of her life when she showed up at that wedding.
What do you think fans can expect, Nicola?
Coughlan It’s kind of a role reversal in this series. I think Maggie is trying too hard to be the stable one, and Eddie is the one having a crisis – not that she really realizes it. But then the rub is that Maggie is trying to seem really sane and really in control of everything, and everything goes completely wrong at every turn. You really feel it. And it was fun to play because, as I said, it was a role-playing thing. It was something different from the first series. It was interesting, those moments when the real Maggie would sneak glances at Whitney.[[He laughs.]
Whitney is a good opponent. What does Eddie see in her?
West When Edie left, she had not processed a lot of her pain and a lot of sadness and anger. I think she went to LA with the idea of escaping everything. Then she meets Whitney, who shows her the light, so to speak. She’s this hippie spiritual teacher influencer on TikTok. But Eddie believes her magic [and] A world Eddie had never seen before. And Eddie is really weak. Someone like that preys on the weak, and Edie really wants to be saved, so she finds someone who can heal her without her having to do any of the work herself and face whatever happens at home. What Whitney offers her is this new life where she can be whoever she chooses to be. But then it all falls apart when Whitney is exposed to her old life, and Eddie can’t really maintain everything and manage relationships with Maggie and with Whitney.
Nicola, what does Maggie hate so much about Whitney? This is a joy to watch.
Coughlan Before I answer, I have to say that we really like Hannah. She was a great addition, and she’s a great actress. It was really funny because I had been working with her for about two weeks, and I started talking about her This is going to hurt. And I didn’t really realize it was her who was in it, because she’s really transformative and has such an amazing energy. She is very talented. But I think it’s very difficult for Maggie, because you kind of realize how much you rely on Maggie and Eddie as friends. [There’s] Realizing that Maggie doesn’t love anyone but Eddie, not really. So, for someone to come and take you away, it’s very painful. But also, like I said, a lot of her true personality feels completely suppressed in this series, because she’s really trying to bite her tongue and calm down and move on. But it causes her a great deal of frustration. It’s a boiling pot, and the lid will pop off at one point or another.
Talk to me about playing a character with bipolar disorder, and the messy honesty that entails.
Coughlan Yes, Lydia and I talk about this a lot. I mean, it’s great that so many conversations have opened up about mental health in the last 10 years, but that kind of only applies to depression and anxiety. These things have become socially acceptable, while people have a real misunderstanding of bipolar disorder or no understanding of it at all. It is a very difficult disorder. It is very difficult to live with, and very difficult to treat. Also, I think this show delves into how difficult it can be to be friends with someone with bipolar disorder sometimes, because it’s not Maggie’s fault that she let Eddie down in the first series. But you see it’s all about her mental health and the complications of that and the boundaries of friendship, when you can say, “Actually, she wasn’t there for me.” But I think it’s great that he approaches it through the lens of comedy, because it doesn’t feel like we’re trying to learn a lesson and how it should be. It’s simply: “Okay, here it is, and see how hard it can be.”
It’s the intersection of all of the above plus female friendships, being in your 30s and not knowing what you want out of life. And dealing with family dynamics as well. It was so satisfying to see Maggie spending time with her dad.
Coughlan I really liked that episode. I loved shooting with Robert Lindsay too. Because no one is in the bubble. I always think that seeing people’s family dynamics is an opening to who they really are. And you see a lot of reasons why Maggie is the way she is. When she meets her father, she realizes how similar they are, even the parts she may not realize are very similar.
Have either of you had conversations with Camila about what you hope people take away from this season?
West There is a lot this season. I like the theme of openness. It comes to a head in the final episode. The season is moving towards this one point, and they’re finally having an honest conversation with each other that they’ve been avoiding for so long…there are repressed feelings that Eddie never explained to Maggie and vice versa. Just having that honest conversation between friends breaks up the lovers, because it’s truly a love affair. It’s platonic, [but] Just seeing what that can do and the power of openness and the power of honest conversations. I’m ready for the whole season just for them to talk and sit down and say what they think. a lot From season 2 it’s just repressed feelings and repressed conversations and friendships, but then it comes out in little bits. In the first episode, Eddie tries hard not to hook up with Maggie, but there are just these moments where he slips into his old dynamic, and it’s so beautiful. It’s very real to them.
It’s a great example of how the breakup of a friendship can be just as painful as a romantic breakup. Perhaps we can all benefit from personal experiences in this regard.
Coughlan definitely. I think that’s another big topic – the difficulties of trying to grow as a person in your 30s, and how that can be really difficult in friendships. Because someone will say, “Well, I’ve known you forever.” I think [Eddie and Maggie] They both try to grow in completely extreme ways that are far from their true identity. Maybe they went too far. but also, [it’s about] The difficulty of not letting each other do that, and how important it is to do so. Realistically, for long-term friendships, you have to accept that change and growth. But it’s not easy. It’s not easy at all.
How was the balance between light and darkness? Great mood? Your comedic timing is so great. Do you enjoy it or do you have to get into the zone for it?
Coughlan It’s in the text, isn’t it?
