Bridgerton, the Regency-era romance that's stolen hearts worldwide, is known for its stunning costumes, scandalous gossip, and, of course, its impossibly beautiful cast. But lately, it's the age of one star in particular that has fans clutching their pearls (and frantically Googling "anti-aging secrets").

Nicola Coughlan, the Irish actress who brings the witty and observant Penelope Featherington to life, is not a fresh-faced ingenue, as many viewers assumed.

She's a seasoned performer in her late 30s who just happens to have discovered a fountain of youth disguised as a pot of rouge and a well-placed hair ribbon.

The Big Reveal: Penelope Featherington is… 37?!

The internet collectively gasped when news of Coughlan's age (37, for those who missed it) made the rounds. Suddenly, those "How does she look so young?" whispers in drawing-rooms across the ton turned into a full-blown social media frenzy.

"I refuse to believe it," one bewildered fan declared on Twitter. Another chimed in, "She's got to be a time traveler, right? Maybe Lady Whistledown has a side hustle in age-defying magic.

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