May 23, 2024 • 33 mins
New faces are popping up all over the ton this season! In this companion episode to How Bright the Moon, host Gabi Collins chats with new cast member Hannah Dodd about bringing the shyest Bridgerton, Francesca, to the forefront of the season. Then, she catches up with fan-favorites the Mondrichs — played by Martins Imhangbe and Emma Naomi — to talk all about their new digs as the parents of the Baron of Kent.
Binge part one of Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix now to better enjoy all the tea with us every week!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bridgerton The Official Podcast is a production of Shondaland in
partnership with iHeartRadio. Welcome back to Bridgerton the Official Podcast,
your exclusive peak behind the curtain of Shondaland's Bridgerton series.
I'm your host, Gabrielle Collins. Today we're talking about episode two,
(00:25):
How Bright the Moon. I'm joined by some familiar faces
of the Ton, the Mandritches played by Martinsen, Hangbay and
Emma Naomi and Hannah Dodd, who was bringing Francesca Bridgerton
and her Piano forte to the forefront this season. If
you haven't watched it yet, all of part one is
(00:49):
out now, So what are you doing? Watch now on
Netflix and then join us back here for all the
season's most sparkling secrets. Before we get into it, let's
run through a quick whistle download of this episode. The
Queen is still searching for a diamond. Unimpressed so far,
(01:10):
She's looking for a new face, a bright and surprising
young woman to lead the ton.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Besides, I've not seen nearly enough from this year's girls.
If I am to grant someone my favor, she must.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Do more to earn it.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I see, I shall simply choose someone who sparkles.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Lady Danbury lets this information slip to Lady Bridgerton, who
puts her full force behind getting Francesca a love match
as soon as possible. Though Francesca herself seems less than enthused,
she attracts the Queen's favor with am mesmerizing private piano
forte performance and earns her the title of the season's Sparkler. Meanwhile,
(01:58):
the Mantraches are trying to act on to their new
role in society as the parents of the Baron of Kent.
But if a new title means a lonely estate, a
stuffy wardrobe, and separate bits, is it really what Will
and Alice want to kick things off here, we're talking
(02:22):
to one of the season's new faces. Hannah Dodd is
such a welcome addition to the Bridgerton family this season,
capturing Francesca with naivete, depth and a touch of quirk.
She sat down with us to talk about stepping into
the world of the ton and finding a voice for
the Bridgerton who'd rather sit at the piano forte than
(02:43):
step into society. I may be jumping the gun here,
but are you a pianist?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
No, no, that was just a nice little surprise of
the job.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh my goodness. Okay, love Francesca and her little piano.
But let's take a few steps back and just talk
about you stepping into Francesca's shoes, bringing to life one
of the youngest daughters who is now entering society. What
was it like to watch the world of bridgeton form
(03:21):
around you when you first joined the team.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
It's the weirdest fling ever. When you've watched a show
and you know that the characters so well, you know
the sets so well, you kind of feel like you're
on some kind of fun experience and you're just being
walked around the set as like a special treat, and
then you have to sit down and actually do some work,
and you've got the cast like introducing.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Themselves to you, and you're like, I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
It was magical. It was magical, And yeah, we're so
lucky with set designers and the hair and makeup and
the costumes, like it really does most of the work
for you. So yeah, you really do feel like emerged
in that time than in the green room when everybody's
cracking jokes in between takes.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Did you have that aha moment of like this, I
am Francesca.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I think it's a combination of all of it. I
think the wig really helped. Like I've never been that
dark brunette before.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I didn't know there was a wig.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Oh my god.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
No.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
And mean even people on set didn't realize it was a.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Wig because they are so good. They're so good.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I mean I would look at my hairlines sometimes and
I knew that there was glue there and like lined
it up to perfection.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
They are so talented.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
One of my first fittings, we hadn't got the scripts yet.
I had no idea what the story was gonna be.
It's for Francesca. I didn't know, yeah, what her past
was going to be. And they put me in the
presentation to the Queen gown and I was like when
I walked in and that was the first thing they
put me in, I was like, first of all, still
get my head around the fact that I'd been cast
in Bridgeston and then you're wearing quite an iconic outfit
from Britist and you're going, I'm in Bridgeston And it
(04:58):
was actually Bee's gown that they fitted me. I don't
know whether it or not. It was the Phoebe's gown
that I actually wore on the day, but that was
the one that I put on board fifty.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Ooh, could you tell me more about that gown and
why that particular gown really struck you as the Oh
my goodness, this is going to be an amazing interesting
season for Francesca.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
I'm wearing that costume on the day. I mean, it
was like forty degrees. It was so hot. It was
in the middle of like our heat wave. I've got
a feather on top of me. I've got gloves, and
I kept getting stuck. They kept opening the doors, and
I kept getting stuck. The massive trait. I take like
three steps and it would just pull me back into
(05:42):
the door.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I couldn't get to golder. It was so embarrassing. I
was still really new.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I've got like all of these people staring at me.
All I have to do is walking curtsy. I just
couldn't get out of the door. So I've got, I've got.
It was nice memories, but also like absolute humiliation memories.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I want to know what it was like for you
joining a cast of siblings who are known to be
super close knit. It seems like there's a family bond
in real life, you know, on set as well as
what we are seeing portrayed on screen.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, no, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
They they really do function as a family, and there
is so much love between the Bridgeton siblings offset and
it was something that I was really aware of going in.
You can see the chemistry on screen, and I knew
that I needed to kind of get in there as
quick as possible so that Francesca would have that dynamic
and it is like people that she's grown up with,
(06:38):
but at the same time wanting to have like respect
and not wanting to throw them my weight around as
soon as I time. But they were so welcoming, and yeah,
they really do function like a family, and there's so
many different personalities and you have such different conversations with
each of the siblings. I remember they all told me
they were like, we'll be worn out by like eleven
am because there's so much energy, and it is true,
(07:02):
that's just absolute carnage, but in the best way. And
there's just so much love in that room and you
feel really safe to try things and they're all just
so funny. Yeah, I mean, like getting to be in
Bridgeton but getting to be a bridgeton.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
As well has been like the biggest gift.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I literally adore every single one of them so much.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
We'll be right back after the break. You mentioned Hannah
not wanting to throw your weight around, but Francesca is
definitely the center of attention, especially in this episode episode two.
