Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00 Indy, I'll start with you first.
00:02 I think that it's so important to see the dynamic
00:05 between the young Queen Charlotte
00:06 and the young Lady Danbury in this series.
00:10 How important was it for you to see
00:11 like two young black women on screen
00:14 having this bond and friendship,
00:16 especially in a period piece as black people
00:19 really not represented in that space as much?
00:21 - Yeah, incredible, incredibly important.
00:26 Not only is Shonda kind of opening up doors
00:30 for lots of people from different ethnicities
00:33 and lots of different walks of life
00:35 to be presented in such a invigorating and powerful way,
00:40 but being introduced to a genre
00:43 that before they were not seen in that way at all.
00:46 But there is so much stigma
00:50 and also a lot of colorism within film and TV
00:54 and the fact that we can kind of bridge that
00:58 in this show feels very special.
01:00 And like a lot of things that Shonda
01:02 is kind of the full figure of,
01:05 she is also a figure of change in this way as well.
01:10 - I think this is like the reason that I went into acting
01:15 is to kind of change the landscape
01:20 of how we look and tell stories.
01:22 And there is something so powerful
01:25 about the visual cue of two black women.
01:28 I think in the day and age that we are in
01:30 with like misogynoir at a height,
01:33 it is stunning to see two black women,
01:38 not in competition with each other,
01:40 but actually fighting for the same thing and together.
01:44 And there is so few moments that you get to see
01:48 that truly manifested, not only in media,
01:51 but also in our day-to-day lives.
01:53 Like the work of white supremacy and the patriarchy
01:55 is so that we fight against each other
01:58 and we're competing against each other and we're isolated.
02:01 And so to be in a show
02:04 with a formidable black woman mama of television,
02:08 and then two of us in also a genre
02:11 that used to be very much not a space for us
02:14 unless we were playing slaves,
02:18 it's like a big middle finger to the whole system.
02:22 And gosh, how liberating.
02:24 - I think it's really important.
02:25 You know, as you said, period dramas
02:29 have not been accessible to people
02:30 who look like you and me.
02:31 Do you know what I mean?
02:32 And now through Shonda's brilliant writing
02:35 and Shonda's vision, the door has been pushed open
02:38 for us all to walk through and lean forward
02:40 and experience these places
02:45 that we weren't necessarily invited into.
02:49 And having a friendship of two black women
02:54 shown on screen is beautiful and great and necessary.
02:58 And to be able to see a black woman
03:04 put a wrap on her head as she's going to sleep,
03:08 it's like we've been doing that
03:10 for thousands and thousands of years.
03:13 So to express that and to portray that,
03:15 I think is really, really important for representation
03:19 and for young black women to see themselves.
03:21 Yeah, in a period drama,
03:26 I think it's the perfect, perfect place to be doing that.
03:31 - A big theme in this series as well is mental health.
03:34 What do you hope this series opens about
03:36 as far as conversations and dialogue
03:39 and discussions about mental health specifically?
03:42 Also given the fact that it's addressed
03:44 in a period piece, it's supposed to be so far long ago.
03:49 I feel like it's still relevant to today.
03:51 - Yeah, yeah.
03:52 I think the thing about setting anything in a period piece
03:55 is that there's just enough distance from reality
03:57 that the audience is slightly more suggestible to it,
03:59 to themes.
04:02 And I think in terms of mental health,
04:05 remind me of the first part of your question.
04:07 - Oh, well, how do you hope that this,
04:08 what the series opens as far as dialogues and discussions?
04:11 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:11 So I think actually the main thing I hope is that,
04:15 and on reflection watching the show,
04:16 I think it's more of a discussion of a man's relationship
04:21 with his own self hatred and shame
04:23 coming from his affliction.
04:25 And I think that, I think maybe the best thing
04:29 to come from that is a discussion about
04:31 whether there is any need whatsoever ever
04:34 for that level of self hatred and shame.
04:37 And that there is always gonna be some level of love
04:41 and acceptance, whether it's to be found within you
04:44 or from your partner or just from anyone.
