“An emotionally raw series”: Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan gets personal in powerful Channel 4 drama I Am Helen

Post-Adolescence, we’re always looking for some striking and powerful TV to add to our watchlist. Cue Channel 4’s anthology series I Am, which has just revealed that its latest star will be none other than Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan. The hugely acclaimed series, which tackles stories about the female experience, has been described as “emotionally raw” and “powerful” and now, the Bridgerton and Derry Girls star is about to give what we're expecting will be a deeply personal performance in her own instalment, I Am Helen.

When the show debuted in 2019, it became Channel 4’s most successful new 10pm drama in six years, and Kate Winslet’s episode, I Am Ruth, won her a BAFTA. Over the years we’ve had standout chapters from the likes of Vicky McClure, Suranne Jones and Gemma Chan, with each story earning praise for its unflinchingly honest takes on the issues that women face.

Filmmaker Dominic Savage is behind the series, and he worked closely with each actor to write the stories. Coughlan, who will lead an episode of her own, called Savage “a singular talent”, adding that he's “a storyteller deeply committed to exploring the breadth of the female experience”. She continued: “To follow in the footsteps of the brilliant women who’ve collaborated with him on this series feels truly surreal, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this journey.”

While we wait for I Am Helen to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the plot, cast, and how to watch it.

What is the I Am series about?

I Am is a series of female-led dramas created by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Dominic Savage. First airing in 2019, the debut episode – I Am Nicole – was led by Vicky McClure. The Line of Duty star played a hairdresser stuck in a coercive and dysfunctional relationship. The fly-on-the-wall episode showed McClure slowly acknowledging the toxicity of her partner and attempting to leave him. Many of the lead actors bring their own experiences to their subject matter and McClure told The Guardian that this was the case for her when it came to "jealousy and trust issues".

Series 1 also featured Samantha Morton in I Am Kirsty, a single mum with spiralling debts, as well as Gemma Chan who starred in I Am Hannah, which dealt with the expectations of motherhood placed on young women. In series 2, we saw Suranne Jones playing overwhelmed mother Victoria, a perfectionist on the brink of a meltdown. Jones previously told GH that she drew on her own experience of mental health issues and that she was "re-living some things that actually happened to me".

In 2022, Kate Winslet starred in I Am Ruth, playing a mum consumed by her daughter’s obsession with social media. When she won a BAFTA for the role in 2023, Winslet reflected on the impact of the show – both on her personally and the wider public. “I’m so proud because we made something that really touched people,” she said. “It was something that people thought about and talked about, and are still talking about – people still come up to me in the street and talk about it.”

What will happen in I Am Helen?

As it stands, no details of the plot of I Am Helen or the characters within it have been revealed. We do know, however, that Coughlan will appear alongside Gangs of London’s Joe Cole. For the I Am series, Dominic Savage has always developed the stories alongside the actors, and Nicola Coughlan has worked with him to create Helen’s.

Who’s in the cast of I Am Helen?

As mentioned, Nicola Coughlan will be at the centre of this two-parter for the I Am series. Coughlan stars alongside Joe Cole, who’s given great performances in Gangs of London and Peaky Blinders.

Is the I Am series any good?

Absolutely – I Am has been a critical smash-hit, winning a BAFTA in 2022 and drawing applause from viewers for its perceptive writing and kitchen sink realism. Meanwhile, critics have dubbed it a “powerful excursion into the trials faced by women”. High praise, indeed.

How can I watch I Am Helen?

Channel 4 has announced the Nicola Coughlan episode, but hasn’t revealed a broadcast date just yet. As with the other chapters, it's expected to air on Channel 4 and will be available to watch on C4 Streaming. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share ot here. While you wait, you can catch up with all eight of the I Am episodes here.

What other dramas can I watch Nicola Coughlan in?

Lots! Nicola Coughlan is best known for her roles as the sharp-tongued Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton; the first three series are available to watch in full on Netflix. She also played good-natured schoolgirl Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, which is well worth a watch. You can watch all three series on Channel 4.