Daniel Francis is gearing up for more Bridgerton madness as season four finally descends on Netflix Thursday.
The British star, whose TV projects include ABC’s Once Upon a Time and Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time, has settled in nicely as a cast member of Netflix’s hit regency-era romance. “It’s an absolute treat as an actor,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the fourth installment’s release. “You kind of go, ‘Damn, this is epic. Not all jobs are like this. Enjoy it while it lasts.’”
Francis came aboard last season when fans, already tied up with Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) friends-to-lovers journey, had even more reason to get excited with the introduction of the handsome, chivalrous Lord Marcus Anderson, love interest of matriarch Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell).
After making amends with his sister Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and proving himself a gentleman, Lord Anderson steps into the newest season aiming to take his relationship with Violet to the next level while she deliberates on taking a second shot at love. “I think people have seen Violet be so committed to her family and be dedicated for three seasons,” Francis continues to THR. “But [they] just want her to be happy as well.”
Below, Francis dives into the hot-and-heavy fairytale story of Bridgerton season four. He teases what’s to come from the main romance between Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton and Cinderella character Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, balancing the show’s frothing fanbase with its inherent raunchiness, and why it’s so important to see the show’s older characters feel sexually liberated: “There’s an honesty to them. And it’s not easy by any stretch, but we see how they bring a level of openness and patience to their connection. It’s actually really grounded, even for today’s world.”
How has it been joining the Bridgerton fold? Last season was your first, right?
It was. It’s been a roller coaster in the best way. I said to Jess Brownell, the showrunner, that we’ve been absolutely spoiled with this show, right? It’s such a great production to work on [with] an amazing team. And obviously a very loved show as well. So it’s an absolute treat as an actor. And you kind of go, ‘Damn, this is epic. Not all jobs are like this. Enjoy it while it lasts.’ I’ve absolutely loved it.
Has it been daunting playing a character that wasn’t in the books? You have no source material to go off of course, but maybe that’s liberating?
Yeah, exactly. I think you kind of have the freedom to create. And obviously, the writers are very intentional about what they want as well, so it’s been a lot of fun. I think the only pressure that I felt was to do with the fact that Lady Bridgerton is very loved by the audience. (Laughs.) I remember the first season I was in, the first half was set up as: What does this guy want? Are his intentions pure? Is he a rake? Is he coming in just to be a little bit of a player? And certainly the conflict between him and his sister fueled that. But then after, I think when it came out that he’s really genuine, it’s been a fantastic response.
I think people have really taken to Marcus, considering how much they love Violet and the fact that her husband was the great love of her life.
People have really appreciated the need for love to continue. Even if you’ve had that experience, moving on doesn’t negate the truth of what you’ve had before, right? Especially if you’ve loved and you’ve lost, and it’s been under horrific circumstances. I think people have seen Violet be so committed to her family and be dedicated for three seasons. We’ll see how it plays out, but I think people just want her to be happy as well.
How would you tease what’s to come in season four for Marcus and Violet?
We do see their connection increase. We see how that plays out, where the fun is, but we just let them explore whatever they are and the difficulties of starting again and what that looks like. Without giving too much away, it’s funny to watch and I think it’s also moving.
What do you think Marcus sees in her that he likes so much?
I think what we’ve been talking about — the honesty. Her heart is so evident. It’s funny because I have this conversation with friends of mine all the time about people who’ve had children [versus] people who haven’t had children; is there a dynamic shift? And one of the things that we were speaking about is, does it create more of a sensitivity, a compassion, a tenderness? There are qualities that are enhanced due to parenthood, in the best place. And I’d say that Violet is the epitome of that, and we see it, and we see her nurturing, caring, loving side is in full force. That’s just who she is. I think it’s very alluring and compelling for Anderson. She’s a walking ball of love.
Why do you think it’s so important that we see these stories among some of the older Bridgerton characters? Older — not old!
I was about to say! (Laughs.) It’s interesting, isn’t it? I wonder who set the trend of that — the younger folk getting all the limelight when it comes to love. I don’t know. I feel like there is a large demographic of our audience that are within this age group anyway. And [also], what’s kind of dawned on me is… The last time I met someone who has only had one relationship — I genuinely do not remember the last time I met someone over a certain age, even over 21, who’s had one relationship like they would have had in the regency era. So actually, as much as this feels like second-chance love, it’s probably the more common dynamic that most of us go through in today’s world. Because people are constantly starting again, unfortunately. You have a relationship, there’s high hopes, and unfortunately, a lot don’t play out. So actually being able to see [older characters] having gone through that, both having had really deep relationships with children, being married, and then having to start again…
What I love about the dynamic is that there is such a truth and an openness to both of them. There’s an honesty to them. And it’s not easy by any stretch, but we see how they bring a level of openness and patience to their connection. It’s actually really grounded, even for today’s world.
I think that’s what people love too — that it translates so well to current day. How have you found the combination of Bridgerton‘s popularity and inherent raunchiness?
Well, I wouldn’t know, necessarily. (Laughs.) Shows nowadays are really clued up on the need for intimacy coordinators and people to safeguard talent and to make sure that everyone’s within the bounds of their comfort zone. From what I’ve heard about people involved in Bridgerton, they’re very well looked after.
To talk about the main romance this season quickly, with Benedict and Sophie, have you enjoyed it as a viewer?
I’ve said this before — Benedict’s one of my favorite characters! I love the cast, obviously, but for me, Benedict… I just knew it would be a wonderful season. Luke’s great, and I knew that seeing Benedict in all his glory and seeing him wrestle with this journey of what it means to actually commit and find love… I think a lot of men can relate to this as well. I probably feel closer to Benedict than to any of them. (Laughs.) Because it is a question of how do you move from a sense of quote unquote freedom to commitment, and giving up that boyish selfishness. So I find it quite compelling. Then, obviously, Yerin coming into the show, who brings such an honesty to [Sophie] and such a vulnerability, but also a strength. It’s beautiful to see. I love the fact that we go into the servant quarters, that kind of Cinderella story, right from the first episode. You get this sense of, ‘Oh, we’re getting into a part of the world that we haven’t seen yet.’ I find it exhilarating.
Do you have a favorite Bridgerton?
That’s not fair! (Laughs.) What the team have done so well is casting really great talent, right? And then meshing together these different psychologies that give us very different things. You get something different from everyone. Eloise is bonkers and hilarious, as is Benedict as well. And then you’ve got Colin, who’s a sweetheart — he obviously got a little bit edgier in season three — and then, what can you say about Anthony? They’re all different but strong in their own ways. I think audiences are going to love this season.
Those Bridgerton fans are passionate. In a good way!
I absolutely love it. It’s such an amazing fan base. And everywhere you go, there’s someone who loves the show. So we are incredibly blessed.
Part one of Bridgerton season four airs on Netflix Jan. 29.
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