So what was your discussion with Jess Brownell or any
(07:44):
of the other creatives, like behind the scenes, what did
it entail and how did you all create that instant
familiarity and likability. I mean, you are so present and
it's so clear right out the gate who Friends is.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Yeah, it was getting the scripts and working with Jess,
our showrunner. I think me and Jess talked a lot
at the start. Obviously it was her first season show running,
it was my first season, so we've formed like a
little bit when I was a little alliance there. But
a lot of it was this kind of idea of
a practical approach to the ton and not having her
(08:22):
absolutely just terrified of everything, just having that quite specific approach,
this idea that she's not fantasized over a husband her
whole life, but she knows that this time is coming.
She knows it's her turn, so she's not fighting it,
but at the same time, she doesn't romanticize it. And
because she hates the spotline, because she doesn't want to
be the center of attention, she kind of has this
(08:43):
attitude of like, let's just get it done. I want
to find a nice person. But I think she's really
fantasized over this like great love, which is a completely
different approach to what we've seen, which was really fun.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, in that moment where you're playing the piano and
Lady Bridgeton comes in and is like, what are we doing?
It's time to go, and you're like, you know, you
don't have to shout, and she doesn't.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
She doesn't like attention. So if she just gets on,
you know sometimes when you flap and worry and you
make a bigger deal out of something.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So she's just gonna go and do the job that
she knows.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
She's got to do and get it done and then
everybody will stop looking at her and she can go
back to her life.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Kind of thing.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
That was splendid.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Forgive me your majesty, I was only taking a small
pause from the ball.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Because you delight in your endeavors. Someone who performed, not
for me, but for themselves. Bravo sparkling.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
One might say, another moment where we learn a lot
about Francesca is that moment when she steals away and
she's on the piano forte. When you first encountered that
scene in your scripts, what did it do for you?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I mean, first of all, she's recognized for being herself.
I think that's part of the reason why she's recognized
that this year, you've got all of the debutantes absolutely
throwing themselves at the queen and I'm really really trying
to impress her. So the fact that somebody isn't doing
that is what's kind of impressive. But then yeah, the
fact that she's at a party and she's obviously slightly
(10:36):
overwhelmed and she's trying to speak to people, but she
doesn't really know what to do, and playing the piano
is her calm zone.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
It's kind of her collection to herself.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
And it does prove that, you know, even when she's
at a party and she said to her mum that
she's gonna, you know, try and she wants to talk
to this person, this person, she'd still rather be alone
and at the piano, and that is a party to her.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
She's like more than happy being there.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So yeah, I do think it is a moment that
you really get to see who she is and.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Also her reaction to the Queen.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
It's not like yay on him, like I've impressed the Queen.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's kind of like, oh God, what's I just done?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
What kind of prep were you doing for those piano scenes?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Since it was anxiety, that's what it was. I think
the week after I got the part, I was in
piano lessons because we just didn't really have the time
to start learning the piano from scratch. I needed to
be able to play small parts of pieces and like
motesar pieces, I just had to memorize them. So I
(11:39):
used to be a dancer, so I think I just
started learning like hand choreography essentially. But then sometimes they'd
be like, Hannah, can you look at the sheet music?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
When we were filming, like like no.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Go on, look away from my hands. I have to
be staring down at them at all time.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Speaking of music, in episode two, there's a cellist who
has a pickup line that's actually pretty suave.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
That's just quite expressive music. I once heard a rum
where the trio's has written to convey his feelings for
Medamoiselle Udwigs do not think you can feel it in
the music.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Francesca was kind of like okay, you know, she was
like going with it. But do you think that Francesca
wasn't ready for such an intentional attempt at romance.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I think it's massively like overwhelming for her. And I
think these girls haven't had this experience before, so they're
so naive and they're so innocent as well. They don't
understand necessarily what some of these men are getting to
and are kind of implying with what they're saying, and
they don't know how to behave and I think so
(12:47):
many of their thoughts and feelings have been kept private
for so long as well, so then when you're kind
of expected to open up to someone, I don't think
she necessarily knows how to do that yet as well.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
What are your thoughts on what Francesca represents for the
audience because of that perspective that you just describe.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
The Bridgetons are. They're all very different, and they all
have massively different personalities and wants and needs, but there
is something that's very confident and comfortable about them. I
think they've always been popular and they feel quite comfortable
in anybody's company. And Francesca isn't that, and I think
(13:30):
a lot of people aren't that, And it's okay. I
think as a society we kind of celebrate, you know,
people who are exceptional and who are the life and
soul of the party and always out and doing things,
And it is okay to be somebody who's like satisfied
with much smaller simple things, like the things that make
(13:51):
Francesca happy are like playing the piano and reading a book.
Doesn't need this like validation from a million different people,
which is actually a really cool thing about. But I
think on the surface, people wouldn't necessarily think that she's cool.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I am with you, because I think that maybe for
a lot of us, the first thought is, oh, she's
just shy, or she's even aloof about the whole thing.
But she's just introverted and she's just doing her thing.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
She's a lot of things. I think like calling her shy.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
She is shy, but that's not all the person is.
She's got so many different personality traits and she's working
out what it is that she wants as well.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Francesca's interaction with Penelope, and the two of them talk
about feeling different from their siblings and really not wanting
to be inspected as if they're under a microscope. So
Penelope tells Francesca she should enjoy being seen.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Penelope has grown up with the Brigitton, so that's somebody
that Francesca knows and loves in the way that she's
basically like a family member already.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
That is somebody that she trusts and that she can
open up to.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
And I think they do relate to each other because
they are different from their siblings. But I think Penelope
does her a massive kindness there, and I think it's
kind of a bit of a confidence boost as well. Yeah,
she doesn't want her to miss her opportunity and miss
her moment because it can get harder as awful as
that is, that the.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Law seasons you do and everything.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Like that, and just to sort of let her know
that she's seen, like really seen, not this version, not
this sparkler or anything like that. So yeah, you kind
of see their similarities and Francesca's privilege as well. I
think she then sort of realizes her privilege and that, yeah,
this is something that will help her get to the
(15:45):
next step, and as scary as it is, she is lucky.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
We'll be back after the break to talk to former
outsiders and new nobles, the Mandraches. The ton is getting
a real shake up this season, and the lifestyle of
fan favorite couple Alison will Mandrich is no exception. With
(16:16):
fancy positions come new fancy problems. I spoke with Martin's
and Hangbay and Emma Naomi on the family upgrade. We
kicked off our conversation by going through the couple's journey
prior to season three, and we even stepped back to
the audition room with these fine actors. These two characters
(16:37):
aren't actually in the books. They've been introduced to us
through the world of Shondaland. So outside of the scripts,
how did each of you prepare to create these characters.
