Fans sent unsolicited intimate tapes to Bridgerton’s casting director

Kelly Valentine Hendry, the casting director for the hit series Bridgerton, has revealed an unexpected challenge she faces in her role: receiving a substantial number of unsolicited, intimate audition tapes from actors and fans. Since its debut in 2020, Bridgerton has become a cultural phenomenon, catapulting stars like Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page to global fame. However, the casting process seems to attract some unanticipated attention.

Hendry, who has been responsible for selecting the cast members of the show from the beginning, shared that many of the photos and videos she receives are not strictly nudes or actual sex tapes but are “not far off” from being explicit. During her appearance on the “Should I Delete That?” podcast, she noted that her inbox is filled with “the most unbelievable videos” on a daily basis. She described the content as “quite punchy.”

Interestingly, Hendry mentioned that about 90 percent of these unsolicited submissions are from Bridgerton fans keen on securing a role on the show. As the series continues to capture viewers’ imaginations, fans are especially eager to play specific characters, with the character Sophie Beckett, the love interest of Benedict Bridgerton from Julia Quinn’s novels, being a popular choice.

In a particularly memorable submission, Hendry shared that one aspiring actor presented an audition tape while wearing an elaborate period costume so large it could have been suspended from “scaffolding.” This anecdote highlights the lengths some fans will go to in their eagerness to join the cast.

The influx of these intimate audition tapes follows fans’ reactions to a steamy scene from the third season of Bridgerton, which premiered last month. The scene, featuring Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, generated significant buzz. During filming, the intensity of the sequence was such that the chaise longue used in the scene actually broke.

Ahead of the episode’s release, Coughlan had teased the sex scene in various interviews, heightening fans’ anticipation. After the episode aired, one fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to rave about the scene, calling it “truly the BEST sex scene of the Bridgerton universe” and expressing a desire for more. Another fan praised Coughlan’s performance, humorously dubbing her breaking of the chaise longue as “icon behavior.”

However, not all fans were comfortable with the scene. Some viewers had awkward experiences watching it, especially when viewing it in public or around family members. One viewer commented on how watching the scene while on public transport or with their parents left them feeling awkward. Another viewer bluntly noted, “The Colin Penelope sex scene is so awkward. NOT GIVING AT ALL AND IT’S SO UNNECESSARILY LONG.”

While Bridgerton continues to be a major hit and a topic of much discussion, Hendry’s dilemma underscores the unexpected challenges that come with casting such a popular, provocative series. Her insights shed light on the lengths to which some fans are willing to go to be part of the Bridgerton phenomenon, even if their methods are unconventional.

Source: Independent