15 Behind-The-Scenes Facts From ‘Bridgerton’ You Had No Idea About

15. Nicola Coughlan was working part-time at an optometrist’s office before Bridgerton

Before landing her breakout role in Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan was working part-time at an optometrist’s office in Galway. About 3 years before being cast as Penelope Featherington, she struggled to secure steady acting work and took a job 2 days a week. Her career began to gain momentum with Derry Girls, and soon after, she transitioned into Bridgerton in 2020.

14. The Bridgerton Cast Went To Regency Bootcamp

The entire cast of Bridgerton went to a six-week long Regency bootcamp before filming to restore the authenticity of Regency London. In this period actors revisited all the vital social rules in the 1800's, and they also rehearsed ballroom dances regularly. All of this was done to ensure that all the actors were immersed in the 1800’s and their mannerisms and skills were exactly as the people living in that time.

13. Queen Charlotte's look was inspired by Beyonce as Foxxy Cleopatra in Goldmember

One of the most massive wigs worn by Queen Charlotte was an afro wig that was inspired by Beyonce who played Foxxy Cleopatra in the film Goldmember in 2002. It was an afro wig that was designed to be a celebration of her ethnicity. The look was a blend of historical Gainsborough wigs and the Foxxy Cleopatra look.

12. The tiaras come from Swarovski's archives

Many of the dazzling tiaras and jewelry pieces seen in Bridgerton were sourced directly from Swarovski’s archives, which added an authentic sparkle to the show’s regal aesthetic. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick carefully selected genuine archival tiaras to ensure brilliance, especially in close-up shots, while the production team, alongside jewelry designer Lorenzo Mancianti, also collaborated with Swarovski to create custom pieces.

11. Daphne Bridgerton had 104 dresses made for her

According to Bridgerton costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, Daphne Bridgerton had 104 dresses made for her in season one. Overall, the team created over 7,500 pieces, forming around 5,000 costumes, all hand-made and hand-embroidered after five months of prep. Daphne’s wardrobe also evolved with her journey, shifting from soft blues and whites to richer pinks and purples as her character matured and her relationship with Simon progressed.

10. There were close to 7,500 pieces of wardrobe that were made specifically for Bridgerton

According to Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen, nearly 7,500 bespoke pieces were created from scratch for the first season; nothing was rented, from hats and shawls to overcoats by a team of 238 people over five months of preparation. Rather than strictly following historical accuracy, the goal was to blend Regency-inspired silhouettes with a modern, vibrant, and dreamy aesthetic.

9. Julie Andrews' recording sessions for Lady Whistledown were all done virtually

Haven’t we all wondered who was the real voice of Lady Whistledown all over the seasons? Well, it was Julie Andrews. Julie Andrews recorded all of Lady Whistledown’s voice overs entirely remotely, working from a studio in New York while the series was filmed in the UK. She never interacted with most of the cast in person, and delivered her narration from a different continent.

8. Most of the carriage scenes were filmed on a sound stage, so the horses pulling the carriages aren't real

In Bridgerton, the horses seen pulling carriages are often not real, particularly for indoor scenes. To maintain full control over lighting and environment, these sequences are typically filmed on sound stages, where stationary carriages are manually shaken or moved by crew members to mimic motion. The scenery outside is added later using green-screen technology. However, for outdoor or high-action scenes, productions still rely on trained stunt horses and professional handlers.

7. When Nicola Coughlan auditioned for Penelope, she got offered the job after just one audition

Nicola Coughlan revealed that she landed the role of Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton after just a single audition. She initially treated it as a routine reading with a casting assistant and expected multiple callbacks, especially for a Shondaland project, but instead received the offer within two weeks. According to showrunner Chris Van Dusen, Shonda Rhimes watched her audition tape and immediately decided she was the perfect fit.

6. An Intimacy coordinator choreographs all the sex scenes

Lizzy Talbot has been the intimacy coordinator for Bridgerton since season one, guiding all intimate scenes to keep actors safe and comfortable. These moments were carefully planned like fight scenes, with clear choreography, props, and physical barriers used to make everything feel natural on screen while staying professional behind the scenes.

5. The reveal of Lady Whistledown was the only scene filmed during COVID

The dramatic reveal of Lady Whistledown’s identity was shot in July 2020 when lockdown due to COVID-19 was enforced in the whole world. The main production was wrapped in February 2020. Only the ending was changed after a last-minute decision was made by the showrunners. Nicola Coughlin flew down from Ireland to London to shoot the ending while following the strict protocols.

4. Jonathan Bailey found out that he got the role on his way to Coachella

Jonathan Bailey revealed that he was offered the role of Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton on his 31st birthday, April 25, 2019, while stuck in traffic on his way to the Coachella music festival. He had originally auditioned for the role of Simon, but was quickly redirected toward Anthony, and ended up reading the scripts while still on the road to the festival.

3. Jonathan Bailey revealed that his first day on set included Anthony and Sienna having sex against a tree

Jonathan Bailey confirmed that on his very first day on set was a scene of Jonathan and Sienna having sex against the tree. He also said that they had coordinators who choreographed the whole scene like a dance, which required focus and intensity. He also added that the sex scenes aren’t as glamorous as they look on the screen; in fact, they are very unromantic while being filmed in front of crew members.

2. Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page's first day on set was when Simon and Daphne had sex in the library

Phoebe Dynevor, in an interview, said that “My first ever scene was in the library, when Simon’s going down on Daphne. And that was mine and Regé-Jean Page’s first-ever scene together. So the library scene is a memorable one for me.” They had rehearsed the sex scenes before the shoot, and she never felt that she was in the scene with a person she had never met and was directed on the spot.

1. Jonathan put makeup on his butt as the makeup team had to de-shine his bottom

Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton, shared a behind-the-scenes detail from season one, revealing that makeup artists applied foundation to his back to reduce shine during a steamy scene. He humorously recalled that this awkward but funny moment happened during his very first scene, right after he had dropped his britches.