Speaker 7 (16:49):
Yeah, so my.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Character is based on a real life boxer called Bill Richmond.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Funny story.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
Initially, when I sent my audition, I did it in
an American action because Bill Richmond was actually from America.
It would have taken a lot of backstory and explaining
as to why he's American and how he got here,
and I guess it was a better option to make
him from London, So then I had to kind of
adjust it. Okay, now he's from London, so okay, So
(17:17):
I had to kind of make him my own and
kind of let go of the Bill Richmond kind of
story and kind of find my own kind of access
to this world. The story and against the story was
quite straightforward. You know, there was a man who was
using boxing as a way out, as a way to
better himself and his family, and he would use his charm,
(17:38):
his charismais he's talent to kind of navigate that. And
in terms of Alice, how didn't meet Emma?
Speaker 5 (17:45):
I think we had a conversation once where we said
that my dad was a shop owner. I was just
helping him out and that you would always come into
the shop. And that's how it met. And it took
a few visits.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
And it felt very simple. It felt very like natural.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Yeah, it felt like a love match. It wasn't. Nobody
was introducing their daughter to such and such a person.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
We come from theater backgrounds, and like with theater, you
can interrogate a character to the very bone. So I
think we've we've had the space to kind of interrogate
these characters interrogate who we are to each other, where
we are, what do we want?
Speaker 7 (18:23):
All these things?
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Yeah, I felt that we talked about it a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Where you are now in season three, that hasn't really changed,
Like your circumstances have changed, but those two characters have
not changed at heart. I feel like like they are
still who they essentially are.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Would you agree, Yeah, I would. I think there's something
very interesting that happens in the second episode where we're
given separate bedchambers and this.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Is your bed chamber, mister Mondridge, just opposite mister Mondridge.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Separate rooms.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Of course, that is how it is done, and we
don't know what to do with that, and it's like,
really weird, it's really lonely, and we tried to play
by those rules for a bit, but it's not working
for us. And I think it's that foundation of well,
the family's the thing. It's always been the thing, It's
always going to be the thing.
Speaker 7 (19:20):
So yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
I think that they've built the foundations within their relationship and.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
They've got a lot of timing.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
You know, we've got a lot of time, they've got
three children, so we're kind of doing all right in
terms of our relationship.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
And what it means to us.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
So this being initiated to this new world, in inheriting
this new title, this wealth, is trying to understand what
that means for our relationship and how we navigate and
how we kind of still hold on to our values
whilst adjusting to this the way that Tom kind of operates.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
You know, That's what I was thinking too, Like the
relationship between will it al is definitely a love match.
If anything else, there's this transformation in your family because
your son has become the Baron of Kent and so
you've become nobles. You are still who you are, but
you have a whole lot of stuff. Now, what were
(20:19):
your initial reactions to your new wardrobe?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Oh gosh, Yeah, Alice is wearing I think in season one,
clothes that she's been wearing over the last five years.
I think she has maybe a good dress, a church dress,
and then the dress that she goes about in every day,
and then the money from the club allows for some
freedom of choice, and then yeah, these aunt's clothes.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
They're grand.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
But Alice is very fearful of stepping on people's toes.
Initially in society. She doesn't want to play a single
card wrong, and I think it's a lot of fear
that is drying the decisions of her wearing this old
lady slaves.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
There's a scene where you're actually like standing up and
you're being helped get into a garment. What can you
tell us about that piece and that experience of just
being Alice and being handled and catered to in that way.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
It was a really heavy dress. They weren't allowed to
put it on a hanger. It was like five pounds
or something. It's full of sequence, and I think I
remember the shoulders being really puffed up, and it made
me feel quite uncomfortable. I know it's beautiful, but I
thought that was also really really helpful that it wasn't comfortable.
(21:42):
I just felt very out of place. It gives good
energy to the scene where in the ball that we
attend for the first time, we don't know what to
do and we feel out of place. What was really
really cool for both Emma the actor and Andre's the
character is after that all the clothes are made to
(22:02):
my body. I didn't know what they were going to
look like. We picked materials. They're like the most gorgeous
things I've ever seen there's such detail in the fabric
as well, things that I don't think the camera is
ever going to pick up. But there's green interwoven with purple.
The insides of all the coats are satin. They make
(22:25):
you walk a different way, they make you see yourself
a different way, They make you enter a room a
different way, people respond to you differently. Martins looks great too.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
Yeah, it was amazing, but it didn't change too much.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
But I did have some nice boots and a long coat,
long trench coat, but it was some so so I
don't know that so many layers there's a statement. I guess,
you know, whatever you wear in society is a statement.
You know where you are and how you feel. And
that's how Will's feeling. You know, he's feeling like he
(22:58):
wants to wear his boots, he's long coat, be in
the country.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
There's something quite assured about it.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
And I was wondering, I'm trying to think, I feel
like your hair was in a bun or pulled back
a lot in the first two seasons. Did you have
more time?
Speaker 7 (23:15):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yes, Oh is your hair.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
This time around? Was it more intricate? The styling there's
a lot of pieces tell me about it.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
There's a lot of pieces. I didn't have any. I
don't think I had pieces. I had pieces a little
bit in season one it was all my own natural hair.
In season two with ring knits coming down the side,
but we were really experimental with the hair. Alice Man
did my hair and makeup, and she is amazing. It
(23:46):
was coming from this idea. Now that they've decided that
the two of them can do whatever they want, Alice
is going to play and find out who she is.
She's definitely playing with the lips. Yeah, I'm just can
through them now. I can't tell you what they look like.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Okay, I was gonna say, you're looking down.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
One of them my favorite one I can't tell you about.
