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see more: Nicola Coughlan Holds Hands with Bridgerton Costar Luke Newton at Season 3 Launch Event in Australia

The latest season of the hit Netflix series will center on the love story between the pair’s respective characters, Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton

Nicola Coughlan is romancing Mr. Bridgerton!

The actress, 37, held hands with her onscreen leading man Luke Newton at the Bridgerton season 3 launch at Milton Park Country House in Bowral, Australia, on Sunday, April 21.

The upcoming season of the Netflix series will center on the love story between Coughlan and Newton’s respective characters, Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton.

Newton, 31, and Coughlan teased the sizzling chemistry between them at the event, holding hands as they strolled down some of the red carpet together — a subtle but deliberate gesture.

Coughlan looked stunning in a Richard Quinn gown with a plunging sweetheart neckline at the first event of the season 3 press tour. She finished off the all-black look with a red lip and wore her hair down and styled straight.

Meanwhile, The Lodge star was effortlessly dapper in an off-white shirt, loose-fitting pants and a long tan coat.

Inside the event, Coughlan explained why it wasn’t hard to build a deeper connection with her onscreen suitor in a video clip shared on TikTok by Elle.

“We’ve known each other now five years and people were like, ‘What did you do to build the chemistry?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, we just stopped repressing it, and then it was fine, we didn’t have to do anything,’ ” the actress said with a laugh.

“It was amazing. We’ve been on such a journey together,” she added, looking at Newton. “‘Cause I feel like we were babies in season 1, it’s strange to look back.”

Addressing the crowd, she added, “I’m so excited, I can’t believe you guys are gonna see it!”

Season 3 of Bridgerton is the small-screen adaptation of Julia Quinn’s fourth novel in the series about the wealthy Bridgerton family, titled Romancing Mister Bridgerton.

“This moment has been literal years in the making. I’m so excited we can finally start to share Season 3 with you all ❤️,” Coughlan wrote in the caption of an Instagram post reflecting on the launch.

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The first part of Bridgerton season 3 premieres on May 16, and and part 2 drops on June 13. Seasons 1 and 2 of Bridgerton — as well as its spinoff, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story — are now streaming on Netflix.