Bridgerton Star Reveals the Unexpected Harry Potter Alum Behind Her Sex Scene Tips
Bridgerton newcomer Genevieve Chenneour’s chance run-in with Bill Nighy, Harry Potter’s Rufus Scrimgeour, quickly went far beyond small talk — turning into the kind of unexpectedly charming conversation you can’t make up.
File this under delightful industry collisions: a Bridgerton newcomer grabs a coffee with Bill Nighy because her dog could not contain itself. It somehow turns into an hour-long chat about acting... and sex scenes. Not the coffee run you plan for, but here we are.
Genevieve Chenneour accidentally winds up getting advice from Bill Nighy
Genevieve Chenneour, set to appear in Bridgerton, says she bumped into Bill Nighy (yes, that Bill Nighy — Love Actually legend and the Minister of Magic himself, Rufus Scrimgeour, in the Harry Potter films) thanks to her very enthusiastic dog. Nighy stood up, the dog lost its mind in the best way, and he came over to say hello. One polite hello later, he invited her to join him for coffee.
What followed: about an hour talking shop, including the delicate art of filming sex scenes. According to Chenneour, Nighy was generous with career advice and the whole thing was more warm mentorship than anything remotely awkward or flirty — extremely on-brand for a charming British icon who has been around the block a few times.
"We talked for about an hour about acting and sex scenes. He was giving me lots of career advice... I was thinking, 'We are in the same industry, but also, what the actual f***? I am having coffee with Bill Nighy.'"
She shared the story with the Daily Mail, and honestly, it is the kind of random encounter every actor probably dreams about. A helpful nudge from a veteran pro, courtesy of a dog with excellent taste.
Bridgerton season 4: release plan and who the story follows
Netflix has locked in a two-part rollout for Bridgerton season 4: Part 1 lands January 29, 2026, and Part 2 follows on February 26, 2026.
- Leads: Luke Thompson returns as Benedict Bridgerton, who meets a masked stranger at a lavish masquerade ball — Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, a woman with secrets and a complicated past hiding behind a silver mask.
- Source material: The season pulls from Julia Quinn's novel 'An Offer from a Gentleman' — think a Cinderella-shaped romance, Bridgerton-style.
- Returning cast: Expect familiar faces including Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Ruth Gemmell, and Golda Rosheuvel, with additional new cast members to be revealed.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
- State of the show: 3 seasons so far; IMDb score sits at 7.4/10; Rotten Tomatoes shows 84% from critics and 74% from audiences.
This turn finally puts Benedict in the spotlight — the artsy, breezy Bridgerton brother getting a wake-up call via a masked mystery at a ball. If the book is any hint, cue the sweeping romance and identity games.
Between a serendipitous Bill Nighy chat and a two-part return date, Chenneour could not have asked for a more on-brand welcome to the ton. You in for a Benedict season? I am.