But it's a show. It's a show stopper, it's a
show piece. It's in like episode seven.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah, will just have to wait until episode seven. It
was sorry, y'all. What I love about the both of
you is, I mean, I know I'm talking about like
your costumes and what it was like and everything, but
what I immediately recognize about the both of you is
that you really take in all of these external pieces
(24:34):
around you and really bring that into what your character
is experiencing like every everything is your processing it, and
that really comes through. I think that's what makes Alice
and Will feel so.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Relatable.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Relatable, Yeah, absolutely relatable, and especially those moments when you're
confiding in one another.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
You heard, missus Karner, that is not how it is done.
We cannot, Yes, we can.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
We could do whatever we want. Alice, this is our
life now.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
We are a married, noble couple.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Our son is noble, our family is noble. I think.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
I am somehow afraid I will do something wrong and
they will take it all away. We've made use of
our advantages, but everything up until now we have worked
for and I cannot stop thinking.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
What have we done to earn this?
Speaker 7 (25:36):
Nothing?
Speaker 6 (25:37):
The same as every viscount and earl and barron out there,
absolutely nothing. Well, it is ours, so let us enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
There's a last scene in the bedroom and Alice confesses
that she's been worried she'd do something to mess things
up and that all of this around them that they've
just walked into could be taken away. And that feeling
is very relatable for so many people. As we've touched
on whether we're talking about scarcity or impostor syndrome, But
(26:08):
could you tell us how that scene resonated for each
of you.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
It's an idea that I find very easy to connect with.
I mean, I don't think any of us should, but
this idea of not wanting to really put a foot
wrong in certain rooms or being anxious how one comes across,
I think that is something that is very present. I
mean in the kind of life that we're living as actors.
(26:34):
I think Alice's one and is magnified, of course, because
there is so much coming with it. And for her,
I think she really does feel that that can be
taken away at any moment and it would be her fault.
I think she feels a great deal of responsibility for
her son, who is going to grow into this title,
(26:58):
and she doesn't want to be the mother who messes
that up for him. And what I love about that
saying is that Will is so reassuring and comes in
with a completely different idea about why we're here and
what we should do with the opportunity that we now have.
What about your mans.
Speaker 6 (27:20):
Boxing is a spectator sport, and Will talks about not
just being spectated or people just looking at him as
like an object. Or like he wants to be a
man of substance or something that's that has value beyond
just being a box or looking good or having a title.
That there's a pride in being working class. There's a
(27:42):
pride in taking care of your family, the things that
are kind of taking for granted by society because it's
like because you're not where you don't have Donator's jewels,
or you don't live in a big house.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know.
Speaker 6 (27:53):
So I guess it's like not getting carried away, but
staying true to the core values of life, you know,
that are integral to us and our foundations, you know
what I mean, as opposed to not just being a
Oh it's the Kents or the Montratures or whatever. And
it's like, and that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (28:11):
The title.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I was just going to say. That's interesting because there's
also this moment when you confide in Benedict that you're
not sure how you and your family are supposed to
understand society rules, when even Benedict Bridgerton it seems confused
by it all. And I feel like that's kind of
tied into what you're saying a little bit. Will is
(28:32):
usually so confident and it might.
Speaker 6 (28:35):
Be the skeptic in Will, but I think if you
don't understand something, you don't know something, there's a sense
of just trying to understand it and then and then
for you to feel confident within it. Because after that
scene with Benedict, Will becomes very confident, becomes very assured
because he understands it now and he goes, Okay, this
(28:56):
is what it is. Let's go let's have fun, you know,
let's have a bit more freedom within the form. But
it's like understanding that there is a form and going okay, cool,
now we can have fun within it.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
So what's it been like behind the scenes, working side
by side for three years and building up all of
this trust and on screen intimacy and really knowing Will
and Alice, really knowing one another as deeply as they
know one another.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
I mean, it's been organic. It's been so gant in
every sense of the word. We spend a lot of
time together naturally because of our scenes, and we've gotten
to really know each other. And I think that offscreen
kind of relationship friendship. I guess it's what's translating on screen,
(29:47):
I presume, But yeah, I think just the openness that
we both kind of share, and the love you have
for these characters and the care around how we're contributing
to this world of bridget Our feels kind of led
us to where we are, you know, because it is
there is a lot of intimate moments or stuff that's
unsaid and it's just a look, you know, And I
(30:08):
think you can only kind of land those moments if
there is a level of offscreen friendship.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
I think that it's been so easy to get on
with everybody that actually across the board. It's quite easy
just to everything does just come naturally. At this point.
There's been a lot of discussion about the work, a
lot of trust friendship. This was actually my first TV job. Yeah,
(30:38):
apart from one thing I did where I said one
line and I was very very clear about that. I
was like, look, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm
really nervous, so I'm just flagging that and Martin's and
Reggae were like, don't worry, we got you. You're going
to be fine. And I think generally, I do feel
(30:58):
like there is a very very family vibe on set
between a lot, if not all the cost and so
it is very easy. It's all just very easy. These
these big long days where we do seven days of
filming for one ball scene, they're like, they're really fun
because everyone's just awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
What is going to keep the Mandris together as more
challenges come their way the season and beyond.
Speaker 6 (31:29):
The foundations the strong foundation, I think it's hard to ignore,
like where they've come from. I think there's something about
coming from humble beginnings that and it shared. It's a
shared kind of like we've come from the same kind
of grind. I guess, so maybe there's a level of
that potentially, But.
Speaker 7 (31:49):
Who who knows? You know, who knows? But I'd like
to think that that would be.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
The case if I had to distill into three words,
but them M I think is history, love and trust.
But as you say, let's see, we.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Done, Let's see.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Thank you for listening to this episode of Bridgerton the
Official Podcast. Tune in next week to dive into episode three,
where I'll be joined by director Andrew On and Sam Phillips,
the actor behind Lord Dublin. If you're enjoying this show,
please subscribe, share with your friends, rate, or leave us
a review. Bridgerton the Official Podcast is produced by Shondaland
(32:38):
Audio and Wonder Media Network. This show is executive produced
by Sandy Bailey, Alex Alcha, Lauren Homan, Jenny Kaplan, and
Emily Rudder. Our producers are Sarah Schleed, Edie Allard and
Carmen Borca Carillo. This episode is edited by Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rudder. Our associate producers are Lauren Williams and
(32:59):
a Key McKnight and I Am Your Host, Gabrielle Collins.
