While each season focuses on a different couple<\/a>, Nicola Coughlan<\/a>\u2019s Penelope Featherington has been an active presence on the Netflix<\/a> show since its very first episode in 2020. <\/p>\n However, she\u2019ll have a reduced role in season five after being cast in comedy series Only Murders in the Building opposite Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel very lucky \u2013\u00a0it\u2019s the best of both worlds, because I\u2019m currently filming on Only Murders, but I still get to pop back to Bridgerton now and then and see everybody, and it\u2019s just like coming home,\u201d the Irish star told E! News<\/a>. \u201cYou\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, hey guys, how you doing?’\u201d<\/p>\n She added: \u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet. God, I had such an epic run. I think that\u2019s part of the beauty of that world is it keeps reinventing itself. Every season being a new story \u2013 it takes on a different guise. I\u2019ll always pop back to Bridgerton if they want me. If I can be set dressing, I\u2019ll be there. No problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Coughlan led season three alongside Luke Newton, who plays Colin Bridgerton, and she called her smaller season five \u201cnice and low pressure\u201d.<\/p>\n the titular family\u2019s<\/a> introverted middle daughter, Francesca (Hannah Dodd), in what will be the Netflix<\/a> show\u2019s first queer love story.<\/p>\n The season will show Francesca deciding to \u201cre-enter the marriage mart\u201d for practical reasons two years after losing her husband, John \u2013 but when his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London, her \u201ccomplicated feelings\u201d will have Francesca \u201cquestioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions\u201d.<\/p>\n Dodd made her debut in the show\u2019s third season, which aired in 2024, with Baduza\u2019s character making her first appearance in the season three finale. The role of Francesca was previously played by Ruby Stokes in the first two seasons, before being recast due to Stokes\u2019 scheduling conflicts.<\/p>\n Baduza said the show is hoping to provide \u201ca realistic view of queer love onscreen and give them a happily ever after\u201c, adding: “I think [this] is really important for a lot of the queer community to see onscreen, to know that it can work out, and that they deserve to also feel love.\u201d<\/p>\n Showrunner Jess Brownell said of the new leading duo: \u201cI cannot say enough good things about Hannah and Masali. The two of them have such a beautiful friendship and support each other in such a beautiful way.<\/p>\n \u201cBut beyond that, I really do think that they are two incredibly talented and special performers. They\u2019re actors who are able to say so much with just an expression, with just their faces.\u201d<\/p>\n The eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) married Simon Basset (Reg\u00e9-Jean Page) in season one, while Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) wed Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) in season two.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, season four centred on second son Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) falling for maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).<\/p>\n While many of the core cast have remained in the series through multiple seasons, Bridgerton has seen some noteworthy departures: Page left after just one season, and Dynevor exited after season two.<\/p>\n![\"Nicola](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787393414_867_newFile-1.jpg\")
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in \u2018Bridgerton’ (Netflix)<\/p>\n![\"\u2018Bridgerton\u2019](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-15-19-41.png\")
\u2018Bridgerton\u2019 season five will focus on Francesca (Hannah Dodd) (Netflix)<\/p>\n