20 surprising facts about Bridgerton

Within weeks of its Christmas Day 2020 premiere, Bridgerton quickly rose in the ratings to become Netflix's biggest hit ever. The lavish period drama, which is set in Regency-era England, is based on Julia Quinn's eight-book series. The debut season followed the events of The Duke and I, the first book in the series, in which the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), sets out to find a husband in 1813.

Bridgerton has now released four seasons—with a fifth on the way—along with a spinoff series titled Queen Charlotte. Here are some things you might not know about the historical romance-drama that’s had the world besotted for years now.

This story originally appeared on Mental Floss.

1. Bridgerton is the first project in Shonda Rhimes's nine-figure deal with Netflix.

Shonda Rhimes and her production company Shondaland signed a nine-figure deal with Netflix back in 2017. Bridgerton was the production company's first project under this deal, and it reunited Rhimes with Chris Van Dusen—Bridgerton's creator and showrunner for seasons 1 and 2, who also served as a producer on Shondaland shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

In addition to Bridgerton, Shondaland has released Inventing Anna (2022) and The Residence (2025) on Netflix.

2. Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s biggest hits.

Netflix publicly predicted that approximately 63 million homes would have watched Bridgerton in its first month of release when the series first debuted. On January 27, 2021, Deadline announced that Bridgerton had already been viewed by 82 million households, making it Netflix's biggest original hit ever. And while other seasons have been successful for Netflix, its first is still the most-watched.

At the time of this writing, Bridgerton has fallen in the rankings of most popular Netflix originals, with its first season sitting at No. 8 on the list of most-watched series globally. The third season is currently at 10th place. Wednesday season 1 owns the top spot.

3. Jonathan Bailey tapped Phoebe Dynevor for advice on how to lead the season, and has a notebook full of tips to pass on to the next actor.

In an interview with Radio Times, the season 2 lead recounted the advice Phoebe Dynevor, who took the lead as Daphne Bridgerton in season 1, gave him so that he could prepare for taking over the helm of this fan-favorite show. “Phoebe was great at [counseling] me, because it’s not something you can explain to your friends and family, who you don’t see for weeks on end,” Bailey said.

Dynevor’s first piece of advice was to be physically ready, meaning: Eat healthy, exercise, and sleep as much as you can, as shooting days can sometimes last up to 14 or 15 hours. Because each season focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling’s love story, Bailey created a notebook he hopes to pass on. “It’s a Bridgerton guide for the next sibling who plays the lead,” he said.

4. Season 2 features lots of nods to Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

Fans of Jane Austen and William Shakespeare will spot plenty of Easter eggs in season 2 that reference the works of these prolific writers, as well as adaptations of their stories. Most notably: The second season of Bridgerton uses the classic enemies-to-lovers trope for Kate and Anthony that mimics Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's romance in Pride and Prejudice.

During the first episode, Kate is seen eavesdropping on Anthony talking about the women at the party being insufficient, just as Elizabeth does with Mr. Darcy when he makes very similar complaints. And fans of the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will notice a not-so-subtle nod to Colin Firth’s iconic wet shirt moment in episode 5, when Anthony falls into a lake. 

In another nod to Austen, the Sharma sisters’ tight-knit relationship resembles that of the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility. Both families have lost their fathers and the elder sisters are determined to find a match for their younger sisters while denying themselves the potential for love. In episode 7 of season 2, Kate falls off her horse and suffers a concussion, similar to Louisa Musgrove in Persuasion. (Though in Bridgerton the fall makes Anthony realize how much he loves Kate, while Louisa’s accident makes Captain Frederick Wentworth reexamine his feelings for Anne Elliot.)  

Shakespeare fans will see the parallels between Kate and Edwina’s sisterhood and that of The Taming of the Shrew’s Katherina, also called Kate, and Bianca. In both stories, to gain an audience with the younger sister, suitors must first go through the elder sister and “tame the shrew” or, as Lady Whistledown says “tame the rather prickly spinster of a beast.” 

In addition, the Bard's Much Ado About Nothing is also an enemies-to-lovers story featuring a failed wedding much like Anthony and Edwina’s would-be nuptials. Bridgerton even features a scene that bears a striking resemblance to Kenneth Branaugh’s 1993 adaptation of the play, in which enemy characters Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Benedick (Branagh) finally admit their feelings for one another and kiss in a church after the failed wedding, just as Kate and Anthony do.

