As Francesca in ‘Bridgerton,’ Hannah Dodd faces grief: ‘I had to stop myself from crying’

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This article contains spoilers for Season 4, Part 2 of Netflix’s “Bridgerton.”

Hannah Dodd vividly recalls auditioning for the first season of “Bridgerton.” The 30-year-old English actress tried out for the part of Daphne Bridgerton, a main character in the series. However, she didn’t get the role, with Phoebe Dynevor ultimately being cast. Interestingly, a few years later, Dodd was asked to record an audition tape for a mysterious new project.

“I was surprised to hear it was ‘Bridgerton’ again,” Dodd shared while speaking at London’s 180 House in February. We chose a secluded table at the private club to keep details about Season 4, Part 2 – which premiered on Netflix Thursday – from being overheard, but everyone seemed lost in their own conversations and didn’t notice what Dodd was revealing.

It took several months for Dodd to find out the project she was working on was actually “Bridgerton.” She initially hesitated, wondering if she wanted to repeat a similar experience, but ultimately decided to participate because she truly enjoyed the story. Shortly after, she met with the team at Shondaland and began taking piano lessons just a week later.

Showrunner Jess Brownell shared that after meeting many actors, Hannah was a perfect fit. Speaking from Los Angeles, Brownell explained that Hannah is a nuanced performer who can portray shyness without appearing vulnerable. They felt she convincingly embodied the character’s hidden strength, which was crucial for the role as it begins in Season 3. The character starts as quiet and reserved but will face challenges that bring out a powerful determination to overcome them.

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Jess Brownell, the creator of “Bridgerton,” talks about what to expect in Season 3, including a discussion she had with Shonda Rhimes about Colin’s lack of romantic experience, what’s happening with the narrator, Julie Andrews, and how the show will look different in Season 4.

For the third season of the show, Hannah Dodd took over the role of Francesca Bridgerton. Ruby Stokes had previously played the part for the first two seasons but had to leave due to other commitments. Dodd admitted she felt a bit of pressure joining the established Bridgerton family.

Dodd described the connection between the other actors as amazing, noting they clearly enjoyed working together. She was impressed and hoped to find a similar connection herself, but the cast was so welcoming that she immediately felt comfortable and part of the group.

The Bridgerton series has shown Francesca’s story before the events of Julia Quinn’s novel, “When He Was Wicked.” We first meet Francesca in Season 3, where she enters London society and unexpectedly falls for John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin. By Season 4, they are married and living in London, but tragedy strikes when John dies. So far, everything we’ve seen of Francesca’s romance has been created by the show’s writers, rather than directly adapted from the book.

According to Dodd, viewers familiar with the source material will notice the show deviates significantly from the books. For example, the story doesn’t include the traditional marriage mart scenes, and it begins after the death of John, which happens right at the start of the book.

John appears for roughly the first ten chapters of the book, after which the story jumps forward in time. This means we don’t see a prolonged depiction of her initial grief, explains Brownell. However, we did use insights from Julia Quinn to inform how the character would likely respond to the loss.

Golda Rosheuvel (who plays Violet Bridgerton) and the rest of the cast knew John’s character was going to die, but they didn’t find out the details until they received the scripts for episodes six and seven. This was a particularly busy time for Rosheuvel, as she was filming the fourth season of “Bridgerton” at the same time as rehearsing for the West End production of “Cabaret,” where she would play Sally Bowles. She describes the period as “very intense.”

She remembers working incredibly long hours – six or seven days a week – on both projects, balancing filming and rehearsals. She even filmed a funeral scene one day and started technical rehearsals the very next. Plus, the characters she played were completely different from each other.

Episode 7 centers around Francesca grappling with the loss of John, and brings her family together for his funeral. John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling, who has been living with them in London, also attends. The show’s creator, Brownell, intentionally placed the funeral later in the season to allow more development of Francesca’s relationships with both John and Michaela, while also keeping the main focus on Benedict and Sophie’s storyline.

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These actors are the newest leads in Netflix’s romantic period drama, taking on a passionate take on the classic Cinderella tale in its fourth season.

According to Brownell, Episode 7 marks a natural turning point where Benedict and Sophie find themselves separated. The funeral in the episode serves a narrative purpose, creating external stress that helps them gain perspective on their relationship.

Playing the funeral scene was challenging for Dodd. The character, Francesca, is naturally reserved and doesn’t easily show her emotions, unlike the actor himself. Dodd was concerned that audiences might interpret Francesca’s calm reaction to John’s death as a lack of love for him.

