Having a ball Venue showcased to world thanks to smash-hit show
ANETFLIX drama that has taken the world by storm is showcasing some of the Bristol region’s attractions globally.
Bridgerton, a period drama which follows wealthy socialites through life in London circa 1813, was released on Christmas Day and has quickly got viewers around the world hooked.
Narrated by Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown, Bridgerton encapsulates everything there is to love about scandalous period dramas with themes of secrecy and lust firmly at its core.
The smash-hit series has been recognised for its diverse cast and classical twist on modern day pop culture, and if that wasn’t enough, most of the scenes were filmed here in the South West.
One key location for filming the iconic ballroom scenes was Leigh Court in Abbots Leigh, North Somerset, a popular wedding and events venue which provided the perfect setting for the Princes Ballroom, the Ingenue Ballroom and the Crawford Ballroom.
And though the drama is set mainly in the capital, the streets of Bath were used to double up as London.
Much of the filming took place around the famous Royal Crescent, which features as the home of the Featheringtons, but other streets in Bath pop up too including Beauford Square, Abbey Green and Bath Street.
But the filming locations aren’t the only thing that links Bridgerton to Bristol.
One of the show’s key players is Lady Danbury, the esteemed neighbourhood dowager played by Clifton-born actress and director Adjoa Andoh.
While Lady Danbury isn’t directly related to the Duke – the series heartthrob – she’s the closest thing he had to a mother growing up
She is one of the series’ most dominating figures, and any love interest of the Duke should be passed by her.
Andoh was born in Clifton in 1963.
She grew up in Wickwar in South Gloucestershire and attended Katherine Lady Berkeley’s School (KLB) in Wotton-under-Edge.
She started studying law at Bristol Polytechnic, but left after two years to pursue her acting career.
She has since found immense success on stage and on screen.
You might have spotted the actress in BBC’s Casualty where she played nurse Collette Griffiths for a whole 90 episodes.
She’s not subservient to a husband, as was the norm of the Regency period. She’s wealthy, and she’s powerful. As a woman, she’s got the best gig in town. Adjoa Andoh on her character Lady Danbury
She also starred in two series of Doctor Who, as companion Martha’s mother Francine Jones.
Andoh was Karen in Eastenders for 10 episodes, the Head of MI9 in teen drama M.I. High, Julie in Broadchurch and the prosecutor in Line of Duty.
Perhaps Andoh’s biggest role to date is Brenda Mazibuko – Nelson Mandela’s Chief of Staff – in Clint Eastwood’s Invictus in 2009.
Andoh is praised for her lead roles on stage too including His Dark Materials, Stuff Happens, The Revenger’s Tragedy, A Streetcar Named Desire and Julius Caesar - to name just a few.
Speaking to Digital Spy on her most recent role as Lady Danbury, Andoh said: “If you think about women of that era, she’s in a really good position,” she begins, “in that she’s not married – she’s widowed, so she’s not subservient to a husband, as was the norm of the Regency period. She’s wealthy, and she’s powerful. As a woman, she’s got the best gig in town.”
Bridgerton is available to stream now on Netflix