Bridgerton's Yerin Ha Unveils 'Cinderella' Romance Plot in Season Four
Australian actress Yerin Ha has shared intimate details about the enchanting 'Cinderella' romance at the heart of Bridgerton's fourth season, describing her experience as both magical and transformative. The twenty-eight-year-old star, who portrays Sophie Baek, the love interest for Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, revealed that the storyline offers a classic fairy-tale twist within the Regency-era drama.
A Magical Journey for Actress and Character
In an exclusive interview with the Press Association, Ha expressed her profound excitement about joining the beloved series. "I remember at the reading, the way everybody was reacting to the scenes. It was so magical," she recounted. "After part one, I was reading it trying to figure the pieces together." Ha praised the writing team's exceptional work, stating, "The writing team did amazingly. I hope people will be happy."
Her character, Sophie Baek, is a maid who ingeniously disguises herself as a member of high society to attend a masquerade ball, where she encounters Benedict Bridgerton. In a nod to the classic Cinderella tale, she flees at midnight, leaving behind a single glove. Ha, a newcomer to the Bridgerton universe, reflected on how this role paralleled a personal Cinderella story for her as an actress.
Learning to Dream Big Through Sophie Baek
"It was like a Cinderella story for me and it was amazing," Ha confessed. "I think it really taught me that maybe I had actually limited myself in terms of what I could have dreamed, in terms of the roles that I could play." She emphasised that portraying Sophie was a "real gift", adding, "Through Sophie, I learned that actually you can dream big and I learned so much from playing her, and took a lot away from her."
Luke Thompson, who has played the bohemian Benedict Bridgerton since the show's 2020 debut, discussed the dynamic of their on-screen romance. "I think Benedict gets completely challenged by Sophie, I think she sort of grounds him," Thompson explained. He noted that Sophie "forces his faults out a little, which is interesting, because you'd think that would be a real obstacle to love. But actually, that's part and parcel of falling in love, right? It's about being honest and showing someone everything about you."
New Additions to the Bridgerton Cast
The fourth season also welcomes Katie Leung, thirty-eight, best known for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise, who joins as Ha's on-screen mother. Leung's character serves as the main antagonist, and the Scottish actress described the experience as a "joy". She elaborated on her character's complex backstory, telling PA, "There was a very intricate backstory to why she is the way she is."
"She's twice widowed, so she's kind of left on her own, she's very independent, but it's not born out of choice," Leung continued. "She's desperate and she's surviving and it's really cut through society, so she's trying to maintain her reputation, while having this dark secret that she can't reveal. There's a lot at stake for her."
Release Schedule for Bridgerton Season Four
The highly anticipated fourth season of Bridgerton, adapted from Julia Quinn's book series, launched on Netflix on January 29, with the first four episodes now available for streaming. Fans can look forward to the remaining four episodes, which are set to arrive on the platform on February 26, continuing the romantic escapades and societal intrigues of the Ton.