04:48 - What do you think is,
04:49 what would help you describe the journey
04:51 that Lady Danbury goes through throughout this season?
04:55 I think we see, we kind of see her trajectory
04:58 and like what her goals are
05:00 and how they align with other people's goals,
05:01 how they may not align with other people's goals,
05:04 how she kind of like confronts these head on
05:06 in different ways.
05:07 So ultimately how would you describe her journey
05:10 and her trajectory throughout this season?
05:12 - Yeah, I think her journey starts off with,
05:15 she's like in that space of like what you,
05:17 when you don't know what you don't know, you know?
05:19 She doesn't know that she could have an opportunity
05:23 to change anything.
05:24 She doesn't even know what change looks like.
05:25 Because ever since she was three years old,
05:27 she has been groomed for essentially this man, this world.
05:32 And so the moment she's given just that little inch,
05:38 you see her just bust the door open.
05:41 And it shows that there was clearly something
05:44 that she was suppressing that entire time, you know?
05:47 And what that must feel like to constantly have your hands
05:50 almost tied behind your back, waiting to break free.
05:54 And so you see that like, it's almost like a plant
05:58 trying to break through the soil.
06:01 And when she finally does,
06:05 she thinks she knows what she wants to keep her freedom.
06:08 And in reality, it's not that it's something
06:11 much more simple, which is, I just wanna be alone.
06:15 And so for her to go on that journey and reach that point,
06:20 I think is so amazing to play out over six episodes.
06:25 Because it also shows people
06:26 that they could take the same journey as well.
06:29 Like we don't have to stay the same.
06:31 We are fickle human beings, why not engage in that?
06:34 - Yes, yes.
06:34 What I just saw, I was just like,
06:35 "The power of black women."
06:36 Because the way she, you know,
06:38 she thought about the greater picture at all times.
06:41 Even though sometimes not even,
06:42 I'm gonna say to her own detriment,
06:43 but it was always crucial for her to think about that.
06:46 - Yeah.
06:46 - I just love that so much about this character.
06:48 - Oh yeah, no, me too.
06:50 It's like Black Panthers, they were run by black women.
06:53 So it makes sense.
06:54 - Yeah, period.
06:55 Well, thank you so, so much.
06:56 I can't wait for more people to see the show.
06:57 When you first knew that this prequel series was happening,
07:00 were you excited about the other looks
07:02 that you will be able to turn this season?
07:03 Do you have any favorite ones?
07:05 - Yeah, I mean, the looks are really incredible.
07:09 And the kind of blueprint for Queen Charlotte
07:12 is that she's never seen in the same thing twice.
07:14 Now we kind of recycle some stuff.
07:19 So the idea of, you know, recycling the wig,
07:22 so it's the same wig, but yet done in a different way.
07:26 And I actually said to the designer,
07:27 we must get a picture of, do you know what I mean?
07:30 The first one and the second one,
07:32 and really emphasize that it's really important,
07:35 especially in this industry and kind of waste
07:37 and stuff like that,
07:38 that it can be recycled into something else.
07:41 That was really important for me,
07:43 you know, in the series going forward.
07:45 But then that's really exciting
07:48 to kind of deconstruct something
07:50 and then make it, you know, something else.
07:53 But they're extraordinary, they're works of art.
07:56 And I've actually pitched to Netflix
07:59 or whoever is out there behind the doors,
08:02 that there should be an exhibition.
08:04 - Oh yeah. - A touring exhibition.
08:06 - People would love to see that. - Of the wigs and costumes.
08:08 You know, I'm sure the V&A in England
08:11 would be really into that.
08:13 So I put that out there into the universe,
08:15 'cause yeah, I think that would be extraordinary.
08:18 - And lastly, what do you think Bridgerton fans
08:21 may be surprised about when they learn more
08:23 about this relationship between the King and the Queen
08:27 over the years?
08:28 Because, you know, we see, you know,
08:30 hints of it that, you know,
08:31 pop up from time to time in the original series.
