Nicola Coughlan Discusses Intense New Drama I Am Helen and the Manosphere

In a candid appearance on RTÉ’s The Late Show, Nicola Coughlan discussed her starring role in the upcoming Channel 4 drama I Am Helen, urging viewers to recognize the warning signs of abusive relationships.

The series, which is set to premiere on Monday, November 16, at 9 p.m., marks a departure from the Regency-era gloss of Bridgerton, placing the actress in the center of a gritty, improvised exploration of psychological and physical control.

Developed alongside writer-creator-director Dominic Savage, the two-part drama follows the disintegration of a five-year relationship. Coughlan told host Patrick Kielty that the project’s improvisational nature—where actors arrive on set without a script—created an environment of genuine, high-stakes intensity. “The fear levels every day of going into work, you’re like, ‘I can’t do it. It’s too much’,” she told RTÉ.

The Reality of the Manosphere

While the project was in development, Coughlan admitted she was initially unaware of the specific cultural undercurrents the story would tap into. As the narrative took shape, it became clear that the character of Steve, portrayed by Joe Cole, would be influenced by the toxic ideology of the online “manosphere.”

According to reporting by the Connacht Tribune, the actor’s portrayal of a man descending into controlling behavior is designed to avoid the “comedy-level villain” tropes often seen in mainstream media.

“I don’t think it’s just in our business. I think it’s all over. It’s very easy to look at these guys and go, ‘God, they’re comedy-level villains.’ And the level of abuse that has happened, the amount of people involved, we can go, ‘We can other that.’ And in reality, this happens in people’s homes all the time,” Coughlan told RTÉ.

Coughlan emphasized that the series serves as a mirror for contemporary social issues, pointing to the influence of social media in creating binary, click-driven discourse. By focusing on a “normal man” who follows a dark path, the series attempts to dismantle the idea that domestic violence is exclusively the domain of outsiders or monsters, rather than a pervasive societal failure.

Artistic Integrity and the Path Forward

The I Am series has long been a vehicle for high-profile talent to explore difficult, standalone stories. In 2022, Kate Winslet earned a BAFTA TV Award for her performance in I Am Ruth, which examined the impact of social media on family dynamics.

Coughlan said that for I Am Helen, her primary requirement was that the story offered a sense of agency rather than just despair. She explained to the audience that she did not want to participate in a narrative that lacked a path toward recovery, hoping the show might provide a light for those currently trapped in similar situations.

Nicola Coughlan Discusses Intense New Drama I Am Helen and the Manosphere — Photo: Connacht Tribune

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Beyond her current project, the Oranmore native is expanding her portfolio with a role in the sixth series of the hit show Only Murders In The Building. Reflecting on her career trajectory—which began with open auditions at the Old Vic Theatre and led to her breakout role in Derry Girls—Coughlan remains focused on projects that challenge both her and the audience.

As the industry grapples with changing standards for protecting talent and addressing systemic abuse, Coughlan’s pivot to the raw, unscripted format of Savage’s series highlights a growing desire among top-tier stars to prioritize social relevance alongside commercial reach.

For those affected by the issues discussed in the drama, resources remain available through public support services, including those listed at www.rte.ie/helplines.

Disclaimer: The cultural analyses and financial data presented in this article are based on available public records and industry metrics at the time of publication.