From Regé-Jean Page to Simone Ashley, India Amarteifio and more, Bridgerton’s multicultural cast in a show set in Regency era London proves one thing for sure – that executive producer Shonda Rhimes isn’t afraid to turn the period drama genre on its head.
However, the show’s “colour-conscious” casting has been met with mixed reactions since the romantic drama series debuted in 2020. While some critics have felt that it reflects “checkbox inclusivity”, others have welcomed it, saying they feel seen and heard watching someone who looks like them.
Now, the Netflix show’s highly-anticipated fourth season (dropping on January 29) will feature an East Asian lead character for the first time. Australian actor Yerin Ha, who has Korean heritage, portrays Sophie Baek – a determined and captivating ‘Lady in Silver’ who’s been teased to capture the heart of Benedict Bridgerton. She is also the stepdaughter of Lady Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung. Lady Gun’s other two daughters are Miss Rosamund Li and Miss Posy Li, played by actors Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei respectively.
Leung, a Scottish-born actor of Chinese descent, rose to fame playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film franchise. Commending the “inclusion and diversity behind and in front of the camera”, she recently reflected on the heavy viewer and critic discourse there is around race and colour-conscious casting in Bridgerton.
“The more we can have it, the less of a thing it becomes. But for now, we’re kind of in the middle of it,” she told The Guardian.
Having first starred on the big screen two decades ago (when Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire came out in 2005), Leung has witnessed Hollywood’s gradual shift towards embracing more cultural diversity over the years. As she’s observed this recent progress (Bridgerton included), she’s reflected on what it would’ve meant to her younger self to grow up watching female leads who looked like her.
“I’m envious of the younger generation who are getting to see people that represent them on screens now,” she said. “I know it would have done me good.”
Speaking of her childhood, she also spoke to the publication about racial microaggressions. She recalls the time her school peers described her as ‘the next Lucy Liu’ in her high school yearbook.
While more diversity is always a great thing, authentic storytelling is just as paramount. People of colour have long been tokenised or stereotyped, and it’s only been exacerbated when representation is lacking.
“Obviously I’m a huge fan of Lucy Liu, she’s had great longevity in her career, but that irked me. I remember thinking, why not Meryl Streep? I was kind of restricted by my race, and I guess Lucy Liu was the only other Asian actor that was, at the time, on the big screen,” she said.
Meanwhile Ha is well aware that being Bridgerton’s first East Asian lead comes with high expectations from audiences and the industry.
“It’s a lot of pressure, I won’t lie,” she told Vogue Australia. “Through a good performance, people will be able to realise, yes, we deserve and belong in these spaces. It’s okay to take up space.”
With the countdown until the fourth season now well underway, the cast of Bridgerton gathered in Paris this week for a glamorous red carpet premiere. In a red carpet interview, Ha seemed to allude to a sense of imposter syndrome. “The biggest challenge for me personally was actually the mental obstacle I had to overcome in terms of telling myself that I’m worthy for this role,” she told Deadline.
It’s a feeling that’s all too familiar to many women –and particularly women of colour – in various industries. That includes myself as a South Asian woman. While one actor in one role can’t possibly (and shouldn’t have to) represent an entire community, I hope Ha’s performance in Bridgerton will help remind herself and many young women that they are worthy of success, love and anything else their heart desires.
Bridgerton Season 4 premieres on Netflix in two parts. Part 1 drops on January 29 & Part 2 on February 26.
