The cast of regulars appearing in Season One of the Netflix adaptation of the “Bridgerton” series based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels has been announced. As Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page lead the cast of the new period drama coming to Netflix December 25, 2020.
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The news follows the announcement that Julie Andrews would be the voice of Lady Whistledown, the Regency era gossip columnist who narrates the 8-episode period series.
When we first wrote about the news that the Bridgerton series was being adapted, we guessed that it would be heavily based on the first book in the series, “The Duke and I,” but could logically include characters from other books as well. Given the casting details, that would seem to be the case.
The show’s creator, Chris Van Dusen, said “We could not have found a more gifted group of actors to bring Bridgerton to life. When creating this series, the goal was to turn a very traditional genre on its head and make something fresh, smart, sexy and fun. That’s exactly what this cast embodies and I’m ridiculously excited to see them inhabit these characters and captivate viewers in their own incredibly brilliant ways.”
Let’s look at who has been cast so far, and which books their characters appear in.
Characters from Book 1 The Duke and I include:
Phoebe Dynevor (Dickensian) will play Daphne Bridgerton. The picture-perfect young debutante has been waiting her entire life to make her grand debut on the marriage mart. Poised to be the season of 1813’s forthcoming Incomparable, Daphne’s set to take the town by storm – but not everything goes exactly as planned for this diamond of the first water, especially after she meets a certain Duke.
Regé-Jean Page (Roots) will play Simon Basset. Having newly returned to London, the Duke of Hastings finds himself the primary topic of conversation amongst marriage-minded misses and ambitious mamas alike. Yet, for reasons of his own, our devastating Duke has zero interest in his title, society, or taking a wife.
Lady Danbury will also be in the Netflix series. About her character, Julia Quinn wrote: “Eagle-eyed readers will spot a few of my favorite past characters in the pages of The Duke and I… Lady Danbury is right there in the thick of it. She first appeared as a major secondary character in How to Marry a Marquis, and I liked her so much I thought it would be fun to bring her back. Little did I know that this would be the first of many, many Lady Danbury appearances. In fact, I think she might be my very favorite character to write.”
Adjoa Andoh (Thunderbirds Are A Go) will play Lady Danbury. The legendary, acerbic, lioness of a dowager who runs this town. Unconcerned with the rules of polite society, Lady Danbury is a straight shooter – both formidable and a little scary. And while her judgments may be sharp, they’re always accurate. She is a friend of Simon’s late mother, having shown the now Duke a rare kindness when he was a child.
Characters from Book 2 The Viscount Who Loved Me include:
Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch) will play Anthony Bridgerton. The quintessential English nobleman, Anthony is the eldest Bridgerton sibling and dutiful head of the family since assuming his late father’s title of Viscount. Endlessly handsome, charming and rich, he’s quite the catch on this year’s marriage mart. But if he has any hope of fulfilling his oftentimes overwhelming duty of marrying and producing an heir, Anthony must first learn to temper his pursuit of pleasure.
Ruth Gemmell (Penny Dreadful) will play Lady Violet Bridgerton. All warmth, wisdom and love, the Bridgerton matriarch manages to treat everyone with unmatched kindness and respect. But don’t mistake her compassion for weakness – as she’s an impressive match for anyone who dares comes close to interfering with her family. She’d like nothing more than for her children to marry – not for convenience or opportunity, but for love.
Characters from Book 4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton include:
Luke Newton (Mr Selfridge) will play Colin Bridgerton. The dashing Colin Bridgerton is used to disarming his fellow society members with good-natured jokes, though a serious sense of adventure lurks behind those swoon-worthy eyes. Colin takes a liking to the newest young lady in town — but it’s this infatuation that winds up giving him more than he may have bargained for.
Nicola Coughlan (Harlots) will play Penelope Featherington. A vastly intelligent girl with a sharp wit and kind heart, Penelope would prefer to quietly sway near the perimeter of any ballroom rather than take center stage. She’s been born into a family who will never truly understand her–as if dealing with the cutthroat, mean girls of 1813 Regency London weren’t enough.
Penelope’s mother makes it to the series too, and cousin Marina is there as well:
Polly Walker (Pennyworth) will play Lady Portia Featherington. Perhaps the most ambitious mama of all, Lady Featherington is determined to make advantageous matches for each of her daughters – and is forever pushing them on some rather disinterested parties. Cunning and ruthless, Lady Featherington hustles to get what she wants, no matter the cost.
Ruby Barker (Doctors) will play Marina Thompson: Having been sent from the country to live with her cousins, the Featheringtons, Marina never imagined being a part of London society. Yet the arrival of this resourceful young lady seems to make more than just a splash in our glittering, exclusive world.
Characters from Book 5 To Sir Phillip, With Love include:
Claudia Jessie (Vanity Fair) will play Eloise Bridgerton. Whip-smart, brazen and rebellious, Eloise Bridgerton is definitely not here for turning into just another young simpering and mincing debutante. She believes she’s destined for something much greater, though she’s quite rapidly approaching marriageable age.
Other regulars include:
Golda Roseuvel (Lady MacBeth) will play Queen Charlotte. The veritable tastemaker of London society, Queen Charlotte finds herself living for the sordid gossip that Lady Whistledown prints, though she’d swear she’s above such mundane musings. It’s only when the ton’s newest gossip writer takes aim at the palace that Queen Charlotte knows she must do something about it.
Sabrina Bartlett (Victoria) will play Siena Rosso. The beautiful, captivating, and enterprising opera singer who’s having a secret affair with a prominent lord. Fun and a bit impetuous, Siena secretly longs to be a part of our town’s world.
Recurring characters will be announced soon. A specific premiere date for the “Bridgerton” series has yet to be announced.
Did you catch that we wrote in our opening paragraph “in Season One of the Netflix adaptation”? There’s been no official Netflix announcement that there will be more than one season of the Bridgertons, but author Julia Quinn’s website language is “Season One series regulars have been announced for the Netflix adaptation of the Bridgerton series!” Sounds hopeful to us.
Read the first announcement about the upcoming period drama here, and find all of Julia Quinn’s books here.
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll want to wander over to The Period Films List. You’ll especially like the Best Period Dramas: Georgian Era List.
