Hannah Dodd lost out on the buzziest role on season 1 of 'Bridgerton.' Three seasons later, she ended up on the show anyway.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
- Hannah Dodd joins season three of "Bridgerton" as Francesca Bridgerton, previously played by Ruby Stokes.
- Dodd told Business Insider that she auditioned to play Daphne Bridgerton on season one.
- Dodd said that getting cast on the show years after initially auditioning was a "nice feeling."
For "Bridgerton" star Hannah Dodd, it was only a matter of time before she ended up on the hit Regency-era drama.
Dodd makes her debut as Francesca Bridgerton (formerly played by Ruby Stokes) on season three of "Bridgerton," released on Thursday. Although the actor is a newcomer to the series, she previously came close to playing another member of the titular family.
"I auditioned for Daphne on season one," Dodd told Business Insider at the "Bridgerton" promenade activation in New York City on Saturday.
Season one of "Bridgerton," which premiered in December 2020, was adapted from the first book in Julia Quinn's book series, "The Duke and I." The season centered on Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset's fiery romance, with Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page playing the two main characters. Dodd had previously told the Daily Mail she made it to the final round of auditions for a role in season one but didn't disclose which.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
In the years after auditioning, Dodd kept busy playing the younger version of Sienna Miller's character Sophie on the miniseries "Anatomy of a Scandal" and starring in "Enola Holmes 2" alongside Millie Bobby Brown.
When Stokes exited "Bridgerton" due to scheduling conflicts with another Netflix show, "Lockwood & Co.," Dodd got a second shot at being part of the series. Her casting as Francesca was revealed in May 2022, three years after Dynevor was announced as the lead of season one.
Francesca is more prominent in season three of "Bridgerton," as she enters society for the first time and joins the marriage mart.
Unlike her seven siblings, Francesca is introverted and would much rather spend time playing the pianoforte than promenading in the hopes of finding a husband. But fans familiar with Quinn's romance novels already know that the third-eldest Bridgerton daughter will find romance after all in a suitor named John Stirling.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
"I feel like with acting, it's not an industry where you can really measure improvement or gauge how well you're doing," Dodd told BI. "But when you don't get something, and then a couple of years later you've got a few more jobs under your belt, and then somebody says that you're ready for this, then that's a really nice feeling."
"Bridgerton" season three, part one is now streaming on Netflix. Part two will be released on Thursday, June 13.