5. Simone Ashley learned a hard lesson on her first day shooting in a corset.

Ashley told Glamour UK that because she was one of the leads in season 2, she wanted to make sure she was fully hydrated and well-fed before shooting her first scene. So she ate a “massive portion of salmon,” but because she was wearing a corset, she then felt sick. “I [realized] when you wear the corset, you just don’t eat. It changes your body,” Ashley said.

6. Bridgerton takes its carbon footprint seriously.

Georgina Musgrave serves as Bridgerton’s sustainability coordinator, which means she was finding new ways to be environmentally conscious and overseeing steps to minimize the show’s carbon footprint. In addition, Lisa Heathcote, the show’s head food economist, used fake food so it wouldn’t spoil while shooting. Meal scenes had real food but used lighter ingredients and raw vegetables so that the actors could eat over multiple takes.

7. Many of the stately homes featured in Bridgerton probably look familiar to viewers.

Most of Bridgerton's first season was filmed in Bath, England, where the Royal Crescent—an architectural landmark comprised of 30 Georgian terrace houses—is prominently featured (it played a role in 2008's The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, as well). Hatfield House, Wilton House, Castle Howard, and Lancaster House all make appearances alongside some notable gardens, including Painshill Park in Surrey.

When it came time for season 2, several episodes take place at the Bridgertons’s ancestral home, known as Aubrey Hall. To create this country estate, the production team utilized Wrotham Park, which was also featured in Vanity Fair (2004) and Jane Eyre (2011). The Palladian-style manor in Hertfordshire is located about 17 miles from central London. The Aubrey Hall gardens and orangerie were shot at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.

Bridgerton isn't the only project that has filmed in these historic homes: Netflix's The Crown, Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice (2005), and Autumn de Wilde's Emma (2020) all filmed scenes at Wilton House; Hatfield House appeared in Enola Holmes (2020) and Yorgos Lanthimos's The Favourite (2018). Lancaster House, which is located next door to Buckingham Palace, has played the role of its more famous neighbor in both The Crown and Downton Abbey.

8. One pivotal scene had to be shot around Queen Elizabeth II's schedule.

Speaking of Buckingham Palace: Chris Van Dusen revealed in a tweet that production had a very tight window to film a pivotal season 1 scene at Lancaster House, because Queen Elizabeth II needed to use the space. Today, Lancaster House is used for formal events and dinners, though it was originally constructed as a private residence for Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (the second son of King George III). Over the years, it has been the site of many historical occasions, including an 1848 recital by Chopin, with Queen Victoria in attendance.

9. The costume department has created more than 8000 pieces.

Ellen Mirojnick, head costume designer for Bridgerton, and her team of nearly 250 artists are behind the show's (often ostentatious) fashion sense. In a 2020 interview with Vogue, Mirojnick said they created approximately 7500 pieces for season 1 alone, and ended up using about 5000 of them. Dynevor wore 104 different costumes during the eight-episode season, and in a behind-the-scenes video released by Netflix, actress Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, mentions how many of the details on each costume, like flowers and other accessories, were handmade by the team.

For season 2, the costume department didn’t back down on the opulence. Netflix revealed that the dress Penelope’s sister, Phillipa Featherington (played by Harriet Cains) wears to Queen Charlotte’s Diamond Ball in episode 2 required more than 14,000 crystals in four shades of gold.

10. The tiaras come from Swarovski's archives.

Since Bridgerton revolves around the upper crust during the 19th century, it was essential for there to be plenty of show-stopping jewelry on display. According to Harper's BAZAAR, jewelry for the show was sourced, in part, from New York City, Italy, and England. And the tiaras worn by the series' main cast members came from Swarovski's crystal archives.

11. Most of season 2 was edited in Chris Van Dusen's basement.

In an interview with BuzzFeed about season 2, Van Dusen shared that, due to COVID, "We had to edit everything virtually, so a lot of the show was put together in my basement and not a fancy studio like most people would think."