If you haven't finished binging Bridgerton, please head to Netflix
so you can enjoy these spoilers with us each week.
If you're enjoying this show, please subscribe, share with your friends, rate,
or leave us a review. For more podcasts from Shondaland Audio,
(33:19):
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Bridgerton The Official Podcast is a production of Shondaland in
partnership with iHeartRadio. Welcome back to Bridgerton the Official Podcast,
your exclusive peak behind the curtain of Shondaland's Bridgerton series.
I'm your host, Gabrielle Collins. Today we're talking about episode two,
(00:25):
How Bright the Moon. I'm joined by some familiar faces
of the Ton, the Mandritches played by Martinsen, Hangbay and
Emma Naomi and Hannah Dodd, who was bringing Francesca Bridgerton
and her Piano forte to the forefront this season. If
you haven't watched it yet, all of part one is
(00:49):
out now, So what are you doing? Watch now on
Netflix and then join us back here for all the
season's most sparkling secrets. Before we get into it, let's
run through a quick whistle download of this episode. The
Queen is still searching for a diamond. Unimpressed so far,
(01:10):
She's looking for a new face, a bright and surprising
young woman to lead the ton.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Besides, I've not seen nearly enough from this year's girls.
If I am to grant someone my favor, she must.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Do more to earn it.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I see, I shall simply choose someone who sparkles.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Lady Danbury lets this information slip to Lady Bridgerton, who
puts her full force behind getting Francesca a love match
as soon as possible. Though Francesca herself seems less than enthused,
she attracts the Queen's favor with am mesmerizing private piano
forte performance and earns her the title of the season's Sparkler. Meanwhile,
(01:58):
the Mantraches are trying to act on to their new
role in society as the parents of the Baron of Kent.
But if a new title means a lonely estate, a
stuffy wardrobe, and separate bits, is it really what Will
and Alice want to kick things off here, we're talking
(02:22):
to one of the season's new faces. Hannah Dodd is
such a welcome addition to the Bridgerton family this season,
capturing Francesca with naivete, depth and a touch of quirk.
She sat down with us to talk about stepping into
the world of the ton and finding a voice for
the Bridgerton who'd rather sit at the piano forte than
(02:43):
step into society. I may be jumping the gun here,
but are you a pianist?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
No?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
No, no, that was just a nice little surprise of
the job.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh my goodness. Okay, love Francesca and her little piano.
But let's take a few steps back and just talk
about you stepping into Francesca's shoes, bringing to life one
of the youngest daughters who is now entering society. What
was it like to watch the world of bridgeton form
(03:21):
around you when you first joined the team.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
It's the weirdest fling ever. When you've watched a show
and you know that the characters so well, you know
the sets so well, you kind of feel like you're
on some kind of fun experience and you're just being
walked around the set as like a special treat, and
then you have to sit down and actually do some work,
and you've got the cast like introducing.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Themselves to you, and you're like, I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
It was magical. It was magical, And yeah, we're so
lucky with set designers and the hair and makeup and
the costumes, like it really does most of the work
for you. So yeah, you really do feel like emerged
in that time than in the green room when everybody's
cracking jokes in between takes.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Did you have that aha moment of like this, I
am Francesca.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I think it's a combination of all of it. I
think the wig really helped. Like I've never been that
dark brunette before.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I didn't know there was a wig.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Oh my god.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
No.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
And mean even people on set didn't realize it was a.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Wig because they are so good. They're so good.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I mean I would look at my hairlines sometimes and
I knew that there was glue there and like lined
it up to perfection.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
They are so talented.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
One of my first fittings, we hadn't got the scripts yet.
I had no idea what the story was gonna be.
It's for Francesca. I didn't know, yeah, what her past
was going to be. And they put me in the
presentation to the Queen gown and I was like when
I walked in and that was the first thing they
put me in, I was like, first of all, still
get my head around the fact that I'd been cast
in Bridgeston and then you're wearing quite an iconic outfit
from Britist and you're going, I'm in Bridgeston And it
(04:58):
was actually Bee's gown that they fitted me. I don't
know whether it or not. It was the Phoebe's gown
that I actually wore on the day, but that was
the one that I put on board fifty.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Ooh, could you tell me more about that gown and
why that particular gown really struck you as the Oh
my goodness, this is going to be an amazing interesting
season for Francesca.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
I'm wearing that costume on the day. I mean, it
was like forty degrees. It was so hot. It was
in the middle of like our heat wave. I've got
a feather on top of me. I've got gloves, and
I kept getting stuck. They kept opening the doors, and
I kept getting stuck. The massive trait. I take like
three steps and it would just pull me back into
(05:42):
the door.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I couldn't get to golder. It was so embarrassing. I
was still really new.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I've got like all of these people staring at me.
All I have to do is walking curtsy. I just
couldn't get out of the door. So I've got, I've got.
It was nice memories, but also like absolute humiliation memories.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I want to know what it was like for you
joining a cast of siblings who are known to be
super close knit. It seems like there's a family bond
in real life, you know, on set as well as
what we are seeing portrayed on screen.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, no, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
They they really do function as a family, and there
is so much love between the Bridgeton siblings offset and
it was something that I was really aware of going in.
You can see the chemistry on screen, and I knew
that I needed to kind of get in there as
quick as possible so that Francesca would have that dynamic
and it is like people that she's grown up with,
(06:38):
but at the same time wanting to have like respect
and not wanting to throw them my weight around as
soon as I time. But they were so welcoming, and yeah,
they really do function like a family, and there's so
many different personalities and you have such different conversations with
each of the siblings. I remember they all told me
they were like, we'll be worn out by like eleven
am because there's so much energy, and it is true,
(07:02):
that's just absolute carnage, but in the best way. And
there's just so much love in that room and you
feel really safe to try things and they're all just
so funny. Yeah, I mean, like getting to be in
Bridgeton but getting to be a bridgeton.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
As well has been like the biggest gift.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I literally adore every single one of them so much.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
We'll be right back after the break. You mentioned Hannah
not wanting to throw your weight around, but Francesca is
definitely the center of attention, especially in this episode episode two.
