Nicola Coughlan was recently seen on the Manchester set of Netflix's "Tales of the Unexpected," marking her first appearance in the upcoming adaptation. The actress, known for her role in "Bridgerton," is set to portray Mary Maloney in a segment based on Roald Dahl's 1953 short story "Lamb to the Slaughter." Coughlan was photographed alongside actor Arthur Hughes, her on-screen husband in this particular tale.
The storyline of "Lamb to the Slaughter" involves Mary Maloney, a pregnant housewife awaiting her detective husband Patrick's return. The narrative takes a dark turn when Patrick implies he is seeking a divorce, leading Mary to kill him in a fit of rage. The adaptation is expected to explore this shocking plot.
During filming, Coughlan was seen near a police station, dressed in a knitted cardigan and a simple outfit, appearing makeup-free. Her character's husband's profession as a police detective is implied to be the reason for the setting.
This project is part of Netflix's ongoing efforts to adapt Roald Dahl's works, following their acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021. The streaming service has previously released an animated adaptation of "The Twits" and is preparing for the theatrical release of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Coughlan's involvement in "Tales of the Unexpected" comes shortly after she began filming a guest appearance on "Only Murders in the Building" in London. For that role, she was seen in a disguise at London's Freemasons' Hall, which is serving as a filming location for the new season of the mystery-comedy. The sixth season of "Only Murders in the Building" will be the first to film outside of the United States, with its main cast traveling to the UK.
Previously, "Lamb to the Slaughter" was adapted for the "Tales of the Unexpected" series in 1979, starring Susan George as Mary Maloney and Brian Blessed as the investigating detective.
Coughlan shared her excitement for the "Only Murders in the Building" role on Instagram, humorously calling it "the nicest summer job I've ever had."