12. Many pop songs have received 19th-century makeovers in the show.

Along with music from composer Kris Bowers, producers also enlisted the Vitamin String Quartet—who are known for their classical covers of famous songs—to perform their unique renditions of modern pop songs. Throughout the seasons, there have been several covers of hit ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s tunes, including Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” “Just What I Needed” by The Cars, and Nirvana’s “Stay Away.” 

In addition, there have been other modern songs featured like “Diamonds” by Rihanna, “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn, “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift, and “Bad Idea Right?” by Olivia Rodrigo.

13. Bridgerton House was inspired by Althorp, Princess Diana's childhood home.

Van Dusen tweeted that Princess Diana's childhood home, Althorp, was the main inspiration in designing the Bridgerton family home. Though Diana was considered a commoner by some, she still lived in an elegant and refined estate in Northamptonshire.

14. Keep an eye out for portraits of Bridgerton's actors.

You know those portraits on the walls of the grand homes in Bridgerton? If you look closely, you'll notice that many of the figures are based on the show's stars. When matriarch Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) is invited to Buckingham Palace to have tea with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), you can see that the portraits of the Queen and King George III (James Fleet) on the walls are all based on the actors themselves, rather than their real-life counterparts. Even Bridgerton House has portraits of the cast for some added authenticity.

15. Several cast members have exited.

While Daphne and Simon got their happily ever after in season 1 of Bridgerton, it was announced in 2021 that Regé-Jean Page—the series' breakout star—would not be returning for a second season. Initially, Page told Variety that the role was always meant to be a short-time gig, which was part of its appeal.

“[I]t felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on," he said. Though other reports have suggested that creative differences might have played a part in Page's decision not to return, those rumors have not been confirmed.

While Dynevor returned for the second season in a supporting role, she did not appear in seasons 3 or 4, telling Variety in 2023: “I’ve done what I wanted to do with that character and she had a great arc. If they ask me back in the future, who knows?” Other cast members who have exited include Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson, Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma, and Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton (who was replaced by Hannah Dodd).

17. Bridgerton changed showrunners after two seasons.

In a shock announcement back in 2021, Bridgerton fans learned that showrunner Chris Van Dusen would be exiting after two seasons, and Jess Brownell would be replacing him. Brownell had worked in multiple Shondaland shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, before taking on the new gig.

Though the reason for the behind-the-scenes shakeup was never revealed, Van Dusen’s statement at the time was nothing but appreciative of his time on the show.

“With Bridgerton, I set out to make the period show I always wanted to see,” he said in 2021. “I never could've anticipated how much the rest of the world also wanted to see it. I’m deeply proud of this remarkable cast and incredible crew, and I’m so grateful for the enduring support of Shonda, who I’ve worked alongside for 17 years. Shondaland is where I learned how to make TV, craft incredibly complex characters and how to tell stories. And while it’s been an incredible journey, I have my sights set on a few new stories to tell.”

18. The show has gone out of order from the book series.

Though the first two seasons of Bridgerton followed the first two books in Julia Quinn’s series, the third and fourth seasons flip-flopped, with season 3 skipping ahead to Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which follows Penelope and Colin's love story, and season 4 going back to An Offer from a Gentleman, following Benedict and Sophie.

For the forthcoming fifth season, the show will adapt the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, with a few major changes. (More on that to come.)

19. A season 3 scene was inspired by a ‘90s rom-com.

Penelope undergoes a glow-up for the third season, and the scene in which everyone realizes it was influenced by a classic 1990s movie. 

The moment where she walks down the stairs at the Four Seasons Ball, catching everyone’s attention, came from 1999’s She’s All That. Showrunner Jess Brownell was inspired by the memorable scene in which Laney walks down the stairs to “Kiss Me” to show off her makeover, according to Shondaland.

20. Season 5 will be historic.

Bridgerton season 5 is due out sometime in 2027, and it’ll mark a first for the Netflix series, featuring a queer couple as the leads. Following Francesca’s story this time around, the show has gender-swapped book character Michael Stirling, with the Bridgerton sibling ending up with Michaela Stirling. This will be a second shot at love for Francesca, whose husband John Sterling dies in season 4. 

“As John’s cousin, Michaela is the only other person who fully understands what Francesca might feel like,” actress Hannah Dodd teased. “That just connects them on another level.”

The fifth season completed filming in October, and fans are eagerly awaiting a trailer and release date.

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