So what was your discussion with Jess Brownell or any
(07:44):
of the other creatives, like behind the scenes, what did
it entail and how did you all create that instant
familiarity and likability. I mean, you are so present and
it's so clear right out the gate who Friends is.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Yeah, it was getting the scripts and working with Jess,
our showrunner. I think me and Jess talked a lot
at the start. Obviously it was her first season show running,
it was my first season, so we've formed like a
little bit when I was a little alliance there. But
a lot of it was this kind of idea of
a practical approach to the ton and not having her
(08:22):
absolutely just terrified of everything, just having that quite specific approach,
this idea that she's not fantasized over a husband her
whole life, but she knows that this time is coming.
She knows it's her turn, so she's not fighting it,
but at the same time, she doesn't romanticize it. And
because she hates the spotline, because she doesn't want to
be the center of attention, she kind of has this
(08:43):
attitude of like, let's just get it done. I want
to find a nice person. But I think she's really
fantasized over this like great love, which is a completely
different approach to what we've seen, which was really fun.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, in that moment where you're playing the piano and
Lady Bridgeton comes in and is like, what are we doing?
It's time to go, and you're like, you know, you
don't have to shout, and she doesn't.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
She doesn't like attention. So if she just gets on,
you know sometimes when you flap and worry and you
make a bigger deal out of something.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So she's just gonna go and do the job that
she knows.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
She's got to do and get it done and then
everybody will stop looking at her and she can go
back to her life.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Kind of thing.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
That was splendid.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Forgive me your majesty, I was only taking a small
pause from the ball.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Because you delight in your endeavors. Someone who performed, not
for me, but for themselves. Bravo sparkling.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
One might say, another moment where we learn a lot
about Francesca is that moment when she steals away and
she's on the piano forte. When you first encountered that
scene in your scripts, what did it do for you?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I mean, first of all, she's recognized for being herself.
I think that's part of the reason why she's recognized
that this year, you've got all of the debutantes absolutely
throwing themselves at the queen and I'm really really trying
to impress her. So the fact that somebody isn't doing
that is what's kind of impressive. But then yeah, the
fact that she's at a party and she's obviously slightly
(10:36):
overwhelmed and she's trying to speak to people, but she
doesn't really know what to do, and playing the piano
is her calm zone.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
It's kind of her collection to herself.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
And it does prove that, you know, even when she's
at a party and she said to her mum that
she's gonna, you know, try and she wants to talk
to this person, this person, she'd still rather be alone
and at the piano, and that is a party to her.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
She's like more than happy being there.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
So yeah, I do think it is a moment that
you really get to see who she is and.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Also her reaction to the Queen.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
It's not like yay on him, like I've impressed the Queen.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's kind of like, oh God, what's I just done?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
What kind of prep were you doing for those piano scenes?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Since it was anxiety, that's what it was. I think
the week after I got the part, I was in
piano lessons because we just didn't really have the time
to start learning the piano from scratch. I needed to
be able to play small parts of pieces and like
motesar pieces, I just had to memorize them. So I
(11:39):
used to be a dancer, so I think I just
started learning like hand choreography essentially. But then sometimes they'd
be like, Hannah, can you look at the sheet music?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
When we were filming, like like no.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Go on, look away from my hands. I have to
be staring down at them at all time.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Speaking of music, in episode two, there's a cellist who
has a pickup line that's actually pretty suave.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
That's just quite expressive music. I once heard a rum
where the trio's has written to convey his feelings for
Medamoiselle Udwigs do not think you can feel it in
the music.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Francesca was kind of like okay, you know, she was
like going with it. But do you think that Francesca
wasn't ready for such an intentional attempt at romance.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I think it's massively like overwhelming for her. And I
think these girls haven't had this experience before, so they're
so naive and they're so innocent as well. They don't
understand necessarily what some of these men are getting to
and are kind of implying with what they're saying, and
they don't know how to behave and I think so
(12:47):
many of their thoughts and feelings have been kept private
for so long as well, so then when you're kind
of expected to open up to someone, I don't think
she necessarily knows how to do that yet as well.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
What are your thoughts on what Francesca represents for the
audience because of that perspective that you just describe.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
The Bridgetons are. They're all very different, and they all
have massively different personalities and wants and needs, but there
is something that's very confident and comfortable about them. I
think they've always been popular and they feel quite comfortable
in anybody's company. And Francesca isn't that, and I think
(13:30):
a lot of people aren't that, And it's okay. I
think as a society we kind of celebrate, you know,
people who are exceptional and who are the life and
soul of the party and always out and doing things,
And it is okay to be somebody who's like satisfied
with much smaller simple things, like the things that make
(13:51):
Francesca happy are like playing the piano and reading a book.
Doesn't need this like validation from a million different people,
which is actually a really cool thing about. But I
think on the surface, people wouldn't necessarily think that she's cool.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I am with you, because I think that maybe for
a lot of us, the first thought is, oh, she's
just shy, or she's even aloof about the whole thing.
But she's just introverted and she's just doing her thing.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
She's a lot of things. I think like calling her shy.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
She is shy, but that's not all the person is.
She's got so many different personality traits and she's working
out what it is that she wants as well.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Francesca's interaction with Penelope, and the two of them talk
about feeling different from their siblings and really not wanting
to be inspected as if they're under a microscope. So
Penelope tells Francesca she should enjoy being seen.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Penelope has grown up with the Brigitton, so that's somebody
that Francesca knows and loves in the way that she's
basically like a family member already.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
That is somebody that she trusts and that she can
open up to.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
And I think they do relate to each other because
they are different from their siblings. But I think Penelope
does her a massive kindness there, and I think it's
kind of a bit of a confidence boost as well. Yeah,
she doesn't want her to miss her opportunity and miss
her moment because it can get harder as awful as
that is, that the.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Law seasons you do and everything.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Like that, and just to sort of let her know
that she's seen, like really seen, not this version, not
this sparkler or anything like that. So yeah, you kind
of see their similarities and Francesca's privilege as well. I
think she then sort of realizes her privilege and that, yeah,
this is something that will help her get to the
(15:45):
next step, and as scary as it is, she is lucky.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
We'll be back after the break to talk to former
outsiders and new nobles, the Mandraches. The ton is getting
a real shake up this season, and the lifestyle of
fan favorite couple Alison will Mandrich is no exception. With
(16:16):
fancy positions come new fancy problems. I spoke with Martin's
and Hangbay and Emma Naomi on the family upgrade. We
kicked off our conversation by going through the couple's journey
prior to season three, and we even stepped back to
the audition room with these fine actors. These two characters
(16:37):
aren't actually in the books. They've been introduced to us
through the world of Shondaland. So outside of the scripts,
how did each of you prepare to create these characters.