West Yes, I find it in the script. Camilla writes so naturally and speaks so conversationally that even jokes…that’s their way of talking to each other. It’s just their references and pop culture references and everything. The comedy slides along really well. Plus, we’re dealing with such heavy topics, and doing it in a funny way makes it more relatable. So I personally go to work without realizing it [heavy]. If it was a drama, I would feel heavier, and I would carry it with me more. But it’s very easy to get in and out of, because you’re talking about a really serious topic, but you’re in the middle of a sauna. It’s ridiculous, which really helps. Because it’s really sad. It’s really emotional. When you think about what Maggie went through in Season 1, dealing with lithium poisoning… What was interesting to me, watching it, was seeing the effects of lithium poisoning, because I didn’t shoot those scenes with Nick. I saw him as a viewer. I was like, “Wow. This is so hard.” It is very subtle, and difficult to even diagnose. It seemed so heavy handed, but then mixed with the actual silliness it made it more bearable.
It was a real education. Was it the same for you Nicola?
Coughlan definitely. I mean, I’ve known a couple of people in the past who had bipolar disorder, which is incredibly misunderstood. But the feedback we received was amazing. People say: “My friend’s mother is a psychiatrist, and she said this was the most realistic portrayal [she’s] Never seen bipolar on TV. This is really amazing. Because we’ve never done a show that was like, “You’ve got to learn how this is. We’re really trying to teach you a lesson here.” Whatever you want [for] Anything you ever make… you just jump in. It makes people feel something, whether it’s to laugh or cry or connect with it or whatever. The show did that.
What misconception might you have about your characters? Or was there anything about them that you wanted to play up more of this season?
Coughlan I definitely found it challenging, because I felt like Maggie was trying not to be Maggie. So it was weird in some scenes. That’s the thing I love about playing with her. In the first season, she was very open and honest. And this time, she’s trying to be a better version of herself. She’s really sticking to it. Ultimately, the real Maggie must emerge at some point. But this was a really interesting challenge. She also tries not to be herself, as she gets rid of all the good parts of herself, as well as the difficult parts. Humans, we’ve got it all going. You have to accept all of that.
West I always thought [Eddie and Maggie] It was really cool, but it’s weird because in this season we have a number of flashbacks. And doing the flashbacks confirmed how I’ve always felt about the characters. They have their style. Seeing how it transformed from 2011 to present day was really fun and really validating. It was really fun to be able to play with the hair, makeup, and costume looks, and see where they came from, how they met, what kind of friends they had, what kind of events they used to do. It gives them a bit of history that you can peek at.
What do you think the other has in common with his personality?
Coughlan I think Leeds is cooler than she thinks, because I think she really knows who she is and doesn’t have to try.
West This is crazy, your perception. Because I like you to think so, but I think I’m trying too hard.
Coughlan Doesn’t come across Absolutely. You seem very sure of your identity.
West Maybe I am now, but…
Coughlan When you first meet Eddie, I say, “Yes, you’re pretty sure who you are and what you want.” And not in the same way that she is, but in terms of the life that you’ve chosen and want to live, you’re really on your toes, and I really like that about you. Although Eddie’s life is different.
West I think you are too.
Coughlan Thanks.
I love the British pop culture references in this show. There are turkey teeth, a reference to Jamie Laing’s podcast, and the noise of a London sauna. Do you guys have a favorite?
Coughlan Oh my god, the sauna makes me laugh just because of the way Eamonn Farren said it. We were laughing so hard that day while filming. We really struggled to get through it. So I think that’s why.
West There’s a funny line that really stands out to me, which could easily be missed. In the first episode she’s the bridesmaid, Marina [Bye]Flopsy’s character asks if you can delete all the Nazis from the pictures. “Yes, that took a long time,” she says.
Coughlan [[He laughs.]Oh yeah, that’s good.
West It’s really funny.
And I wanted to ask about filming with Rupert Everett…
Coughlan [[He shakes his head.]It was a dream. Lydia has worked with Robert before. You can star in it, because it’s so funny.
West I have worked with Robert for a few years. He texted me saying, ‘Honey, are you in? Bad mood?” I was like, “Oh no, I’m actually fine.” But it’s like a “show.” Bad mood“. I was like, ‘Oh, no,’ Great mood! Yes, Nicola and me! And he was like, “Okay, I’ll do it.” It’s just hilarious and it’s frustrating…
Coughlan Down to play around! He came in and had a lot of great ideas, and the physical comedy is so great. It’s a good trait when someone isn’t afraid to get all the urine out of themselves. And he really went for it. I loved working with him. I really liked it.
Do either of you have a dream celebrity appearance? Great mood?
Coughlan I think it’s because Camila and I just met her SNL UKTina Fey. 30 Rock Both of our favorite shows. We had to talk to her about it then, which was beyond a dream, [with] Robert Carlock, one of the co-creators. It was heaven.
West Camilla would be a dream cameo, and she already was in season one.
What scene?
West She was at a skinny scarf making exhibition.
Coughlan Eddie’s mother’s scarf.
West She was a disgruntled scarf buyer. She’s been in it for five seconds and she’s amazing.[[He laughs.]
Coughlan Because she trained as an actress! That’s how Camila and I met. We went to drama school together. She’s a very good actress, but she doesn’t want to do it.[[He laughs.]
She needs to write herself into Season 3 somehow. Do you know if she has plans for another season? Would this be a no-brainer for you both?
Coughlan I mean, no idea. You never know things like this. But also one of the nicest things about the show is that we all became real friends after that. We kept saying lately [that] It would be nice to hang out and not be at work. We are all I need a non-work event! It’s a really great group of people.