Dodd explained they struggled to hold back tears. It was strange being the only one who wasn’t crying, as Francesca usually keeps her emotions hidden. She’s often feeling fragile, and John provides her with a sense of security. Dodd believes that when someone bottles up their feelings for so long, it eventually leads to an emotional release.

Modern viewers might find Francesca unemotional, but historian Brownell explains that showing grief openly at funerals wasn’t considered proper during that time period.

She explains that Michaela openly crying at a funeral would have been considered a major breach of social norms. Seeing intense displays of grief on television sometimes feels inauthentic to her, and she believes the strict rules of the Regency era actually reflect how some people genuinely process loss.

Francesca eventually confides in her mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell), and breaks down emotionally. This happens after she discovers she isn’t pregnant – a hope that led to a deeply upsetting and intrusive medical exam. Despite their shared experience of losing their husbands – Violet with eight children to raise, and Francesca with none – they find a new connection.

Dodd explains that the characters share a common experience. He particularly likes the moment when Francesca declares they’re different, because, in reality, they are quite similar, just in different circumstances. Filming the scene was challenging, requiring many takes, which was physically draining. Dodd felt it was an important scene and wanted to ensure they captured it perfectly.

Throughout the second part of the story, Francesca begins to connect with Michaela, John’s lively cousin and eventual love interest. The character of Michaela was originally named Michael in the book. Brownell, who became the showrunner starting with Season 3, had always planned to feature a queer romance.

“That was my first time speaking with Shonda Rhimes,” Brownell recalls. “The show has already resonated with so many viewers by offering representation in various ways, and it feels important for LGBTQ+ people to see themselves reflected in a fantasy series that prides itself on inclusivity, too.”

It became clear what the show was building towards at the end of its third season with the introduction of Michaela. While many fans were thrilled, some expressed their disappointment online.

Dodd reflects that this experience has taught her the value of disconnecting from the internet. She emphasizes that many viewers are genuinely happy and feel seen through the storyline, highlighting how meaningful it is to have this narrative as a central focus. She describes the story as a deeply emotional journey, exploring themes of grief, self-discovery, guilt, confusion, and love.

Before Season 3 began filming, showrunner Dodd conducted chemistry tests with the actors auditioning for the roles of John and Michaela. She found the experience of observing auditions unusual. While she wasn’t the final decision-maker, Dodd was particularly impressed with Masali, who delivered a strong audition despite having just arrived from South Africa. Dodd considered it a valuable learning experience in the audition process.

I have to admit, when Francesca and Michaela first met, it wasn’t exactly a match made in heaven. Francesca wasn’t immediately drawn to Michaela, but things quickly changed. Michaela has this incredible energy and zest for life that really started to lift Francesca’s spirits, especially after she lost John. It was honestly a bit shocking to see how open and free-spirited Michaela was – she didn’t seem to care much for what society expected, and that initially made Francesca a little uneasy, but it was also kind of refreshing.

Dodd explains that it’s common to be frustrated by people who live very different lives than your own. You might question why they don’t seem to follow the same rules, like Michaela, who often arrives late. This difference particularly bothers Francesca, who is used to strictly following societal norms. Dodd believes this creates a compelling and complex relationship with a lot of potential for exploration.

Brownell hoped the characters would finish the season as friends, but there’s also a hint of a possible connection beyond that.

She explained that they were interested in exploring the development of a genuine friendship between the two characters, which blossomed before John’s passing. However, the story takes a turn in Episode 8 when Michaela decides to leave.

Brownell says we’ll understand Michaela’s decision more in future seasons.

Dodd says this departure is another difficult setback for Francesca, who has already faced many challenges. He describes it as truly heartbreaking.

While it’s still unknown which book will be the basis for Season 5, the writer is already working on it and has a clear vision for the story. She emphasizes that dealing with loss isn’t simple or straightforward, and the show will continue to explore the emotional aftermath of Francesca and John’s relationship, honoring the depth of their connection.

Joining the cast of “Bridgerton” has completely transformed Sabina Dodd’s career, especially considering she began as a professional dancer. After starting on TV in 2018 with “Find Me in Paris,” she went on to appear in “Harlots” and “Anatomy of a Scandal.” Despite her success, Dodd still sometimes feels like an imposter as an actor, but she uses those feelings to push herself to do even better.

She admits that job searching is always a difficult experience. She recalls a time when her main goal was simply to work as an actress, regardless of the specific role. Thankfully, that dream has become a reality thanks to ‘Bridgerton,’ and she now feels a strong sense of comfort and belonging when returning to the show each season.

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2026-02-26 14:32