India Amarteifio revealed that she was not used to watching historical dramas as they lacked racial diversity.
The 21-year-old actress plays the role of Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton’s prequel series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
The Netflix spin-off show will chart Charlotte’s rise to power and pivotal marriage to King George III.
Speaking to The Telegraph, India said, ‘I never watched period dramas. I’m half black and white. My family looks like many different people. I didn’t see myself represented, so I never felt the need to see them.”
She explained that she now “loves” period dramas because of their increased representation and credited Bridgerton franchise showrunner Shonda Rhimes.
Underrepresented: India Amarteifio revealed that she was not used to watching historical dramas as they lacked racial diversity
Spin-off: The actress, 21, plays Queen Charlotte in the Bridgerton prequel series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
She said, “Shonda Rhimes is at the forefront of this movement to include people in genres where they didn’t exist before — people just weren’t writing shows for people of color to be in period costumes.”
India added that historical accuracy was not necessary for the series, saying, “This was my first lead, it was a lot of pressure. But I read an interview that Golda [Rosheuvel] in which she said that the Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton is not based on facts. She’s a historical figure, but this isn’t a documentary, it’s a fantasy world where real people exist.’
The streaming service has announced that the series will debut on May 4 and will be “centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to fame and power.”
“This Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton,” continues the description.
India could possibly be Britain’s first mixed-heritage queen to play the role, as she is believed to have had German and African ancestry.
A source revealed that producers may have taken notice of the spin-off series after Brigerton’s second season failed to live up to the raunchy heights of the first.
For one scene, a wall was claimed to have been fortified. In another scene, viewers see banging headboards.
There were fears that an energetic love scene with the young monarch played by India could be so energetic that it could literally bring the house down.
She changed her mind: She explained that she now “loves” period dramas because of their greater representation and credited Bridgerton franchise showrunner Shonda Rhimes (pictured)
Speak against The sun, the insider said, “There is a young cast for the prequel and the sex scenes feature them. It’s sure to satisfy those Bridgerton fans who complain that there are no sex scenes in the second series.
“In one storyline, a headboard bangs hard against a wall. It will be spicier than anything from the first series.”
It comes after Bridgerton’s next series plunged into chaos after bosses thought some storylines had gone “too dark.”
Sources working on the production of the Netflix Bonkbuster say some scripts had to be rewritten because Shonda Rhimes, the show’s producer, wants to give viewers more fun.
It is clear that there were concerns about a sexual storyline.
It was reported last year that Ms. Rhimes has been joined by another executive producer, Jess Brownell.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Filming has been delayed because the screenwriter was not happy with the direction.
“We’ve been told the fun has to go back, so there are changes, which of course means delays. One thing’s for sure though, the production team wants to get it right for Bridgerton fans so they enjoy it as much as they did in the past.
“There are some elements that Shonda just isn’t happy with, so she wants to change those. Some of it got very dark.”
In 2021, it was announced that there would be a third and fourth series of Bridgerton following the success of the first two. The show is based on the series of romantic novels by American writer Julia Quinn.
Last year, actress Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma, said she was “really happy reading the scripts.” When I receive them, I get a radiant smile on my face’.
She also said the third series is about to get “super steamy” and added that it would be “condensation central.”
Based on the fourth book in the series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the new series follows the budding romance between Penelope – played by Nicola Coughlan – and Colin Bridgerton.
The pair embark on a journey that will see them go from friends to lovers.
Jonathan Bailey will also reprise his role as Anthony, Claudia Jessie is back as Eloise, Luke Thompson as Benedict and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton