Netflix shows starring ‘Bridgerton’ actors that you can watch now
(Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix)

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Netflix shows starring ‘Bridgerton’ actors that you can watch now

Created by Chris Van Dusen and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, Netflix’s popular Regency-era period drama show Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s eponymous novel series. After making fans wait for nearly two years since the release of its first season in December 2020, Bridgerton season two finally arrived on Netflix on Friday, March 25th, 2022. 

After Daphne Bridgerton’s tryst with Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings in the first season, the second focuses on the romantic exploits between the eldest Bridgerton, Anthony and the fiery and spirited Indian woman, Kate Sharma.

While the show toned down on the sex scenes, the episodes were rife with unbridled sexual tension mixed with lust and hate between the leads who were entangled in a web of forbidden desire and duty.

With an 1800s setting that features opulent parties and flowy dresses, dramatic and tearful monologues and shocking slander and defamation, this show has all the gossip-fuelling elements of the English high society.  

The reprising cast for this Emmy-nominated show includes Jonathan Bailey, Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Andoh, Phoebe Dynevor, Lorraine Ashbourne, Bessie Carter, Harriet Cains, Ruth Gemmell, Martins Imhangbe, Florence Hunt, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Golda Rosheuvel, Polly Walker, Will Tilston and Julie Andrews. 

The new cast includes Simone Ashley, Charithra Chandran, Rupert Young, Shelley Conn and Calam Lynch. 

As you finish bingeing on the two seasons of Bridgerton and eagerly await the next two seasons, here is a list of Netflix shows you can watch that feature various Bridgerton actors: 

Netflix shows starring ‘Bridgerton’ actors that you can watch now

Jonathan Bailey – Chewing Gum (Michaela Coel, 2015)

Rigid, religious and innocent 24-year-old shop assistant Tracey Gordon feels the sudden urge to lose her virginity. Ready to know more about the world from which she has been sheltered by her orthodox upbringing, Gordon embarks on an amusing journey of sexploits that does not come without some really funny and cringe-worthy moments. 

With only two seasons, this popular British sitcom is pretty underrated. The clips that often pop up on Facebook newsfeed should be enough to induce interest in the show whose wonderful premise has a klutzy protagonist in the centre who tries to find her place in the world against questions of race, religion, culture etc. Jonathan Bailey, who plays a significant role in Bridgerton as the eldest sibling, Anthony, appears in only one episode but leaves a memorable imprint on the minds of viewers. Playing Ash, he is one of Gordon’s dates who later reveals to have a girlfriend and they soon embark on a weird sexual escapade. 

Simone Ashley – Sex Education (Laurie Nunn, 2019)

After three successful seasons on Netflix, Nunn’s Netflix Original will soon be back for a fourth season. One of the streamer’s most popular shows, Sex Education is set in Moordale High where teenage hormones, sex drive and adolescent conflicts are at an all-time high. Awkward Otis Milburn teams up with the badass high schooler Maeve Wiley to start giving sexual health guidance.  

The show delicately deals with a variety of heavyweight issues with humour and acceptance. These include abortion, sexual assault, homophobia, erectile dysfunction, safe sex and more. Simone Ashley, who appears in Bridgerton season two as Kate Sharma, was initially seen in this show as the popular high-schooler Olivia Hannan, who was one of Otis’ first-ever clients. Unlike Kate, Olivia is not as independent and headstrong despite being a bully who is up to know good- a totally different character from her Regency-era counterpart.

Nicola Coughlan – Derry Girls (Lisa McGee, Michael Lennox, 2018) 

Nicola Coughlan, who stars as the bubbly Penelope Featherington and the elusive Lady Whistledown on Bridgerton, stars as the adorable dork, Clare Devlin in the show. She is the best friend of the lead, Erin, and they too, like Penelope and Eloise Bridgerton, share a wonderful camaraderie in this series which is an amusing and triumphant portrait of female friendships. Also, hawk-eyed Bridgerton fans may have noticed Coughlan putting up an Irish accent for the second season, something that she developed on this show. 

Inherently Irish in nature, the series is set against the tumultuous political backdrop of Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the 90s. Hilarious and wacky, this coming-of-age show revolves around the escapades of Erin and her gang of girlfriends who attend a Catholic girl’s school and often find themselves indulging in various trouble-inducing romps within and outside the school.