08:34 But this really gives us a full background
08:36 of like how it all starts.
08:38 How do you think fans may be surprised
08:39 about what's to come in this series?
08:41 - Well, I think, you know, you've touched on it.
08:42 In Bridgerton, it's very much a kind of back story
08:47 to what we see her doing in Bridgerton.
08:51 And now it's out there, you know,
08:56 and she is a full rounded character.
08:59 You know, you see the vulnerability
09:02 of this larger than life character
09:05 that you have experienced in Bridgerton.
09:08 And, you know, fans, that's the thing
09:11 that they always talk to me about,
09:12 where if they've seen Bridgerton,
09:14 is those intimate moments, you know?
09:17 And it's just really beautiful now
09:18 to be able to show all of that
09:20 and where that has come from
09:22 and the depth that that is for Charlotte
09:26 and what that means for her.
09:28 And, you know, I've carried all of that
09:31 in my imagination in Bridgerton.
09:33 So now to be able to show that, you know,
09:35 in Shonda's beautiful writing is phenomenal.
09:38 - I wanted to ask, what can you both tease
09:40 about your characters' relationships
09:43 with the King and the Queen respectively?
09:46 Because I feel like they both kind of operate
09:50 under different, like, they have different dynamics
09:52 with each of them, you know?
09:54 There are certain ways that Brimsley communicates
09:56 with the Queen and their rapport
09:57 and certain ways that Reynolds communicates
09:59 with the King and, you know, their dynamic.
10:01 So what would you tease about what's to come?
10:03 - Okay, so only teasing.
10:05 - Only teasing. - Only teasing.
10:07 - So I think that what Reynolds and George have
10:12 is very much a friendship and there is a deep love
10:16 and connection that exists there
10:18 and has existed there for years.
10:21 And actually, when I do lots of thinking
10:23 about Reynolds and George,
10:24 I consider lots of conversations that we don't see
10:27 in the series, conversations that Corey and I
10:29 have discussed as actors,
10:31 because their bond runs very, very deep.
10:34 - And unlike their deep friendship,
10:36 we meet Brimsley at a point where he has not met the Queen
10:40 and we see their relationship build from there, I suppose.
10:44 And he's been waiting for this moment all his life
10:46 to serve and knows the job inside and out.
10:48 And all of a sudden he has to relearn everything
10:51 to serve this young Queen who understandably
10:53 doesn't really know what's happening
10:54 and how to hold herself.
10:56 And so we watch them sort of go on these stepping stones
11:00 together to try and work out who each other are.
11:03 And as we go through, we start to see the foundations
11:06 really lie.
11:07 - And of course, Bridgerton has such this, you know,
11:11 big, massive fan base over the years.
11:14 How do you think these fans would be surprised
11:17 about this show in particular?
11:19 Because I feel like, you know, we see aspects of,
11:23 let's say the King and the Queen's relationship.
11:25 We see moments of that in bits and pieces.
11:28 We do see Brimsley, you know, like bits and pieces,
11:30 but we get to flesh out so much.
11:32 So what do you think fans of the OG series
11:34 will be surprised about as far as the series?
11:36 - I think probably the extent of character exploration.
11:41 And, you know, it's a smaller show.
11:42 There's less characters in it.
11:44 And I feel as though each of them has their own arc
11:47 and quite sort of turbulent arcs as well for us as well.
11:52 So I imagine that will be a surprise that it's not.
11:56 Yeah, but it's just as steamy.
11:58 - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:00 I mean, I mirror everything Freddie's just said.
12:03 I think the fact that it's completely character driven
12:06 and we really start to delve into the backstory
12:08 of who these people are.
12:10 I think that will make their viewing of the future
12:13 of "Bridgerton" season three, et cetera, much more richer.
12:16 And hopefully we can go back and rewatch one and two
12:20 and go, "I now understand more about these moments.
12:22 Now these make even more sense."
12:24 - Yeah. - Yeah.