Some of these secrets would catch even Lady Whistledown by surprise. Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Charithra Chandran, and Nicola Coughlan come together for a panel discussion about their experiences on the series. Bridgerton Season 2, from Shondaland, coming in 2022, only on Netflix.
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Bridgerton | TUDUM: Extended Talent Panel | Netflix
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Hello, I'm Nicola Coughlan,
and I play Penelope Featherington. Hi, I'm Charithra Chandran,
and I play Edwina Sharma. Hi, I'm Simone Ashley,
and I play Kate Sharma. Hello, I'm Jonathan Bailey,
and I play Anthony Bridgerton. "When did you know the show
was a global phenomenon?" "What was your response
to learning it was a top-ten series in almost every country?" Bonkers, wasn't it? -It was completely nuts.
-Yeah. I don't think
you can get your head around that, and I'm excited for the moment
where
it begins to make sense. Do you remember
we had the fan event? Yeah. It happened about a month
and a half before the release. And it was the first time
there was 2,000 people who were allowed
into this big Zoom. We were being introduced
and there were clips. They unmuted the 2,000 people for ten seconds,
when everyone was introduced, and you heard
about 19 different languages. And they were screaming,
and it was wild. They were so supportive, even before they'd seen
a thing from the show. They
were so behind it.
It was amazing. It was bonkers. It's been a unique experience for us because we've gone
straight into season two without the world opening up. And, of course, we get to introduce
you two amazing women. You were the only two,
and Shelley, who played your mom, who've experienced watching it,
then coming in. And it's been an amazing thing to… Yeah, it was weird. It all happened within two weeks, and I remember sitting
in the green room on this project, and some of the cast were l
ike,
"What'd you do over the weekend?" "I watched Bridgerton."
I wasn't allowed to say anything, and it was a room of 30 people, and I had to sit
in the corner and be silent. It was great because I could hear
everyone's genuine opinion, -which is obviously all positive.
-Obviously, yeah. How could it not be? But I auditioned
before the show aired. I auditioned for season two
before the show aired. And my agent was like, "Listen,
I think the show is gonna be mega." "It's really cool. I've attache
d
a trailer. It's called Bridgerton." And I was like, "Okay, cool, wow!"
And it was so colorful and so new. Then it came out and I was like,
"I really want this now." -"I really want this now."
-Yeah. Okay, so for our new cast. "How do you feel about joining
the Bridgerton world?" Just really excited. Really proud. You know, we've spoken about
how amazing the show is and the story line
and how inclusive it is, but just as a cast and crew, it's a bunch
of really genuinely kind, lovely, down-to-ea
rth people who are all so supportive
of one another. It can be quite scary coming into a show that's been
established and it's season two. It's like going to the school
canteen. "Where am I gonna sit?" But I just felt very welcomed. We were really excited
for you to join. I think we were like,
"Oh, newbies, this is great." Also, honestly,
since season one got announced, I've been getting messages like,
"Who is Kate?" "Tell us who Kate is."
I was like, "I don't know." Even the day
you were about
to be announced, it all happened really quickly. People were like,
"Is it Simone Ashley?" I was like, "I don't even know,"
and they were like, "You did know!" "I promise I didn't know." They've been so excited
about both of you. -How did you feel?
-I think that… I never thought it would happen. Because my mum and I, we… We love Jane Austen novels
and the Regency period, and my mum is obsessed
with Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice, and Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma, and I just never ever thought
it wou
ld happen. Know what I mean? I never ever imagined
that someone who looked like me would be in those outfits
in a show like that. And for it to happen,
I just couldn't believe it. And even now, sometimes I don't
quite realize what show I'm in, and then you catch yourself
on the monitor or you see photos. -Yeah.
-Like, "God!" "What was your response to Penelope
being Lady Whistledown?" And then, second question. "How would Lady Whistledown
describe season two?" I found out in a bizarre way becaus
e when we auditioned,
we knew very little about the show. It was only after getting cast
that then I found out, and I found out
on an internet fan forum. Because I realized there was
a huge fandom behind these books. It was like this whole
other world opened up. When Penelope is revealed
as Whistledown, I went, "What?" Getting cast in a Shondaland
Netflix show is major, but that's so much more major
than I ever could have imagined. They didn't know they were
gonna reveal it in season one. It had
changed back and forward.
