Love the Duke of Hastings? Get to know the cast of Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’

The world officially has Bridgerton fever. The new Netflix show from Shonda Rhimes’s Shondaland debuted on Christmas Day and is all anyone is talking about on social media. A Regency drama that takes the genre to new sexual heights, Bridgerton follows an aristocratic family trying to find love amidst the tongue of a very nosy gossip columnist.

Though the show is pure escapism, the acting is anything but scandalous. Featuring a well-accomplished cast & a Hollywood legend, we would like to introduce the world to the who’s who of Bridgerton.

Daphne Bridgerton

Daphne may be naive but her actor, Phoebe Dynevor, is very experienced – with acting at least. Born in Manchester, Dynevor got her big break starring in season 5 of the British drama Waterloo Road. After a few bit parts in Monroe, Prisoners’ Wives, The Village, The Musketeers, and Dickensian, she landed main roles in Snatch, alongside Rupert Grint, and Younger, before donning a corset in Bridgerton.

Simon Basset

England’s most eligible bachelor is played by British-Zimbabwean actor Regé-Jean Page. Like his onscreen love, Page also starred in Waterloo Road early in his career. In 2016, he had a supporting role in the remake of Roots. Bridgerton is not his first time working with Shondaland Productions, starring in the short-lived legal drama For The People. He has a costarring role in the new film Slyvie’s Love.

Penelope Featherington

Our dear sweet Penelope is played by Ireland’s own Nicola Coughlan. Her big break came with another Netflix show, Derry Girls, centering on a group of five Irish girls (and one British boy) navigating teenage misery during the Irish Troubles in the 90s. Coughlan is best friends with Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness and talked about joining Bridgerton on his podcast Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. 

Colin Bridgerton

Stealing Penelope’s heart and ours as the third Bridgerton brother, Colin, is Luke Newton. Still quite early in his career, Newton proved he was a triple threat on Disney Channel UK’s The Lodge. Part mystery, part musical, part drama, The Lodge ran for two seasons from 2016-2017. 

Anthony Bridgerton

Colin Bridgerton might be the singer in the show, but his older brother is the singer in real life. Anthony Brodgerton’s Jonathan Bailey grew up in England acting, even playing Gavroche in Les Miserables as a child. He grew up to appear in Broadchurch, Crashing, Chewing Gum, & Doctor Who. In 2018, Bailey starred in the gendered swapped West End Revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, for which he won an Olivier Award.

Eloise Bridgerton

Feminist badass & comic relief Eloise Bridgerton is played by the very funny Claudia Jessie. Also starring in the British series Porters, Jessie has been making a name for herself since 2012. Jessie and her costar Nicola Coughlan became close friends on set, with Coughlan telling Seventeen Magazine Jessie, “is the kindest, sweetest person. She’s so open and such a talented actor.”

Siena Rosso

If Opera singer Siena Rosso looks familiar, she should. She killed Walder Frey in Game of Thrones  — well really Arya killed him, but actress Sabrina Bartlett played one of Arya Stark’s masked disguises who got to kill Lord Frey. Besides GOT & Bridgerton, Barlett has appeared in a plethora of British dramas including Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders, Poldark, and Victoria.

Lady Whisltedown

We might only hear the voice of newcomer Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown, but we can tell she is very talented and has a bright future ahead of her in showbusiness. Who knows? Maybe she’ll play multiple famous nannies, a queen, numerous voiceover roles, plus be an accomplished singer? Only time will tell. 

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So many characters, so little time. Did we miss your favorite? How dare we! Let us know who and why in the comments below.