Netflix's latest binge-worthy series, Bridgerton, has taken the streaming world by storm. Based
on a series of novels by Julia Quinn, the show features a beautiful regency aesthetic,
social commentary on issues like race, gender and wealth, and an excellent ensemble cast
to tie it all together. Of course, plenty of sexy shenanigans don't hurt its popularity,
either.
Actress Phoebe Dynevor plays eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton, and is apparently just
as much of a fan of the series as we are.
In an interview with Town & Country, Dynevor said that while she loves a traditional period
piece and grew up watching them, she believes that what makes Bridgerton so special are
the unconventional ways in which the series breaks the mold.
When she read the script for the series pilot, she said, she could instantly tell that it
was unlike any period piece she had seen before: less stodgy and stuffy, and more modern, steamy
and relevant. That spark of modern sensibilities is what made her so excited to be a part of
the project.
Watching Bridgerton, we've grown to become big fans of Dynevor. And if you're anything
like us, you've been obsessively wondering where you might have seen the breakout star
before.
Dynevor has a pretty limited filmography at only 25 years old. She has starred in a few
lesser known series, her debut work coming as Siobhan Mailey in the fifth season of the
British TV series Waterloo Road in 2009.
Over the next few years, she played a mix of recurring and guest roles in a variety
of series. Some of her more notable roles came on shows like Prisoners Wives', The Musketeers
and Monroe.
A big moment in Phoebe Dynevor's career occurred in 2017 when she made her debut on American
television with Snatch, based on the Guy Ritchie film of the same name. Like the film, Snatch
is a comedy-drama following the lives of a group of hustlers navigating the world of
organized crime. Dynevor played Lottie Mott on the series and appeared alongside several
other recognizable actors, including Rupert Grint, Luke Pasqualino, and Lucien Laviscount.
Another recent role you may recognize Dynevor from is her most recent work other than Bridgerton,
a series called Younger by the producer of Sex and the City. While she wasn't the central
star in this series, she did have a recurring role in which she played Clare, a bartender
and Google employee.
"Your grace… should we go upstairs?"
Dynevor first auditioned for her Bridgerton role in February 2019. After her initial audition,
it was months before she heard back from the Bridgerton casting directors to learn she
had been cast.
She told Harper's Bazaar that once she eventually heard from the producers that she'd gotten
the part, things picked up very quickly. The beginning stages involved meeting her fellow
cast members, trying on costumes, reading through the script, and going to countless
rehearsals. She also had to go through, essentially, the actual preparations that her character
would have to learn the ropes of high society. Dynevor took lessons in horseback riding,
piano, dance, etiquette and more to learn the ins and outs of how to convincingly portray
Daphne.
Dynevor recalls that dance rehearsals were what helped her bond most with her fellow
cast mates, especially with Regé-Jean Page, who plays Simon Basset, her hunky love interest.
She explained that their six weeks of rigorous rehearsals were essential to prepping for
the roles and developing chemistry with the cast as a whole. As for Bridgerton's numerous
intimate scenes, Dynevor says the rehearsals and blocking were unlike any romantic scenes
she's been involved with before. She told Buzzfeed that they were given a dedicated
intimacy coordinator who helped them through filming these scenes and made them feel safe
and comfortable. She also told Elle that the intimacy scenes were among the most mapped
out and coordinated shoots on the series, and were rehearsed almost like stunt sequences.
She said:
"I would literally know exactly where a guy was going to put his hand at what moment.
And we'd have props, like mats, that went in between us [...] It was more intricately
choreographed than our dance routines in a way, so I never really felt exposed at all."
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more List videos about your favorite
stars are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss
a single one.