‘I’m proud of Bridgerton – it has changed period drama forever...’
WITH its dazzling design and inclusive casting, Bridgerton has changed period drama forever, says one of its leading stars.
Adjoa Andoh, who plays no-nonsense Lady Danbury, says she is “proud” to be a part of Netflix’s hit drama, which was “embraced” by “82 million households worldwide in the first 28 days”.
She is currently filming the second series in the UK while also narrating the latest season of Chateau DIY on Channel 4.
Asked if it had changed period drama forever, Adjoa replied: “Yes, I think it has.”
She added: “I’m super proud to be a part of it. It was amazing to see how well the show was received, and people embraced its race, its feminism, its sexuality, all in the realms of a historical romance.
“It wasn’t to everyone’s taste. But if you don’t like it, you turn it off.”
Speaking about why Bridgerton was so groundbreaking, Adjoa said: “I’m not saying you won’t still have things like the lovely Jane Austen adaptation of
Sanditon, by Andrew Davies, but that had a black character in it too
[an heiress], because historically we were there.there were 30,000 free black people living in London alone then.
“Queen Charlotte [in Bridgerton] was historically descended from an African woman and
Portuguese royalty because there was a lot of trading going on between the two countries.
“Then you get the
Netflix/shonda Rhimes
[producer] twang on it if you like, and it puts it on steroids. Rather than a string quartet playing, you have
Ariana Grande. I like the fun of it.”
Speaking about
Chateau DIY Andoh praised the “courage” of those starting a new life in a French chateau.the series is a spin-off of Escapetothe Chateau.
“The people taking part have been so courageous in doing what they’re doing with the chateau. It’s not easy.they’re taking a punt,” she said.
“One couple were clearing lots and lots of rubbish away and they found a tennis court there! It’s also really interesting to see how different personalities cope with all of this, including the dynamics between the couples.
“One couple made a bamboo tunnel from all the bamboo on the grounds.
“Proper Heath Robinson, inventing stuff going on.”
Adjoa says she fancies a chateau as a residence: “I could live in a smaller one, maybe not one with 30 bedrooms. I could do with seven bedrooms – at a pinch!”
She said “in another life” she could have been an architect: “In 1984, I
lived in a squat in Brixton as I made my way as an actress. In those days you could get a grant from the council as an architect.
“You could stand in our basement and look at the sky above. So I learned to build everything – joists, ceilings, walls and floorboards, and build windows and door frames.
“I stayed away from the electricity but otherwise I love the whole step-by-step nature of doing it.”
Adjoa Andoh narrates Chateau DIY on Channel 4, weekdays at 4pm, from Monday, September 27