For a moment in Bridgerton Season 3, it feels like hope is lost for Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd). In Episode 3, she learns Lord Samadani (David Mumeni), the aristocrat Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) has handpicked for her “sparkler,” dreams of Francesca’s nightmare — having a family with eight boisterous children.
And then, amid the darkness of the Innovation Ball grounds, a beacon of light shines through. It’s Lord John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin, played by Bridgerton newcomer Victor Alli. John would like nothing more than to “enjoy the silence” of the night with Francesca. Her relief — and joy — is palpable, as is John’s. This is the start of a romance no one in Mayfair, not even lovingly meddling mama Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), could have predicted.
“I really love that relationship, and I think a lot of people will ship Francesca and John — as do I,” showrunner and executive producer Jess Brownell tells Tudum. “They are really good friends. Francesca and John have a lot of compatibility, and there’s a lot of understanding between them. They can sit in silence, which is really powerful.”
Luke Newton prepared to be the leading man in Season 3 by watching old-school rom-coms, but Brownell told Alli to check out a different kind of classic. “I watched Matthew Macfadyen in Pride & Prejudice,” Alli tells Tudum. So his approach to the character was a lot of yearning with a heaping side of pensiveness?
“Yeah, exactly,” the actor says over a video chat; he’s sporting a perfectly fitted white T-shirt, “gummy bear–yellow”-rimmed glasses, and a grin. “I didn’t want to copy that exactly. But I definitely [got] some influences from that movie, which was really, really helpful.”
So what else inspired Bridgerton’s latest swoony romantic lead? And what’s different about this love story? Keep reading to learn all the secrets of the ton’s most mysterious — or is it just introverted? — new suitor.
John is a thinker. So how do you think he and Francesca actually meet? Did they bump into each other outside, or do you think he noticed her earlier?
I always wondered, “How did that encounter happen?” He couldn’t have just been outside the whole time. He must’ve been inside the ball. I think he people-watches, which most of us usually do. I love people-watching. So he must have seen Francesca and thought, “Gosh!”
In the midst of this crowded room, he was able to notice her. He then proceeded to go outside as well. But I don’t think he had anything up his sleeve. I don’t think he had a plan. He just thought, “I don’t know what I’m going to do [but I need to meet her].” It couldn’t have been a coincidence.
We’re seeing parts of John and Francesca’s story that aren’t in the Bridgerton books. What did you want to bring to John?
The writers did a good job of expanding the books. I just wanted to capture the essence of who this John is, which is so different from who I am. But also there are some similarities. I know there are times when I can be quite reserved and quite introverted.
There is an amazing journey from the first time you meet him until the end of Season 3. He makes progress, with his confidence and getting used to the people in this world. He is just a likable guy.
Why do you think John is a lesser-known suitor on the marriage mart?
He’s not one to be in the public eye. He doesn’t care about all the Lady Whistledown drama and the gossip. He just wants to live his life. He’s quite low-key as well, which is what I like about him.
He’s such a private person, so why does he choose Francesca to open up to?
I think his previous experiences with women probably weren’t so successful. So he realizes he wants to be with someone who isn’t so hard to communicate with. John and Fran get along; they understand each other. There is a knowing. There was a connection even without words. That drew John to her.
That first meeting, when they didn’t speak, it definitely sort of ignited something in him, and it made him think, “Yeah, this is really different. I’ve never felt this way before or had these experiences with someone else.”
As Violet observes, that’s very different from her other children’s romantic journeys.
Francesca likes things to be really simple. John and Fran’s love is so different from the love that we usually see in Bridgerton. We appreciate that love — the longing, the burning, the passion, the clothes-ripping, and all that — but this kind of love is really soft, and it’s tender. And it’s so relatable, as well. There are relationships out there that are like John and Fran’s.
What a relaxing romance.
I actually got sent this post from someone, and it said, “Thank you, John and Fran … ,” and it was along the lines of “You are shining the light for introverts in their relationships.” That was really, really sweet.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
See what’s next for John and Francesca when Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2 premieres on June 13. And keep coming back to Tudum for all the ton’s latest news.