Speaker 7 (16:49):
Yeah, so my.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Character is based on a real life boxer called Bill Richmond.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Funny story.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
Initially, when I sent my audition, I did it in
an American action because Bill Richmond was actually from America.
It would have taken a lot of backstory and explaining
as to why he's American and how he got here,
and I guess it was a better option to make
him from London, So then I had to kind of
adjust it. Okay, now he's from London, so okay, So
(17:17):
I had to kind of make him my own and
kind of let go of the Bill Richmond kind of
story and kind of find my own kind of access
to this world. The story and against the story was
quite straightforward. You know, there was a man who was
using boxing as a way out, as a way to
better himself and his family, and he would use his charm,
(17:38):
his charismais he's talent to kind of navigate that. And
in terms of Alice, how didn't meet Emma?
Speaker 5 (17:45):
I think we had a conversation once where we said
that my dad was a shop owner. I was just
helping him out and that you would always come into
the shop. And that's how it met. And it took
a few visits.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
And it felt very simple. It felt very like natural.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Yeah, it felt like a love match. It wasn't. Nobody
was introducing their daughter to such and such a person.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
We come from theater backgrounds, and like with theater, you
can interrogate a character to the very bone. So I
think we've we've had the space to kind of interrogate
these characters interrogate who we are to each other, where
we are, what do we want?
Speaker 7 (18:23):
All these things?
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Yeah, I felt that we talked about it a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Where you are now in season three, that hasn't really changed,
Like your circumstances have changed, but those two characters have
not changed at heart. I feel like like they are
still who they essentially are.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Would you agree, Yeah, I would. I think there's something
very interesting that happens in the second episode where we're
given separate bedchambers and this.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Is your bed chamber, mister Mondridge, just opposite mister Mondridge.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Separate rooms.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Of course, that is how it is done, and we
don't know what to do with that, and it's like,
really weird, it's really lonely, and we tried to play
by those rules for a bit, but it's not working
for us. And I think it's that foundation of well,
the family's the thing. It's always been the thing, It's
always going to be the thing.
Speaker 7 (19:20):
So yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
I think that they've built the foundations within their relationship and.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
They've got a lot of timing.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
You know, we've got a lot of time, they've got
three children, so we're kind of doing all right in
terms of our relationship.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
And what it means to us.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
So this being initiated to this new world, in inheriting
this new title, this wealth, is trying to understand what
that means for our relationship and how we navigate and
how we kind of still hold on to our values
whilst adjusting to this the way that Tom kind of operates.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
You know, That's what I was thinking too, Like the
relationship between will it al is definitely a love match.
If anything else, there's this transformation in your family because
your son has become the Baron of Kent and so
you've become nobles. You are still who you are, but
you have a whole lot of stuff. Now, what were
(20:19):
your initial reactions to your new wardrobe?
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Oh gosh, Yeah, Alice is wearing I think in season one,
clothes that she's been wearing over the last five years.
I think she has maybe a good dress, a church dress,
and then the dress that she goes about in every day,
and then the money from the club allows for some
freedom of choice, and then yeah, these aunt's clothes.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
They're grand.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
But Alice is very fearful of stepping on people's toes.
Initially in society. She doesn't want to play a single
card wrong, and I think it's a lot of fear
that is drying the decisions of her wearing this old
lady slaves.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
There's a scene where you're actually like standing up and
you're being helped get into a garment. What can you
tell us about that piece and that experience of just
being Alice and being handled and catered to in that way.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
It was a really heavy dress. They weren't allowed to
put it on a hanger. It was like five pounds
or something. It's full of sequence, and I think I
remember the shoulders being really puffed up, and it made
me feel quite uncomfortable. I know it's beautiful, but I
thought that was also really really helpful that it wasn't comfortable.
(21:42):
I just felt very out of place. It gives good
energy to the scene where in the ball that we
attend for the first time, we don't know what to
do and we feel out of place. What was really
really cool for both Emma the actor and Andre's the
character is after that all the clothes are made to
(22:02):
my body. I didn't know what they were going to
look like. We picked materials. They're like the most gorgeous
things I've ever seen there's such detail in the fabric
as well, things that I don't think the camera is
ever going to pick up. But there's green interwoven with purple.
The insides of all the coats are satin. They make
(22:25):
you walk a different way, they make you see yourself
a different way, They make you enter a room a
different way, people respond to you differently. Martins looks great too.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
Yeah, it was amazing, but it didn't change too much.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
But I did have some nice boots and a long coat,
long trench coat, but it was some so so I
don't know that so many layers there's a statement. I guess,
you know, whatever you wear in society is a statement.
You know where you are and how you feel. And
that's how Will's feeling. You know, he's feeling like he
(22:58):
wants to wear his boots, he's long coat, be in
the country.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
There's something quite assured about it.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
And I was wondering, I'm trying to think, I feel
like your hair was in a bun or pulled back
a lot in the first two seasons. Did you have
more time?
Speaker 7 (23:15):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yes, Oh is your hair.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
This time around? Was it more intricate? The styling there's
a lot of pieces tell me about it.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
There's a lot of pieces. I didn't have any. I
don't think I had pieces. I had pieces a little
bit in season one it was all my own natural hair.
In season two with ring knits coming down the side,
but we were really experimental with the hair. Alice Man
did my hair and makeup, and she is amazing. It
(23:46):
was coming from this idea. Now that they've decided that
the two of them can do whatever they want, Alice
is going to play and find out who she is.
She's definitely playing with the lips. Yeah, I'm just can
through them now. I can't tell you what they look like.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Okay, I was gonna say, you're looking down.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
One of them my favorite one I can't tell you about.
But it's a show. It's a show stopper, it's a
show piece. It's in like episode seven.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah, will just have to wait until episode seven. It
was sorry, y'all. What I love about the both of
you is, I mean, I know I'm talking about like
your costumes and what it was like and everything, but
what I immediately recognize about the both of you is
that you really take in all of these external pieces
(24:34):
around you and really bring that into what your character
is experiencing like every everything is your processing it, and
that really comes through. I think that's what makes Alice
and Will feel so.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Relatable.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Relatable, Yeah, absolutely relatable, and especially those moments when you're
confiding in one another.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
You heard, missus Karner, that is not how it is done.
