Discover the 'Bridgerton' cast's theatre history

As Nicola Coughlan continues her run in The Playboy of the Western World, learn all about Bridgerton cast's success on stage.

Dearest gentle reader, it gives me great pleasure to impart to you the news that Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is currently appearing in The Playboy of the Western World at the National Theatre.

But she isn’t the only member of the Bridgerton cast to have honed her skills on stage. Learn all about the romance series’ history with theatre in our irresistible guide.

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Jonathan Bailey

Long before his award-winning turn in Company, Bailey was a child star playing Gavroche in the West End’s Les Misérables. He graduated to roles such as Tim Price in the stage musical version of movie American Psycho, Jamie in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years, Edgar in King Lear, and John in Cock. Just last year he played the lead in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre and next year he partners up with Ariana Grande for Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican.

Nicola Coughlan

Breakout star Coughlan, who plays wallflower Penelope/secret all-powerful gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, has also trodden the boards. She starred in Jess and Joe Forever at the Old Vic, after responding to an open call, and later joined the cast of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse.

Yerin Ha

Yerin Ha is playing a dangerous game as the maid to catch Benedict Bridgerton's eye — and affections — in season four of the series. She was recently seen on stage in Kip Williams's sharp update of Genet's classic drama The Maids at the Donmar Warehouse,

Gracie McGonigal

Gracie McGonigal has popped up in season 4 of Bridgerton as loveable maid Hazel, and friend of Sophie. She is currently starring as Little Red Ridinghood in the Bridge Theatre revival of Sondheim's Into The Woods, and her previous stage credits include Fangirls at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and The Little Big Things at @sohoplace.

Adjoa Andoh

A fan favourite, Andoh plays the wily Lady Agatha Danbury. She’s no less remarkable on stage, where she’s taken roles such as Serafina Pekkala in His Dark Materials at the National Theatre, Madame de Volanges in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse, Casca in Julius Caesar at the Bridge, and the title role in Richard III.

Julie Andrews

What would Bridgerton be without Andrews’s peerless Lady Whistledown voiceover? Of course, Andrews is a theatre legend as well as a screen one, from originating the iconic role of Eliza Doolittle in musical My Fair Lady to starring in The Boy Friend, Camelot and Victor/Victoria on Broadway.

Polly Walker

You don’t mess with Lady Featherington: she somehow always comes out on top. Walker is clearly having a ball playing her, and we’d love her to bring that energy back to theatre – she’s previously appeared in Finding the Sun at the National Theatre and Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the West End.

Regé-Jean Page

He seduced viewers deliciously in the first season of Bridgerton as the brooding Duke of Hastings – and, like Walker, could do the same to theatre audiences if we could entice him back. He had early roles in The History Boys at the Sheffield Crucible and The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Lorraine Ashbourne

As the sardonic Mrs Varley, the Featheringtons’ long-suffering housekeeper, she sees all. Ashbourne brought her incredible comic gifts to Till the Stars Come Down at the National earlier in 2024, and has also appeared in shows like The Kitchen at the Royal Court and She Stoops to Conquer at Manchester Royal Exchange.

Sabrina Bartlett

She Stoops to Conquer pops up again in the CV of Bartlett, who played Siena Rosso, Anthony’s opera singer lover, in season one of Bridgerton. It was her second show at the Orange Tree Theatre, following While the Sun Shines, and she also played Nina in The Seagull at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Bessie Carter

Carter is a regular Bridgerton scene-stealer, playing Penelope Featherington’s moany sister Prudence, and she’s excellent on stage too. She was a standout in Dear Octopus at the National Theatre, and also appeared in All My Sons at the Old Vic. Just last year, she starred opposite her mum (in real life!) Imelda Staunton in Mrs Warren's Profession.

Ruth Gemmell

As the Bridgerton matriarch, who wants all her children to marry for love, Gemmell is the heart of the series. She has numerous stage credits to her name too, from Macbeth, King Lear and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. with the RSC to The Whale at Theatre Royal Bath, and Death and the Maiden at Salisbury Playhouse.

Luke Thompson

Thompson plays the second Bridgerton child, the bohemian artist Benedict and this season's project for Lady Bridgerton. He has a strong theatre history: he replaced Bridgerton castmate Jonathan Bailey in the West End transfer of the Ian McKellen-starring King Lear, and most recently starred in A Little Life, also in the West End, and in the RSC’s 2024 production of Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Golda Rosheuvel

She’s wonderfully imperious as Queen Charlotte, who casts an eagle eye over the goings-on of the ton. Rosheuvel is commanding on stage too, with credits such as West End musical Fame, Macbeth at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Wonderland at the National Theatre, and The American Clock at the Old Vic. Last year she starred opposite Letitia Wright in Not Your Superwoman at the Bush Theatre.

Luke Newton

Newton’s dreamy Bridgerton middle child Colin got a glow-up last season – and a wife. Could more theatre be in his future? He made his debut understudying Elder Price in the West End’s The Book of Mormon, and returned to the stage for a revival of Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things at the Park Theatre.

Charithra Chandran

Chandran led the second season of Bridgerton as that season’s “diamond”, debutante Edwina Sharma – and, for a time, fiancée of Anthony Bridgerton. Her character has since left the show, freeing up Chandran to make her stage debut in Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon in the West End.

Rupert Young

Young also featured in Bridgerton season two, playing Jack – the new head of the Featherington clan, and a scheming fraudster. Young is a regular on stage too, with credits including musical High Society at the Old Vic, The Philanderer at the Orange Tree, and he played Larry Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen in the West End.

Martins Imhangbe

Boxer-turned-club owner-turned gentleman, Will Mondrich has had quite the journey on Bridgerton. Imhangbe can draw on his varied stage career: he’s done everything from an international tour of Barber Shop Chronicles to Richard II at the Almeida, Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic, and playing Othello.

Julian Ovenden

Benedict’s interest in art (and sexual exploration) was fostered by Ovenden’s Sir Henry Granville in Bridgerton season one. The actor is better known to theatre fans as a prolific musicals leading man: he’s starred in South Pacific, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, and more. Last October, he appears in concert at Cadogan Hall.

Kathryn Drysdale

Drysdale is a treat as the enterprising businesswoman Genevieve Delacroix, who runs the ton’s favoured dressmakers. She can hold her own on stage too, with shows like The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse, The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studios, and Home, I’m Darling at the National Theatre.

Caroline Quentin

Quentin made a very funny appearance in Bridgerton’s first season as the overly doting mother of the detestable Lord Berbrooke. Her numerous stage credits include Me and My Girl at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jack Absolute Flies Again at the National Theatre, and, last year, Infamous at Jermyn Street Theatre.

Ben Miller

Miller played the original feckless patriarch of the Featherington family in season one – a man with a dangerous gambling habit. He got his start with a comedy troupe at the Gate Theatre, taking shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and he originated the role of Louis Harvey in The Ladykillers in the West End.

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Photo credits: Jason Bell, Marc Brenner, Shonay Shote, Manuel Harlan, Jan Versweyveld, Danny Kaan, Johan Persson