The first season of Bridgerton debuted on December 25, 2020, like a lavishly wrapped Christmas present. It was the ideal combination of relaxing luxury, romance, and escape when it was unwrapped. In order to get everyone off their backs, debutante beauty Daphne and emotionally repressed Duke Simon teamed together, but in the process, they wound themselves on their own backs, fronts, and sides, halfway up the stairs, and perhaps even at one point, a ladder? It was all a wonderful diversion from reality, with superb casting that unlocked the dingy, cobwebbed door of racially homogeneous historical drama and breathed new life into a dreary world.
For season two, it has returned with a new romantic subplot and a cast of fresh faces. Here are the characters we’ll get to know over the course of the eight episodes, along with the main returning cast. Here is our recap of season one.
Calam Lynch as Theo Sharpe
A young lady from Bridgerton crosses paths with Theo Sharpe, a printer’s assistant with a sharp mind and fervent political ideas. Fans of Derry Girls may recognise Calam Lynch as John Paul, the lad Erin Quinn lusted after, who plays him. Lynch has also had appearances in the full-length movies Dunkirk, Black Beauty, and Terrence Davies’ Benediction from 2021.
Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma
The young debutante Edwina Sharma travels to England to look for a marriage while being closely watched by her mother and older sister. She is Lady Danbury’s pet and is well-liked by “the tonne.” She is portrayed by Charithra Chandran, who made her acting debut in the teen adventure drama Alex Rider on Amazon Prime. This is her largest screen role to date. Prior to Bridgerton, Chandran portrayed Sabina Pleasure in the second season of Alex Rider, a role that was modelled after the fictional Sabina Pleasure from the book series and who eventually became Alex’s love interest.
Rupert Evans as Lord Edmund Bridgerton
The eight Bridgerton siblings’ father, Edmund Bridgerton, passed away unexpectedly in 1803, leaving his devoted wife and kids in mourning. Rupert Evans will play the patriarch in flashbacks from season two before his passing. Evans has starred in a number of UK period dramas, including Fingersmith, North and South, Emma, and The Village. He also played Harry Greenwood in the Charmed revival (seen above), Frank Frink in the Amazon Prime Video alt-history drama The Man in the High Castle, and other roles.
Rupert Young as Jack
Rupert Young, who has played a variety of characters on British television, notably the recurring part of Sir Leon, a Knight of the Round Table, in the BBC One fantasy adventure series Merlin, plays Jack. Young has recently had appearances in the movies The White Queen, The Good Karma Hospital, and The Secret Garden. Until the season two premiere, his participation in Bridgerton will remain a secret.
Shelley Conn as Lady Mary Sharma
Lady Mary, the mother of Edwina, encounters rumours upon her arrival in London regarding her original departure years previously, demonstrating the long memories of “the tonne.” However, her mother is forced to participate in the game for Edwina’s chances at marriage. Shelley Conn, who portrays Mary Sharma, has a thriving stage and movie career. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company for a number of seasons, and season two of Good Omens will feature her in a role as a resident of hell. Along with prior parts in Mistresses and an early performance opposite Matt Smith in 2007’s Party Animals, she has most recently acted in the Netflix original series The Irregulars, the BBC’s Liar, and the Channel 5 original series The Deceived.
Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma
Kate is a member of the new Sharma family, visitors of Bridgerton’s powerful Lady Danbury (played by Adjoa Andoh), who is supporting Edwina, Kate’s younger half-sister, in her acting debut. In search of a romantic marriage for Edwina, the sisters and Lady Mary Sharma travel to London from Bombay (as Mumbai was formerly known). Simone Ashley, who currently best known for her role as Olivia Hanan, a member of the popular group known as “the Untouchables,” in the Netflix high school comedy-drama Sex Education, plays Kate. After making her acting debut as local reporter Zuhra in the CBBC thriller Wolfblood in 2016, Ashley also starred in the supernatural murder mystery The Sister on ITV alongside Russell Tovey, played waitress Dana in season three of Broadchurch, and had a number of supporting roles.
Also appearing
Anthony Head (Merlin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Shobu Kapoor (Lady Parts, EastEnders) are newcomers to season two as Lord and Lady Sheffield, Edwina Sharma’s maternal grandparents.
Returning Cast
Except for Rege Jean-Page, all of the main survivors are back for season two. Get ready to re-welcome Queen Charlotte, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, and Julie Andrews as anonymous society commentator Lady Whistledown. As the Dowager Countess Bridgerton and Lady Portia Featherington, Polly Walker and Ruth Gemmell are back. Anthony Bridgerton, the oldest Bridgerton sibling, is portrayed by Jonathan Bailey. His friends Eloise Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington are played by Claudia Jessie and Nicola Coughlan. Colin and Benedict Bridgerton are played by Lukes Newton and Thompson. Florence Hunt and Phoebe Dynevor play their sisters Hyacinth and Daphne, respectively. Will Tilston plays their brother Gregory Bridgerton. As Penelope’s sisters Prudence and Philippa, Harriet Cains and Bessie Carter are returned, along with Lorraine Ashbourne as Varley, the Featherington maid, and Ruby Barker as Lady Crane, formerly Marina Thompson. Joanna Bobin and Jessica Madsen portray the shallow Cowpers, Martins Imhangbe and Emma Naomi portray former boxer Will and his wife Alice, and Katheryn Drysdale plays the modiste Mme Delacroix.
Beginning on Friday, March 25, Netflix will begin streaming the second season of Bridgerton.
