“Bridgerton” Stars Ruth Gemmell And Daniel Francis On Violet’s “Really Valid” Monologue And The “Patient Exploration” Of Their Characters’ Relationship In Season 4 Part 1
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers for Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1.
With most of her children embarking upon their love stories and flying the nest, the time has come for Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmel) experience her own new romance, having mourned the death of Viscount Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert) for many years.
After Lady Danbury’s (Adjoah Andoh) brother Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) unexpectedly dropped by for a visit in Season 3 of Bridgertonsparks flying between him and Violet when he picked up a glove she dropped at one of the earlier balls, the pair continued to progress romantically, as exemplified in a scene set to an orchestral cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Thunder.” Season 4 sees them take more steps to further their relationship, but secretly, so as not to alert the Bridgerton brood just yet.
“We’re certainly more confident in each other’s company. There was a very tentative, first stepping out in a way, and I think the beginning of [Season 4]there is much more confidence,” Gemmell told Deadline. “It’s implied, that suggestion of where we’d go from here. And suddenly, I slightly backtrack. So there’s a lot of patience.”
Francis agrees, as his character has to practice such patience.
“It’s a very patient exploration, but I think once they know they like each other, then it’s just about ‘What needs to happen in order to evolve this?’” the actor said. “Lord Anderson is very patient. He’s not on a dating app, swiping.”
Violet demonstrates regaining her confidence romantically by gazing at herself in the mirror at her body, which she reminds Anderson has given birth to eight children. Before this, she braves a monologue moment expressing all of her thoughts when it comes to being with a man again after so long.
“All those are really valid points, actually, certainly, if you have not been intimate with someone for years, I mean, almost 12, 13, years. I should know how old Hyacinth is at this stage, and it escapes me, but it’s something like that, and that’s quite a long time. So they are completely valid. All of those, I feel those now, all those vulnerabilities,” Gemmell said. “It was fun as well because the way they write scenes like that is that she sort of trips over her own words. So she starts one train of thought, and then something more hideous comes into her head about how she feels about herself, or how I think you might feel me, so it’s going on and on.”
Violet first tries to express her worries at a garden party with Lord Anderson, but she shies away and they switch to a different topic of conversation. She then works up the courage to tell him all her fears when they are in more isolated company one day.
L-R: Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Daniel Francis as Lord Anderson in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4
“Watching that scene is really funny, because you are so calm, you just let me just let me carry on,” Gemmell said to Francis in their paired interview.
And how would Lady Danbury feel about the night, or “evening tea party” that Violet and Marcus share together?
“I think that Danbury gave her blessings. She gave her blessings and a warning to her brother, to just be a gentleman, be respectful and do not hurt her friend,” Francis said. “But I think she also came to realize how genuine Marcus actually is as well. How genuine his intent is, and therefore that’s one of the things that enabled her to give that blessing, so she’d be happy.”
The history between Danbury and her brother as well as Danbury and Violet begs the question of exploring the past in more detail for them in a potential Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Season 2, for which Gemmell and Francis are on board.
“I loved Queen Charlotte. I thought it was fantastic. So put me in it,” Francis joked. “Tell them.”
Regardless of whether another installment of that spinoff will come to fruition, Lord Anderson might have the opportunity to provide manly advice for the Bridgerton boys, who have had to figure out matters of the heart largely without their father present.
“Gregory, probably, would be the most likely [candidate]. Marcus, we’ve been talking about this concept of having stuff or baggage, as it were, the horrible term of baggage. But I think Marcus isn’t afraid of that,” Francis told Deadline. “It’s something that is very alluring. And he sees the type of woman that [Violet] is, and type of mother that she is, most importantly, and is drawn to that.”
“I think he’d be a great mentor and father figure for young Gregory, as he goes through the things of life, but also, he’s not trying to replace Edmund as well,” Francis added. “I think that’s important as well, that creates a space, which is, ‘I’m not trying to replace Edmund.’ He is there just discovering something that is new and fresh for them.”
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