But today, at EW’s photo shoot at London’s tony Lanesborough hotel, Penelope’s massive auburn wig and its attendant calumnies are nowhere to be found. Instead, Nicola Coughlan, the effervescent actress behind Bridgerton‘s secret gossip queen, is a bit bereft sporting a chic, short blond cut. “I feel weird being in costume without ginger hair,” she quips. “I’m not even a natural blonde, either, so it’s just layers and layers of lies.”

She may be talking about her coiffure, but the natural brunette could easily be describing Penelope’s alter ego — anonymous scandal-sheet author Lady Whistledown — or even Bridgerton at large.