Transformation, a surprising guide, and much sexuality: Penelope's journey to the main character role in Season 3 of "Bridgerton"
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In the wake of the second season's success, with its captivating "will they, won't they" romance between Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), the attention now turns to two fan-favorites set to take center stage: Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Fans eagerly await the resolution to the story of these two characters who have had feelings for each other since the show first aired in 2020.
Previously, Colin had unintentionally hurt Penelope by revealing to his friends that he would never want to court her, creating a rift and setting up the emotional tension for this season.
During a recent interview with CNN, Coughlan shared some insights about the characters, stating, "When you meet them, they're both putting on masks. They each feel like they need to be somebody else to survive and to be loved and to find a match."
Evolution from Friends to More
In the upcoming third season, viewers find Colin returning from a summer in Europe with a brand new look and newfound attention from high society, while Penelope is focused on finding a husband to escape the smothering environment of her family's home, dominated by her manipulative mother and recently married sisters.
This season hints that even a wallflower can bloom, as Penelope experiences a makeover in her appearance, which further adds to the excitement. Coughlan describes this transformation as not resolving anything, saying, "She’s thinking, ‘I don’t care about romance or love, that doesn’t interest me. I’m going to be practical and find a husband.’ But you realize that she’s done no work on herself."
Adding a twist, Colin plays the role of mentor, guiding Penelope in the world of courtship. This leads to her attracting the attention of a new character, Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), who does not appear in the original novels. This situation incites jealousy in Colin. In a sneak peek, he questions his mother, "Is the best foundation for love friendship?" While fans of the show would eagerly agree, Coughlan highlights the necessity for these characters to grow in self-love before coming together.
"There’s a real overarching theme throughout the story with both Colin and Pen, of them learning to love themselves, as cheesy as that sounds," she said, though she seems uncomfortable sharing this. Newton adds, "They’ve known each other for a really long time, they know each other's insecurities, and it’s about accepting that person rather than idolizing a version of them that just isn't real."
Admitting the pressure of being the main love interest for this season, Newton emphasizes his excitement about embodying a character with a different perspective, stating, "Having sat in this role for the last four years, I felt in a really good place with Colin. He has a lot of traits that the previous male leads didn’t quite have. He's got this sensitivity and empathy for other characters."
Exploring Their Undeniable Chemistry
Coughlan and Newton found the transition into their new roles comfortable and natural. Their strong connection allowed them to easily tap into their chemistry, which proved invaluable when filming "Bridgerton's" famously passionate love scenes.
Sharing her nerves over the upcoming love scenes, Coughlan confessed, "In the lead up, I was very nervous. But then once we got into it, we had so much control over what we were doing. They ended up being really fun and watching them back, I think they're really beautiful."
Despite their lack of enthusiasm in giving dating advice, both actors agree that these characters, along with the rest of us, are just "human." Coughlan finalizes by instructing, "You can have a crush, but don't think that they're the be-all and end-all."
Bridgerton's Season 3, Part 1 is currently available on Netflix. Part 2 is set to release on June 13.
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In the third season of "Bridgerton," Penelope Featherington's transformation sets the stage for new romantic entanglements, providing ample entertainment for viewers. As Penelope navigates her journey towards self-discovery and love, her relationship with Colin Bridgerton evolves, offering a fresh twist to their long-standing friendship.
Source: edition.cnn.com
