The memorable rain scene featuring Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey from Bridgerton still lingers in our memories, but have you ever wondered about the effort and planning put into creating it?
According to Ashley, preparing for the scene was no easy task. “It took a while,” she shared in a recent interview with Us Weekly. Recalling the experience from years ago, she mentioned, “It involved a lot of hair dryers and a total commitment.”
Ashley emphasized the dedication required to perfect the moment, stating, “We were determined to capture the perfect shots, ensuring they appeared both stunning and realistic. So, come rain or shine, we gave it our all.”
Season 2 of Bridgerton premiered on Netflix in 2022 and introduced Us to Ashley and Bailey’s onscreen romance. Taking inspiration from Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me, the installment followed Anthony (Bailey) finding love with Kate Sharma (Ashley) despite a multitude of obstacles.
Fans were hoping to see more of Kate and Anthony in the third season, but they were largely missing from the first half. After going on an extended honeymoon, Kate and Anthony returned with news of her pregnancy. The fictional couple subsequently decided to return to Kate’s native India before the arrival of their first child.
“I think the strength of sending them off to India for a little while is that it does leave the door open for them to come back, schedules allowing,” showrunner Jess Brownell told Teen Vogue in June 2024. “I think, understandably, when any of our lead actors have given over their lives for their season, in future seasons, we want to be supportive of the fact that they do have other projects coming in, and to ask actors to come back just to be in the background is not really fair to them.”
Brownell clarified that the writers’ room wanted Bailey, 36, and Ashley back “as much” as they were able to, adding, “They give so much, even with just tiny little looks and gestures. They’re a magic pairing, absolutely.”
While reflecting on their journey, Brownell broke down the vision they had for Kate and Anthony.
“I think after all they went through in their season, obviously, the focus for us this season was just showing them in a more loving place. But we also wanted to underscore how they’re still the Kate and Anthony you know,” she explained. “They still banter with each other and get annoyed at each other. We wanted them to show up in that way … They’re in a much wiser place, both of them, in their relationship to relationships.”
Bailey and Ashley are both confirmed to be back in season 4, which is currently being filmed. Ashley teased what fans can expect while speaking to us, saying, “I can say that I’m super excited for the world to see this season. It just gets better and better.”
Ashley was “not allowed” to tease much more but did weigh in on the way Bridgerton — and other projects — have used intimacy coordinators. “We treat them like choreographers,” she shared. “So everyone feels safe and everyone knows what to expect.”
If you have a burning entertainment question for our team of experts, email us at [email protected]. For more, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
With reporting by Antonio Ferme