They were gonna do a red herring-- -It was a re-shoot, wasn't it?
-A re-shoot in July-- They had filmed a different ending. -Oh, wow! I didn't know that!
-…how it was supposed to be? They were gonna make it seem
like it was Cressida Cowper. But then I think they started
writing season two and were like, "With the direction
we want to take Penelope…" -Because it's…
-I love her journey. Again, I'm like, "How do I say this
without it being a spoiler?" It's very satisfying
… what happens with Penelope
in season two. The end of the sentence. Penelope is Lady Whistledown. It was a shock to me when I found
out. I was like, "Oh my God!" And then, you re-watch it,
and you're like, "They put in spoilers and
Easter eggs from the first scene." But I was always also
very adamant about that. There was a scene
in which the duke leaves the ball… "I want to be the only one
to look at him leaving." Oh, my God. It had to be subtle because
otherwise it'd be, "Well, it's her." Did
the rest of the cast know
Penelope was Lady Whistledown? We did know
because it's in the books. -Plus I told everyone.
-Yeah. Unlike Penelope, I'm really bad
at keeping my own secrets. Like, "Did you know I'm Whistledown?
Isn't it cool I get to do that?" "I used to have the same job,
isn't that nice?" But yeah, I obviously
couldn't not tell people. And how would she describe-- Oh, how would she… "Dearest gentle reader,
the biggest rake in London… is about to meet his match,
in more ways than on
e." I think she'd also say,
"It's quite scandalous." It's very scandalous. It's a really… I keep telling everyone,
"It's really different to season one." Look at these two brats…
Oh, my God! We've spent a lot of time
together, haven't we? Yeah. We're the best of friends. Okay. A very fun one. "What was
your favorite fan comment, response, theory
that you saw online?" I love the fan art so much.
It makes me so happy to see it. The fact people put in
that much time and effort. The Bridgerton music
al
was extraordinary. Amazing. I mean, also so many people,
you know, you love and admire, being fans of the show
is surreal, talking about-- Who was your favorite
celeb fan interaction? It's got to be Kim. Yeah. My close personal friend,
Kim Kardashian. My best friend…
But we have been messaging, and she's been asking about
the show and what's happening. She's so nice but she has
a Bridgerton WhatsApp group. Like, she's seen it
six times or something. Lady Kardashian of Calabasas.
Yeah, yeah, y
eah. "What was your favorite scene
from season one?" So, any scene, hands down,
where the families are together, the Featheringtons
or the Bridgertons, 'cause your chemistry
as families are just... amazing. Particularly the scene where
Eloise comes in and she's like… How does a lady
come to be with child? Yeah. -And Benedict's slapping Colin--
-I love that. It's such a family. I think it's a family everyone
would want to be a part of. There's so much love
and fun and playfulness. But I have to s
ay, scenes that I now
appreciate more in season one, having filmed them in season two,
are the ball scenes. Yeah. -But filming them is hard, guys.
-Oh, yeah. It's long, and it's very technical, and it's also because there are
so many people there, right? The scenes with the most people,
you see everyone in their element. And you see the team
and the teamwork come together. Yeah, it's hard work. The real family really is the crew. The crew were epic. "How would you describe
Bridgerton to someone
who hasn't seen it before?" I use Chris Van Dusen's answer. "It's not your grandmother's
period drama." -That's really true.
-Yeah. It subverts all your expectations.
It's very fresh. It's so beautiful to watch.
I love the music. I'd describe it
as a carnival of joy and inclusion. And identity and romance,
and everyone's invited. Yeah. I feel like in a show
where it's so aesthetically pleasing, it's really easy
to just view it as that. -Sure.
-But it's so much more. As we've touched on earlier,
it's about family, it's about love and heartbreak,
and I think that it should be appreciated
for all of those elements. Totally. But I have so many friends who were like, "Okay,
period dramas aren't my thing." Then they watch this
and they're like, "I was hooked!" and they loved it. I would say that
a lot of period drama to me is just… It can be so slow,
the characters don't feel rounded, like they're doing impressions
of what people at that time would've done.
But this never feels like that. -N
o, never.
