The Surprising Lives of Bridgerton Actors Before They Were Famous

But have you ever wondered what the actors who brought these characters to life were up to before they became household names?

Well, get ready to be surprised as it turns out, the show's stars have some pretty fascinating and varied backgrounds.

Phoebe Dynevor

Phoebe Dynevor, who played Daphne Bridgerton, the leading lady of season 1, didn't venture into acting by accident - some might even say she has it in her blood.

Dynevor's mother has been a mainstay in the British soap drama Coronation Street for over three decades, her father is a screenwriter, and even her uncle and grandparents have worked in the film industry.

"It really does drive you, when you’re surrounded by that," the actress revealed in an interview with Harper's Bazaar.

Her acting journey began at just 14 years old, with a role in the BBC's school drama Waterloo Road, and continued with a string of noteworthy performances in shows like The Village and Dickensian. But not many people know that the star spent nine months auditioning in LA and was so discouraged that she even booked a flight to go back home. However, destiny had other plans for her, and she received the fateful call to audition for Bridgerton.

Regé-Jean Page

Our beloved Duke of Hastings had a varied career before making his entrance to Bridgerton. Page grew up in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, and first stumbled upon acting as a childhood hobby. In fact, his first-ever role was the Little Drummer Boy in his school's play.

According to Page's interview with Netflix Queue, what encouraged him to be a professional actor was 'not being very good at anything else at all.' Interestingly enough, he initially studied sound engineering and, later on, enrolled at Drama Centre London to refine his acting skills. Prior to his American television debut in the 2016 mini-series Roots, he appeared in several British TV shows such as Waterloo Road and Fresh Meat.

Nicola Coughlan

Nicola Coughlan, who plays the charming and shy Penelope Featherington, was fairly new to acting when she joined the hit period drama - and it wasn't the easiest of journeys. As a matter of fact, the actress told The Guardian that there came a point when she went for almost a year without securing any auditions, and her financial situation suffered as a result.

'I still get scared to check my bank account, I still have that fear in me. It's not that long ago that I couldn't afford a cup of coffee,' she revealed.

To make ends meet, she started working at an optician's office but remained determined to pursue her acting career. Her persistence eventually paid off as she landed a role in the production of Jess and Joe Forever and soon after, in the sitcom Derry Girls before her breakthrough debut in Bridgerton.

Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey, who portrays the rakish Anthony Bridgerton, decided to become an actor when he was just five years old after his grandmother took him to see Lionel Bart's musical Oliver! in London.

He made his debut on stage in a play based on Noah's Ark when he was in primary school, and not long after, he appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A Christmas Carol.

From that point on, he continued to expand his career to television, securing roles in a variety of British TV shows, including Off the Hook, Doctors, Leonardo, and many others. Bailey also resumed his on-stage career, appearing in the West End's 2018 revival of Company before being cast as the now-famous Viscount.

Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley has always surrounded herself with artistic hobbies and grew up studying and singing classical music and opera and playing the piano. Although she left school at sixteen and went on to sign with a modeling agency, she always knew she would end up pursuing a career in the arts.

What's more, she told Glamour that nothing else interested her apart from creative fields.

'I don't know if it's stubbornness, I just couldn't ever see myself doing anything else. We had no connections in the industry. I had no one to look up to in that sense, I was just always incredibly driven and had a very scary sense of 'no doubt,'' she revealed.

The star's first acting role was in a fantasy teen drama Wolfblood, after which she made various appearances in well-known shows like Guilt and Broadchurch. These were followed by a role in the 2019 comedy-drama Sex Education, where she started gaining more prominence.

There's no doubt that the actors behind the beloved characters of the world of Bridgerton have had interesting lives before their breakout roles in the hit series. From sound engineering to modeling, their paths to stardom have been anything but straightforward.

But one thing is certain: their talent and dedication to their craft have made Bridgerton a truly unforgettable viewing experience.

Source: Harper's Bazaar, Netflix Queue, The Guardian, Glamour.