Daphne Bridgerton Actress Implies Absence in Season 3

Dearest Gentle Reader, this writer is here to announce the possible absence of Daphne Bridgerton from this year’s social season….

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First the Duke of Hastings was absent in Season 2 of the acclaimed Netflix series, now Daphne Basset (née Bridgerton), fourth child and eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family is likely not to appear in Season 3.

Daphne from Bridgerton
IMAGE VIA NETFLIX

Dyvenor’s Interview

Fans are saddened to hear from Phoebe Dyvenor’s own lips that she will be watching Bridgerton Season 3 as a viewer and will likely not be a participant. Each season of the Netflix show focuses on the romance of a new Bridgerton sibling; Season 1 was about Daphne Bridgerton and her eventual husband, Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings and Season 2 featured Anthony, the Viscount Bridgerton and his eventual wife, Kate Sharma. The third season will focus on Colin Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton son, and his long-time best friend, Penelope Featherington also known as the indomitable Lady Whistledown.

VIDEO VIA SCREEN RANT

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant on the red carpet at the Sundance Film Festival, Dynevor was asked, “Are there any exciting dynamics coming up for Daphne in Bridgerton Season 3?,” the actor disclosed that there wouldn’t be any for her character, going so far as to hint that she might not even appear in the upcoming season.

Phoebe Dyvenor states:

“Sadly not in season 3. Potentially in the future. But season 3, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”

Bridgerton Book vs Netflix series

The Bridgerton book series is much like the Netflix show, with each novel focusing on a new Bridgerton sibling, and their other siblings – especially the married ones – playing less and less of a role in each subsequent book. The exception of this is Viscount Bridgerton, for Anthony was both the brother whom most of the Bridgertons went to for advice, the brother who defended his sisters’ honor and the one to whom suitors went to for approval to marry his sisters.

Bridgerton book series
IMAGES VIA NETFLIX AND AMAZON

While in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the book that features Colin and Penelope’s romance, Daphne is the sibling Colin goes to help when he is confused about his feelings for Penelope, it appears that this will change in the Netflix series. Given that Regé-Jean Page, who plays the Duke of Hastings and Daphne’s husband, is adamant that he will not return to Bridgerton. It makes sense that the writers might choose to write Daphne out instead of trying to come up with new ways of keeping relevant to the story and simultaneously explain her husband’s absence when they are supposed to be very much in love and producing many offspring (four born within four years, with one more many years later).

Daphne playing with her baby
IMAGE VIA NETFLIX

The Duchess of Hastings will not be the only character absent from the upcoming season of Bridgerton. Edwina Sharma, Kate’s younger sister and Anthony’s ex-fiancée will not be present either. Additionally, Francesca Bridgerton, the sixth Bridgerton sibling and eventual Countess of Kilmartin, has been recast, with actress Hannah Dodd replacing Ruby Stokes, due to scheduling conflicts.

What This Means For Season 3

While Season 3 of the Bridgerton series will focus on Colin and Penelope’s romance, the series will likely also feature Eloise Bridgerton, who is Penelope’s dearest friend, despite their major falling out at the end of the second season. The season will also likely feature Benedict Bridgerton, whose love story is most likely to take place in Season 4. Benedict’s love story is the third in the book series and originally should have take place in Season 3 of the Netflix series. However, given that Colin and Penelope’s will they-won’t they romance has been present since Season 1, it is understandable that this change has been made.

Penelope and Eloise sitting and eating
IMAGE VIA NETFLIX

Another possible character who will play a bigger role in Bridgerton Season 3 will be Francesca Bridgerton. In the book series, Colin, Eloise, and Francesca’s love stories all took place within days of each other, with an overlap in all all three books. However, in order for Francesca’s love story to take place, we must first get to know her first husband, John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin, and his first cousin and best friend, Michael Stirling.

Release Date

There has been no release date announced for the third season of the acclaimed Netflix show, but it is likely that Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and prequel spin-off to the original Bridgerton series, will air first. Shooting has already wrapped for the limited prequel series, although a release date for that series has yet to be announced.

Queen Charlotte old and young
IMAGES VIA NETFLIX

Until fans find out when the prequel series and Season 3 of Bridgerton will air, reread the original Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn, rewatch the first two seasons and stay tuned for more news about Bridgerton here! As Lady Whistledown would say, “Dearest Gentle Reader… you will miss me.”

FEATURED IMAGE VIA NETFLIX