-Never. It's so progressive. Just colorful. I think one of the billboards says,
"It's a feast for the eyes." Which is a great description of it. Yeah. Sexy. Go on, I'll say it. It's super sexy. -Super sexy.
-Sexy. "Will Anthony have sideburns
in season two?" They were my real sideburns. You were really committed. And we're two blocks
into a four-block shoot. So, these are… -You've committed quite hard.
-They've shrunk a bit. -Yeah, they're less…
-Shrunk in the wash. What was fan consen
sus
on the sideburns? Were they popular or not? Lamb chops, they were called? -Mutton chops.
-Mutton chops. Not lamb chops. -Mint sauce.
-Lamb chops on his face. -Wanna talk about your light perm?
-It's had a perm. -I love it. I think it's so nice.
-I love it too. Jonathan Bailey, the face of perms. Permy Johnny. -PJ.
-PJ. So, juicy question coming up. "What's easier? Dating now
or in the Regency era?" In the Regency era. You don't have social media,
you don't have… It's almost…
It's simplified,
you know? Yeah. I always say this, but a thing
I think they should bring back is, in Regency, you went to a ball,
you danced with someone, next day, they'd come with a gift. -That's incredible.
-I love that. Dating in the Regency era
is incredibly stifling. And economic. Economic. It's transactional
in a very specific way, which not to say that dating now
isn't transactional, but… while I love the beautiful dresses,
the balls and gifts, I have to say
I'd definitely pick dating now. Yeah. And as
a gay man,
I'm going to choose now. "The Bridgerton
and Featherington families have a very unique dynamic." "Can you explain
the Sharma family dynamics?" -Sisterhood.
-Sisterhood. We don't have a dad in our family.
We've got Mary, played by Shelley, who we love,
and she's my stepmom, and then Edwina,
who's Kate's stepsister, but regardless of that,
we're really, really close. They're different
from the Featheringtons and Bridgertons in the sense
they've come to London. It's a different culture,
different vibe, different rules. And they've had to adapt a lot,
I think, but they never lose
their true selves. They very much feel like outsiders. The Bridgertons and
Featheringtons are the core ton, and the Sharmas feel like if the audience who watched
season one were kind of put in. They are new. They don't really know what's
happening. They have their ideas. So, I feel like the Sharmas kind of
represent the audience in a way. You guys have a gorgeous dynamic.
It is a really sisterly dynami
c. It's lovely to watch. It's been such a pleasure
to play that with you and have… We're like best friends,
Kate and Edwina, in the whole thing, and I think what's amazing about it
is, as much as there's a love story, and Edwina's
finding a match as well, I still bring it back… The core of it is two sisters
looking out for each other. Which is the beginning
of the Bridgerton world. The… What is it? -The show about…
-The Bridgevers? -The Bridgevers.
-Did I make that up? Am I a genius? What's just
happened? Have I created a viral moment? "How has Anthony Bridgerton
as a character changed this season?" I was about to say something
that would've been a spoiler. But I'm just gonna stay quiet. -Without any spoilers.
-Yes. He gets to deal with a lot of things that I think he hasn't been
given the space -to deal with.
-Yeah. -The onion's being peeled, isn't it?
-The onion is. Yeah. It's causing a lot of tears. Oh, yeah! Because, obviously,
I'm completely aware of the toxicity and the control
a
nd manipulation of his actions in series one. But I've never doubted him
being a brilliant, complex person. I think that's what is fascinating
about the show is that it's-- It's not afraid to make
the characters do unlikeable things. People are livid with Penelope
for what she did to Marina. I agree, but she's a real human,
and you do make bad decisions. Under such external circumstances,
these people just get trapped. Final question. "Kanthony is the most anticipated
couple of the entire book s
eries, except for Penelope and Colin." It's exactly what's written here,
so I have to say it. "What are the fans in store for?" A lot of arguing. Volatility. Yeah, they challenge each other. -It's very passionate.
-Yeah. It's great seeing someone like Kate
being able to stand up to Anthony and him not knowing
how to sort of deal with that. He's met someone
who's really his match. It's like a puzzle that fits together. And look at how gorgeous
these two are. I know, yeah,
it's like a really fit c
ouple. I'm really happy about that. It's been so great
catching up with all of you. I can't wait to show the fans
what's to come in season two, coming to Netflix in 2022.
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