Nicola Coughlan gave a stirring rendition of UK Hun. (Twitter/BBC)
Bridgerton star and Drag Race superfan Nicola Coughlan shared an incredible rendition of “UK Hun?” with a Shakespearian twist.
The song “UK Hun?” has lived rent-free in the minds of Drag Race UK fans since it debuted in RuPaul’s RuRuVision spectacular – and Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is no exception.
Coughlan paid tribute to season two queen Bimini on Twitter, performing the east London queen’s verse from the addictive hit.
In the black and white video, she recites the lyrics “as dramatic monologue in the style of the Royal Shakespeare Company”.
Coughlan starts slow with the immortal line, “Release the beast, Bimini!”, building up and up to a dramatic, emotional “love yourself, say that again”.
In honour of @dragraceukbbc Day may I present my ode to @biminibabes– UK Hun, but as a dramatic monologue in the style of the Royal Shakespeare Company pic.twitter.com/kFKkRV4S1P
— Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) March 4, 2021
Followers were blown away, including fellow actor Noma Dumezweni, known for playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
“OMG Nicola – You truly are quite brilliant,” Dumezweni wrote. “The STYLE is perfect and the meter – lentils tender!!!”
OMG Nicola – You truly are quite brilliant!!! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿😂💛 The STYLE is perfect and the meter – lentils tender!!! 😂👏🏿💥
— Noma (@MissDumezweni) March 5, 2021
Bimini was praised by the public for tackling gender norms with fun and sass in her “UK Hun?” verse, proclaiming herself a “gender-bender, cis-tem offender”.
Since its debut the song has been a huge success, conquering the iTunes chart and reaching number 27 in the Official UK Single Chart.
Nicola Coughlan meanwhile is a committed LGBT+ ally. In 2019 she marched in support of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
At the time, she told Amnesty International: “The LGBTQ community in Northern Ireland deserve to celebrate who they love with the full recognition and support of the law.”
The actor has long been a fan of drag.”I’ve been a fan for a very long time. I used to go to the Black Cap in Camden to see all the queens. I go by myself,” she told Birmingham Mail in 2019.
RuPaul Drag Race UK continues Thursdays on BBC iPlayer.