SISTER SWAP
‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ co-star new ‘Francesca’ on ‘Bridgerton’
WE finally know why Francesca Bridgerton (Ruby Stokes) disappeared in the middle of Season 2 of“Bridgerton.” The sixth and slyest Bridgerton sibling was notably visiting an aunt in Bath during the first season and, in the third episode of Season 2, she somehow fell off the face of the earth after traveling with the family to Aubrey Hall. Frannie was there for Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie) grand debut and even cooed over baby Augie, but was AWOL for the rest of the season.
Even though Francesca is known as the most mysterious Bridgerton sibling, her disappearing act was downright strange. No one in the show commented on it, and it seemed like the writers might have just forgotten her?
As it turns out, Stokes had to leave the production to work on another Netflix series, “Lockwood & Co.,” and Deadline reports that she will not be returning for future seasons. Hannah Dodd (“Anatomy of a Scandal”) will take over the role of in Season 3.
Bridgerton is a loving, lavish adaptation of the best-selling romance books by Julia Quinn. Each of her books focuses on the love story of one of the eight tight-knit Bridgerton siblings.
So far, we’ve watched as eldest sister Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) found true love with her Duke (Regé-Jean Page) and big brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) conquered his own stubborn nature to admit his undying love for Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).
That means that the other six siblings and their epic romances are waiting in the wings.
While the series has already spent a lot of time with the next three oldest siblings — Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin (Luke Newton), and Eloise — the younger three have been used mostly as set dressing or cute comic relief.
So, in a way, it’s been totally fine that Francesca hasn’t been in the spotlight in the first two seasons of “Bridgerton.” That said, if Eloise came out in society in Season 2, it would stand to reason that Francesca will have her triumphant debut in Season 3 — which means they can’t just let an actress in a supporting role swan off for a bigger gig mid-season. Enter a new Francesca. Dodd, 26, has appeared in “Harlots ,”“Find Me in Paris” and played Sprite’s “adult” alter-ego in“Eternals.” She’s also set to star in this year’s “Enola Holmes 2 ”and“Flowers in the Attic: The Origin.”
She recently played the young version of Sienna Miller’s character, Sophie, in “Anatomy of a Scandal”; in recent portraits, Dodd has been sporting a dark auburn hairstyle that you can easily imagine fitting in with the Bridgerton family brood.