Bridgerton fans have been captivated by the latest series, which returned for its fourth season last month. The second instalment of episodes is scheduled for release on February 26th, continuing the romantic drama that has become a global phenomenon.
Benedict's Story Takes Centre Stage
The current season focuses on Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson, as he embarks on a fairy-tale romance inspired by Julia Quinn's novel, An Offer from a Gentleman. The narrative introduces newcomer Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, a housemaid with dreams of experiencing high society.
After disguising herself to attend a masquerade ball at Bridgerton House, Sophie shares a brief but passionate encounter with Benedict. She is then forced to return to her ordinary life, leaving Benedict desperately searching for the mysterious woman who captured his heart.
The Maid War and Mrs Varley's Dilemma
Sophie had been working as a maid for her cruel stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung. After discovering Sophie's secret attendance at the ball, Lady Araminta dismisses her and vows she will never work in London again.
This dismissal triggers what becomes known as the great maid war, as Lady Araminta attempts to poach staff from other households to replace Sophie, whose exceptional skills made her equivalent to five employees.
Enter Mrs Varley, the dutiful head of staff at Featherington House, portrayed by acclaimed actress Lorraine Ashbourne. In series four, Mrs Varley receives a tempting job offer from a mysterious individual. Demonstrating loyalty, she approaches her employer, Portia Featherington, played by Polly Walker, to request a long-overdue pay rise after twenty years of service.
Instead of a salary increase, Portia presents Mrs Varley with a box of her old gowns, claiming financial constraints. The insult is compounded when Mrs Varley later witnesses Portia flaunting new clothing purchases. Realising her employer does have funds available, Mrs Varley confronts Portia before departing Featherington House.
The first part of series four concludes with Mrs Varley taking a position with Lady Araminta, welcoming the family into their new Grosvenor Square residence.
The Actress Behind Mrs Varley
Lorraine Ashbourne brings extensive experience to her role, with a career spanning television and film. Her credits include King Kong, City Central, Playing the Field, Jane Eyre, Unforgotten, Jericho, The Crown, Bridgerton, Sherwood, and Riot Women.
A Hollywood Marriage
Beyond her professional achievements, Ashbourne's personal life includes a marriage to Hollywood actor Andy Serkis. The couple first met in 1989 and married in 2002. They have built a family together, raising three children who have all followed their parents into acting careers.
Andy Serkis, aged 61, is internationally renowned for his portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. His diverse filmography includes The Escapist, 13 Going on 30, Flushed Away, the Rise of the Planet of the Apes franchise, King Kong, the Star Wars franchise including the television series Andor, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther, and The Batman.
A Family of Performers
The couple's children have established successful acting careers in their own right. Their daughter Ruby, aged 28, has appeared in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Serpent, Becoming Elizabeth, Shardlake, and I, Jack Wright.
Son Sonny, aged 26, has credits including The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Casual Vacancy, Dolittle, Young Wallander, The Witcher, Masters of the Air, and Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
Youngest child Louis, aged 21, has performed in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, The Kid Who Would Be King, Arcade, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Louis also featured in the Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit as Georgi Girev, Out There as Johnny Williams, and the BBC series Wild Cherry as Hugo.
As Bridgerton continues to enchant audiences worldwide, the revelation about Lorraine Ashbourne's marriage to Andy Serkis adds an intriguing layer to the appreciation of her performance as the steadfast Mrs Varley.
