Bridgerton fans watch the steamy show for the drama, intrigue, and, of course, the full-on Regencycore glam. But viewers may be surprised to learn what their faves look like without the corseted gowns and mile-high hairdos.
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00:00Bridgerton fans watched the steamy show for the drama, intrigue, and, of course, the full-on
00:05Regency Corps glam.
00:07But viewers may be surprised to learn what their faves looked like without the corseted
00:10gowns and mile-high hairdos.
00:13Any proper English show needs a queen, and Bridgerton is no exception.
00:17Golda Rushevelle's Queen Charlotte's haughty demeanor is perfection.
00:20"...Fashion, costume, wigage, all of that is part of the storytelling.
00:26It's hugely important for the character."
00:28Charlotte always slays in the most extra attire.
00:31The costume department never disappoints.
00:33Rushevelle's on-screen persona is never seen without a towering wig.
00:37"...Yes, they are heavy.
00:38Tom and the crew very kindly made me a neck brace."
00:42Getting Rushevelle's screen ready takes over two hours, with the actor explaining during
00:46a Paley Center media panel,
00:48"...that includes driving to set because the costume and the wig are too big to get changed
00:52in the trailer like everybody else does.
00:54So there is a point where I have to be driven to set in a van.
00:57Sometimes I have to sit on the floor of said van because the wigs are too high."
01:01In real life, Rushevelle's hair isn't nearly as elaborate, although, like Queen Charlotte,
01:05she does like to play around with different dos.
01:07For example, the actor looked more futuristic than Regency with a sculptural updo for an
01:12appearance on The Morning Mash-Up, which she shared on Instagram in June 2024.
01:16In another selfie, Rushevelle showed off her makeup-free face and still looked stunning.
01:21And to show that she has the heart of a queen, the Guyanese actor promoted co-star Nicola
01:25Coughlin's necklace collaboration with Choose Love, which aids refugees around the world.
01:30You can tell a Featherington woman by her flaming red hair, and Nicola Coughlin's fiery
01:34locks are actually custom-designed wigs styled in advance to save time.
01:39During Season 3 of Bridgerton, she wore seven different hairpieces built to blend perfectly
01:43with her natural hairline, each one costing about $8,000.
01:46That's what you're wearing to go to a school.
01:50I want to seem like a successful lady.
01:52Off the show, Coughlin has played around with different colors, even going strawberry blonde
01:56in 2022.
01:57However, her natural hair color is a buttery yellow, as she showed in a throwback pic of
02:02her toddler self on Instagram.
02:04Coughlin is known to rock fierce red lipstick, although Penelope sticks to more natural pink
02:08shades.
02:09In a Get Ready With Me video for Vogue, Coughlin explained that she fills in her lips with
02:13a red pencil and then adds a layer of lipstick over it.
02:16We think that's a foolproof tip to keep your lips looking fresh for hours on the red carpet.
02:22Of all the Bridgerton families, the Featheringtons are known for their loud, colorful fashion
02:26that's meant to look garish compared to other members of the ton.
02:29Naturally, this style is a stark contrast to the way Polly Walker, who plays Featherington
02:34matriarch Lady Portia, dresses in real life.
02:37In a 2022 interview with Vulture, Walker confessed,
02:40"'I'd like to be dressed a bit more like Lady Bridgerton or Lady Danbury instead of these
02:44fluorescent colors, but that's the Featheringtons for you.
02:46If I can do it, anyone can.'"
02:49"'Ladies do not have dreams.
02:53They have husbands.'"
02:54Off-camera, you can usually find Walker in black jeans and more muted colors, but she's
02:59admitted that wearing bright clothing helps her channel Lady Featherington, explaining,
03:03"'Being thrown in these bright colors is so alien, but it helps with the character.
03:07Walker's Bridgerton look is so different from her off-duty wear that she doesn't get recognized
03:12in public often.
03:13Speaking with Glamour, she said,
03:14"'They have created this character that looks nothing like me and so I can go to Tesco's
03:18and not get recognized.
03:19I dress in black, nothing like my character's choice of clothing, but we do share some things
03:23in common — family, loyalty, and bravery.'"
03:26You won't find bright red hair on Walker, either.
03:29Her preferred color choice of late is a warm bronze brunette that elevates her dark locks
03:33to another dimension.
03:36Every show has a villain, and Jessica Madsen's depiction of Cressida Cowper is oh-so-apt.
03:40As the sharp-tongued mean girl of the Regency era, Cowper's gaudy hair and wardrobe match
03:45her prickly personality, and her style only gets more ridiculous as the Bridgerton seasons
03:50go on.
03:51And there's a reason for her gigantic sleeves and ample embellishments.
03:54The show's costume designer, John Glaser, revealed to Elle that Cowper's fashion reflects
03:58the hopeless predicament she finds herself in, saying,
04:01"'We intentionally did want to make her bigger, and her armor got bigger as things got worse
04:05in her situation.'"
04:06Thankfully, Madsen lives in the 21st century, has the freedom to date whomever she wants,
04:11and can wear more comfortable clothes.
04:13And her tastes are a lot more modern as well.
04:15In a 2023 interview with Harper's Bazaar, she revealed,
04:18"...most of the time, I'm drawn to an empowering yet elegant suit.
04:22A suit is my usual go-to, but, equally, it could be a long-flowing dress.
04:26It really depends on the piece and whether I gravitate towards it."
04:29That said, her ultimate style secret is, quote,
04:32"...surprising myself and exploring where my confidence lies."
04:35That's about as inspiring as it gets.
04:37Although Genevieve Delacroix isn't one of the main characters of Bridgerton, she is
04:41central to the plot, as she's the only person who knows Lady Whistledown's identity, at
04:45least in the beginning.
04:47Played by Katherine Drysdale, the dressmaker is known for her corkscrew curls, frequently
04:51worn in an updo, and much simpler dresses, at least compared to her clients.
04:55In a June 2024 Instagram post, Drysdale shared some insight into her character's carefully
05:00planned look and why she wears the same style all the time, writing,
05:04"...the creatives wanted Jen to have like a Chanel, Steve Jobs, Karl Lagerfeld type
05:08vibe.
05:09Also, her job is to make the tonne feel beautiful, never to steal the spotlight herself.
05:13Her hair in Season 3 is also always loosely tied up as if in a rush."
05:17"...that was not part of our agreement."
05:21Out of character, Drysdale has more freedom to play with her look.
05:24In March 2024, she shared her Bridgerton Season 3 press day look, which featured an elaborate
05:30twisted updo, red lips, and a sparkly black dress with billowed half-sleeves.
05:34Actor Colette Cooper commented,
05:36"...what a bloody stunner you are, and the best thing in Bridgerton.
05:39Obsessed with your character.
05:41Absolutely brilliant.
05:42I think a spin-off show with your character would be a huge hit.
05:45We couldn't agree more."