Irish actor Nicola Coughlan has openly expressed her support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire, joining many of her peers in the entertainment industry. As a prominent figure on this year’s TIME100 list, Coughlan leveraged her platform to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide.
At 37, Coughlan has actively participated in the Artists4Ceasefire movement, wearing a red pin to advocate for an end to the conflict. Regarding the pin, she stated, “This is a call to President Biden and also to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the UK to stop sending arms to Israel, to release the hostages, and to send aid into Gaza. It’s a call for peace and for everyone to find resolution in the region.”
During the event, she took a moment to toast former Irish President Mary Robinson while urging those in power to take action. Coughlan emphasized, “The fight for human rights is about speaking truth to power. This year, she (Robinson) did just that. In an open letter to President Biden, she voiced strong concerns about the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the need for American leadership to de-escalate tensions and support the pursuit of peace, as most Palestinians and Israelis seek an end to the violence.”
Coughlan echoed key points from Robinson’s letter, advocating for forgiveness over hatred and encouraging all parties involved to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Numerous celebrities have lent their voices to the Palestinian cause, including Andrew Garfield, who spoke at a 92NY event, and Mahershala Ali, who shared his thoughts on the Artists4Ceasefire Instagram page.
Concluding her speech on an optimistic note, Coughlan addressed the American audience: “I hope that if you are fortunate enough to elect your first female president, she too will be unafraid to speak truth to power and will strive to make not just this country, but the world a more peaceful place. To Mary Robinson, I raise a toast. Sláinte.”
In recognition of Coughlan as a TIME100 honoree, Time Magazine featured a statement from Bridgerton’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes, who remarked, “The passion and excellence that she has brought to Bridgerton is only just the beginning of the long, successful career she is inevitably bound to have.”
Recent casualty figures reported by Al Jazeera indicate that at least 42,227 people in Gaza have died due to Israel’s ongoing attacks since October of last year, with over 98,464 injured and more than 10,000 still missing.