Production is underway on the fifth season of Netflix's hit series Bridgerton, which will focus on the Bridgerton family's introverted middle daughter, Francesca, played by Hannah Dodd. The season will feature the show's first queer love story, a romance traditionally “excluded from period dramas”.
“Queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist – so they deserve a love story just like everybody else,” Dodd told Netflix’s Tudum. The storyline follows Francesca deciding to “re-enter the marriage mart” two years after losing her husband, John. However, when his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London, Francesca’s “complicated feelings” lead her to question her pragmatic intentions.
Dodd made her debut as Francesca in the show’s third season, which aired in 2024, while Baduza’s character first appeared in the season three finale. The role was previously played by Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons before being recast due to scheduling conflicts.
Baduza expressed hope that the show would provide “a realistic view of queer love onscreen and give them a happily ever after”, adding that this representation is “really important for a lot of the queer community”. Showrunner Jess Brownell praised the new leading duo, saying: “I cannot say enough good things about Hannah and Masali. They’re actors who are able to say so much with just an expression.”
