Toxic masculinity makes for uncomfortable television, but apparently, confronting it in real life is an even harder sell. Nicola Coughlan has explored the subject in I Am Helen, part of Channel 4's acclaimed female-led anthology series, created, written and directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Dominic Savage. The actress has decided to share her thoughts beyond the drama as she shares her belief that society has spent far too much time brushing the problem aside rather than tackling the attitudes at its root.

Nicola Coughlan has more to say about toxic masculinity, calling attention to society's habit of dismissing a problem it has yet to solve.

While talking to Deadline, Nicola Coughlan proved that she has little patience for the idea that society is doing enough to address harmful attitudes among men, particularly when young women continue to shoulder much of the responsibility for their own safety. The Bridgerton star believed that the conversation needs to move beyond warnings and start examining the behavior that makes those precautions necessary.

“Toxic masculinity is on the rise among young men,” Coughlan pointed out, making her concerns particularly clear. “So much responsibility is placed on young women to stay safe and protect themselves from dangerous situations, but we also need to ask who the perpetrators are.”

Her comments come in the context of I Am Helen, which examines the increasingly damaging influence of online manosphere content on relationships. Joe Cole plays Steve, a man whose growing exposure to these ideas contributes to the breakdown of his five-year relationship with Helen, portrayed by Coughlan. Rather than presenting the story through an exaggerated villain, the drama explores how recognizable people and everyday relationships can be affected by such attitudes.

The actress hopes that familiarity will make the story all the more difficult to dismiss. 

"Joe Cole’s character, Steve, isn’t a caricature of a bad guy. Helen is an ordinary woman who’s been in this relationship for a long time. I hope that normality speaks to people,” Coughlan added to Deadline while explaining why the characters needed to feel grounded rather than deliberately sensational.

Netflix’s 'Bridgerton' Fame Nicola Coughlan Joins Cast of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ 6 With Several Others

With such personal convictions at the heart of a project dismantling the manosphere, Nicola Coughlan makes it clear that I Am Helen is far more than just another acting credit.

Nicola Coughlan’s involvement in I Am Helen extended well beyond bringing its central character to life, with the actress helping develop the project from the ground up alongside creator Dominic Savage. Their collaboration began with months of conversations about modern relationships, shifting social dynamics and the growing influence of the online manosphere. Those discussions eventually became the foundation of the drama, giving Coughlan a direct hand in shaping the story she would ultimately perform.

The creative partnership also meant abandoning the comfort of a conventional script. I Am Helen was semi-improvised and filmed chronologically, with Coughlan spending months researching toxic masculinity and the pressures women face. Her master's thesis on Mike Leigh and Ken Loach gave her a particularly useful grounding in naturalistic filmmaking, while Joe Cole has praised the energy she brought to their scenes and her instinct for asking the difficult questions. In other words, Coughlan was helping steer the drama long before the cameras stopped rolling.

Nicola Coughlan, Naomi Scott, and Carmen Ejogo Spotted as Roald Dahl’s Netflix Adaptation Films in Saltburn

Do you agree with Nicola Coughlan's thoughts on rising toxic masculinity? Let us know in the comments!