What have you been up to lately?

Promoting the show. We had the premiere, I think it was last week? I can’t remember now. But yeah, I’ve been getting ready for when the show comes out and prepping for that. It’s been really nice. It’s fun to be with the cast to sort of celebrate it. Just being on set and being in somewhat normal clothes. I almost didn’t recognise anyone when we were not in our wardrobe, like, “Gosh, I didn’t know your hair was blonde!” But it’s nice to sort of see everyone out of context.

Top Prada via Designer Exchange

How did it feel being back on set again? Did you feel more comfortable coming back?

Yeah, no, absolutely! It was the best feeling. It’s always such a joy with new faces, familiar faces, and a new story. It’s a real joy to be back. We’ve got a new backlot as well, so there have been a lot of changes to the studio. It’s just nice to sort of see and feel that.

Bridgerton has become a huge phenomenon throughout the years, and it has such a distinct rhythm and tone. Stepping into that world, what part of the storytelling excited you most about Season 4?

I think this season, the story. I mean, every season’s been incredible, and it’s been so different. But this season just feels really special and really different. I think the story is really strong, and coming back and seeing what the writers have done to elevate these characters, you know, it’s just incredible. I’m excited for the whole thing! I know it sounds so vague, but really, it’s just getting involved in as much as possible, throwing yourself into the work.

The show balances romance with social tension. What aspect of that balance spoke to you most as an actor?

I think that is what the writers have done so well, yes. It’s very romantic and very sort of saucy, for lack of a better word. But it’s really grounded in reality. I think that, yes, we love the stories about love and passion and finding that person. But I love that they’ve also put those obstacles that we would experience in our everyday lives, even now, you know? It’s not so far-fetched in this sort of unattainable world. It’s real, and I think the reason why audiences love it is that they can sort of see themselves in those situations, and they can relate to it.

You studied at The Royal Academy of Performing Arts, which is known to specialise in theatre training. Did any of that help you with your prep in playing a Lord, which has that old-school theatrics appeal?

Oh yeah, 100 percent! I had to sort of revisit those skills that I learned during those three years. They never really leave you, to be fair. It’s always there. But also knowing that I was playing this character, it made me do research and prepare and get ready. I spoke to my old acting teachers and got some advice, and did some sessions with them. So yeah, I think it did help me prepare for the show. I didn’t feel like I was sort of crafting or trying to portray something. I think that, you know, the writing’s so amazing, it gave me my performance in a way because it was just so beautifully, beautifully written. As an actor, that’s what you want. And it was so easy to step in and sort of create with the director, the cast, and the team.

Bridgerton relies heavily on unspoken chemistry and energy buildup between characters. How do you approach building that kind of tension on screen?

Yeah, because when I was doing it, I never really thought about what the response would be. It was just one of the things that I learned going back to drama school, there’s so much in the unspoken, you know. When we don’t speak, but there’s sort of a connection happening or something being seen that’s way more captivating, I feel. Because as an audience member, you’re almost endowing your own thoughts, perceptions, and ideas onto these characters, but they’re saying nothing. It’s such a beautiful thing to watch. So when I was doing it, it was just me and Hannah making this connection. This conscious connection. How do we do that without saying words? And it was tricky, because it could just be two people sitting there on the couch doing nothing, and that could be boring. But I’m glad people found it interesting.

Bridgerton is still a historical piece but incorporates modern moments, like the music involved, almost making it feel full circle. How do you balance the historical context with modern emotional truth, especially within John Stirling?

It is quite complex. Obviously, there were certain rules and regulations back then that don’t necessarily apply now with courting, work, and getting married, and with women, what they can and can’t do. They broke some rules, which is quite nice, and they made some exceptions. I think that if we were to go by the actual standard set back then, it would be quite inhibiting for the show to exist. I love the fact that they broke the rules and allowed the actors to make some really strong choices for their characters. We have to sort of see different sides to what the writers might have thought. And again, the writers are so open to collaborating. Jess Brownell, the showrunner, is such an amazing collaborator, and she’s always up for hearing our ideas and what we think on certain things, which is always quite nice.

Jacket and Trousers Yuhan Ao / Turtleneck Amiri / Shoes Grenson

Do you believe courting should come back to modern times?

You know… I like courting. The whole process is intense. For example, Yerin’s character says, “A woman gets ready, gets a dress made, and looks forward to this day all her life, then to be passed by a guy who looks at you for like two seconds and is like, ‘I’m not interested.’” I’m heavily paraphrasing here, but it must be so daunting, but so exciting at the same time. Like, am I going to meet someone that I can fall in love with, and he can marry me to start a life in the future? At the same time, if that doesn’t work, it’s just like, oh my gosh, what’s the opposite of that? It’s quite sad, you know? So yeah, courting it must be daunting. I think it’s lovely at the same time. I’m sort of cancelling myself out. I’m like, it’s great, but it’s not. I think the idea of it is interesting. It’s really sort of chivalrous in terms of the man going out and writing his name on the dance card and saying, “Can I have this dance?” And that’s a way to get to know her more, which I think is really sweet.

There’s got to be a modern take to it, maybe not a dance card when you’re at the pub.

What would that be? Tinder? No, it can’t be Tinder.

What’s your Instagram? No dancing, just DMs.

Yeah! Literally!

Bridgerton is known for being incredibly secretive. How difficult is it to keep secrets from the set until release?

I am always being told off by Hannah and Claudia because, basically, when we chat, we whisper. I don’t struggle to whisper; my voice is just really, really deep, so the noise carries. And then Claudia’s like, “What are you doing?” and Hannah’s like, “People are here, they can hear you!” But also, if you’ve read the books, you know what happens in certain scenarios and scenes with certain characters. But I forgot that people haven’t read the books. So I was speaking to a friend, and she’s like, “Oh my gosh, I’m so excited to watch the show!” And I was like, “Oh yeah, me too!” And then I said something regarding my character, and she almost started crying. She’s like, “What? No, please tell me you’re lying!” And I’m like, “Psych!” I managed to sort of say it didn’t happen… but when it does…

I heard your kick-start to acting was because you were put in detention. Being where you are now, is there anything you would tell your younger self?

No! I think stay mischievous! You know, when I was growing up, I wasn’t naughty. There’s a difference. I was very much the class clown. My teachers said that I was attention-seeking, but I think I was just being cheeky. And I think my parents quickly realised he may not be academic, but he is very creative. I would tell my younger self to stay mischievous, stay intrigued, stay curious. Just don’t limit yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to. I know it sounds bitterly cliché, but it’s the truth. It’s part of the process. If everything were perfect, I don’t know where I’d be.

That’s really sweet. Now, you’ve had a career with a balance of stage and film/TV production. Is there one you prefer?

Coming from theatre-based training in drama school, theatre is like the foundation on which actors are made to sort of do anything from. So I learned very quickly that if I can do theatre, it can then lead to other mediums, and I love it. I haven’t done theatre since 2022, The Glass Menagerie at the Duke of York’s Theatre, but I absolutely loved it, and I want to go back to doing really interesting plays. I don’t know, I love them all! I miss the theatre, but I’m enjoying film at the moment. I love TV, but I miss theatre.

What’s the rest of your year looking like?

I don’t know. I have a film coming out that I did. We filmed in Cardiff, and it’s an action movie, so quite different from Bridgerton. So that’s exciting. I’m also currently filming another TV show. But that’s it, really. That’s keeping me occupied, which is nice. Exciting things to come!

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