We cannot, Yes, we can.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
We could do whatever we want. Alice, this is our
life now.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
We are a married, noble couple.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Our son is noble, our family is noble. I think.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
I am somehow afraid I will do something wrong and
they will take it all away. We've made use of
our advantages, but everything up until now we have worked
for and I cannot stop thinking.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
What have we done to earn this?
Speaker 7 (25:36):
Nothing?
Speaker 6 (25:37):
The same as every viscount and earl and barron out there,
absolutely nothing. Well, it is ours, so let us enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
There's a last scene in the bedroom and Alice confesses
that she's been worried she'd do something to mess things
up and that all of this around them that they've
just walked into could be taken away. And that feeling
is very relatable for so many people. As we've touched
on whether we're talking about scarcity or impostor syndrome, But
(26:08):
could you tell us how that scene resonated for each
of you.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
It's an idea that I find very easy to connect with.
I mean, I don't think any of us should, but
this idea of not wanting to really put a foot
wrong in certain rooms or being anxious how one comes across,
I think that is something that is very present. I
mean in the kind of life that we're living as actors.
(26:34):
I think Alice's one and is magnified, of course, because
there is so much coming with it. And for her,
I think she really does feel that that can be
taken away at any moment and it would be her fault.
I think she feels a great deal of responsibility for
her son, who is going to grow into this title,
(26:58):
and she doesn't want to be the mother who messes
that up for him. And what I love about that
saying is that Will is so reassuring and comes in
with a completely different idea about why we're here and
what we should do with the opportunity that we now have.
What about your mans.
Speaker 6 (27:20):
Boxing is a spectator sport, and Will talks about not
just being spectated or people just looking at him as
like an object. Or like he wants to be a
man of substance or something that's that has value beyond
just being a box or looking good or having a title.
That there's a pride in being working class. There's a
(27:42):
pride in taking care of your family, the things that
are kind of taking for granted by society because it's
like because you're not where you don't have Donator's jewels,
or you don't live in a big house.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know.
Speaker 6 (27:53):
So I guess it's like not getting carried away, but
staying true to the core values of life, you know,
that are integral to us and our foundations, you know
what I mean, as opposed to not just being a
Oh it's the Kents or the Montratures or whatever. And
it's like, and that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (28:11):
The title.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I was just going to say. That's interesting because there's
also this moment when you confide in Benedict that you're
not sure how you and your family are supposed to
understand society rules, when even Benedict Bridgerton it seems confused
by it all. And I feel like that's kind of
tied into what you're saying a little bit. Will is
(28:32):
usually so confident and it might.
Speaker 6 (28:35):
Be the skeptic in Will, but I think if you
don't understand something, you don't know something, there's a sense
of just trying to understand it and then and then
for you to feel confident within it. Because after that
scene with Benedict, Will becomes very confident, becomes very assured
because he understands it now and he goes, Okay, this
(28:56):
is what it is. Let's go let's have fun, you know,
let's have a bit more freedom within the form. But
it's like understanding that there is a form and going okay, cool,
now we can have fun within it.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
So what's it been like behind the scenes, working side
by side for three years and building up all of
this trust and on screen intimacy and really knowing Will
and Alice, really knowing one another as deeply as they
know one another.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
I mean, it's been organic. It's been so gant in
every sense of the word. We spend a lot of
time together naturally because of our scenes, and we've gotten
to really know each other. And I think that offscreen
kind of relationship friendship. I guess it's what's translating on screen,
(29:47):
I presume, But yeah, I think just the openness that
we both kind of share, and the love you have
for these characters and the care around how we're contributing
to this world of bridget Our feels kind of led
us to where we are, you know, because it is
there is a lot of intimate moments or stuff that's
unsaid and it's just a look, you know, And I
(30:08):
think you can only kind of land those moments if
there is a level of offscreen friendship.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
I think that it's been so easy to get on
with everybody that actually across the board. It's quite easy
just to everything does just come naturally. At this point.
There's been a lot of discussion about the work, a
lot of trust friendship. This was actually my first TV job. Yeah,
(30:38):
apart from one thing I did where I said one
line and I was very very clear about that. I
was like, look, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm
really nervous, so I'm just flagging that and Martin's and
Reggae were like, don't worry, we got you. You're going
to be fine. And I think generally, I do feel
(30:58):
like there is a very very family vibe on set
between a lot, if not all the cost and so
it is very easy. It's all just very easy. These
these big long days where we do seven days of
filming for one ball scene, they're like, they're really fun
because everyone's just awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
What is going to keep the Mandris together as more
challenges come their way the season and beyond.
Speaker 6 (31:29):
The foundations the strong foundation, I think it's hard to ignore,
like where they've come from. I think there's something about
coming from humble beginnings that and it shared. It's a
shared kind of like we've come from the same kind
of grind. I guess, so maybe there's a level of
that potentially, But.
Speaker 7 (31:49):
Who who knows? You know, who knows? But I'd like
to think that that would be.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
The case if I had to distill into three words,
but them M I think is history, love and trust.
But as you say, let's see, we.
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Done, Let's see.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Thank you for listening to this episode of Bridgerton the
Official Podcast. Tune in next week to dive into episode three,
where I'll be joined by director Andrew On and Sam Phillips,
the actor behind Lord Dublin. If you're enjoying this show,
please subscribe, share with your friends, rate, or leave us
a review. Bridgerton the Official Podcast is produced by Shondaland
(32:38):
Audio and Wonder Media Network. This show is executive produced
by Sandy Bailey, Alex Alcha, Lauren Homan, Jenny Kaplan, and
Emily Rudder. Our producers are Sarah Schleed, Edie Allard and
Carmen Borca Carillo. This episode is edited by Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rudder. Our associate producers are Lauren Williams and
(32:59):
a Key McKnight and I Am Your Host, Gabrielle Collins.
If you haven't finished binging Bridgerton, please head to Netflix
so you can enjoy these spoilers with us each week.
If you're enjoying this show, please subscribe, share with your friends, rate,
or leave us a review. For more podcasts from Shondaland Audio,
(33:19):
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Host
Gabrielle Collins
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