Where were the cast of ‘Bridgerton’ educated?

If you’re an avid Netflix binger, you’re likely to have caught up with all the episodes “Bridgerton”. For three seasons, the series has taken the romance genre by storm, casting unconventional leads (at the time) and creating storylines that are way more inclusive than its more beige counterparts. 

It’s no wonder that anticipation for “Bridgerton Season 4″ is at an all-time high. While not all beloved cast members will be returning, many are set to reprise their roles. Fans are extremely excited about this (as are we).  

“Bridgerton” catapulted many of the cast members to fame. For many, preparing for this role of a lifetime took place in university. Anyone who has tried will tell you acting isn’t easy, not even for a fun rom-com series.

While some like Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t go to uni, joining programmes like theatre and performing arts can help the slightly less talented with key skills. Enhanced communication, empathy, and creative problem-solving are crucial to any performer. Spending three to four years at uni honing these gives anyone a much higher chance of success to make it, especially if their goal is to get casted in one of the biggest shows in the world today.   

The best part? These institutions accept and train international students too — which means you could get your start there, too.

Not sure which programme or uni to choose? Well, where better to look than where and what the cast members of “Bridgerton Season 3″ and “Bridgerton Season 4” studied: 

The unis that made the cast of Bridgerton season 3 and 4

Simone Ashley trained at the same theatre school that cultivated talents like Kate Winslet.

Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley turned heads as Kate Sharma, a respected young lady from India who moved to the UK in search of courtship and marriage. What turned fans’ heads, however, was how refreshing it was to see a South Asian actress as one of the main heroines within a conventionally British romantic drama.

Ashley herself is of Indian Tamil descent. As a second-generation immigrant to the UK, she was always inclined towards the arts despite her parents’ concerns — what must be a familiar refrain for international students from similar cultural backgrounds. “My parents were quite protective over me,” she told Glamour magazine. “They came from India to this country, so they didn’t really have a life where they could choose whatever they wanted.”

Despite this, Ashley decided to persevere in her passions. Growing up, she attended classes at Redroofs Theatre School, the institution that trained talents like Kate Winslet, Jessica Henwick, and Kerry Ingram.

For university, she went to Arts Educational School. With a campus in West London, Arts Educational School offers a variety of courses, including pre-university, undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to begin a career in drama, theatre and the arts.

These courses include acting and musical theatre, as well as shorter programmes around dance and drama.

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Luke Newton

Luke Newton is returning to “Bridgerton season 3″ as Colin, the third Bridgerton child in the acclaimed series. In fact, this season promises a larger spotlight on his character — with more time spent exploring his relationship with Penelope Featherington, another socialite within the show’s fictional depiction of London.

“Bridgerton” was Newton’s first major role, but far from his first one. Prior to signing on with Netflix, Newton starred in television shows for Disney and BBC Two.

He trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, a specialist institution specifically designed to boost working professionals’ careers in the arts. It offers a single one-year, full-time course which has been refined and developed over 25 years to produce the best possible results.

Here, students receive rigorous training in singing, acting and dance — but what sets the school apart is its emphasis on identifying every individual’s needs and developing them accordingly. Through this personalised approach, students can work on what they find most challenging and overcome such hurdles to become better, more versatile and resilient performers.

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Hannah Dodd

“Bridgerton season 3″ isn’t just bringing back familiar faces — it’s actively recruiting new cast members to expand the whimsical, period-drama world, as well. One of these is the sixth Bridgerton child, Francesca, who was recast after appearing briefly in season one.

Newcomer Hannah Dodd will be taking on the role. Like many of her cast mates, Dodd signed on to play various small roles in a number of television shows and films before playing Francesca.

Dodd has been candid about her struggle to land roles. “There is a lot of rejection, an awful lot,” she told the Belfast Telegraph. “It’s tough.”

Before making it to one of Netflix’s most successful shows, Dodd trained at the London Studio Centre, where she gained a BA in Theatre Dance. This three-year course gives students comprehensive training in ballet, contemporary dance, jazz dance and musical theatre, whilst equipping them with specialist skills necessary for a career in the performing arts.

 

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Yerin Ha 

Yerin Ha will be joining the cast of “Bridgerton Season 4” as Sophie Baek. In book three of Quinn’s “Bridgerton” romance novel series, Baek is a maid in disguise who catches the eye of Benedict, the second-oldest Bridgerton brother. It’s a Cinderella story in itself, and viewers are looking forward to seeing how their relationships transpire on the screen. 

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Ha is of South Korean descent. Her grandmother is a former politician and renowned actress, Son Sook. In fact, her parents met at acting school — no wonder Ha found a love for the arts.  

At 15, Ha moved from Sydney to Seoul to attend Kaywon Performing Arts High School. Once she graduated, Ha returned to Sydney.  

She pursued a BA in Acting with a major in theatre at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Several well-known actors, including Oscar winners, graduated from NIA, such as Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson, Hugo Weaving, and Toni Collette. 

Ha went on to act in “The Survivors,” “Halo,” “Bad Behaviour,” and “Dune: Prophecy,” her breakout role. 

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Luke Thompson 

Benedict, oh, Benedict — finally. As scandalous as his love life can be, will his relationship with Sophie Baek hold out throughout the season? Either way, Benedict is one of the many well-loved characters of “Bridgerton.” 

Luke Thompson, the actor who plays Benedict, was born in Southampton and raised in France from the age of two. He’s a quarter Indian and one of three children. In 2006, Thompson returned to the UK, where he spent a year with the Year Out Drama Company. 

When it came time to pursue his undergraduate degree, Thompson chose the University of Bristol to study English and drama. He later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. 

 

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Katie Leung 

Katie Leung, famous for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series, will be joining “Bridgerton Season 4” as Lady Araminta Gun, a mother navigating the marriage market for her two daughters. 

Leung’s father, a Hong Kong businessman, first saw an advertisement for a “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” casting call. He suggested that she try for it. She did and got her first acting role. 

For her education, Leung briefly studied painting at the University of the Arts, London. She later transferred to Edinburgh College of Art to complete a BA in Photography. She also completed a BA in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, ranked #6 on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 for Performing Arts. 

 

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Michelle Mao  

Joining the cast of “Bridgerton Season 4” as Rosamund Li, as Lady Araminta Gun’s eldest daughter, is Michelle Mao. 

Before this, she had acted in several movies and TV shows, including “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” “Preparation for the Next Life,” “Vintage Lamp Shade,” “Bumblebee,” “Notes for December,” “Goosebumps,” and “FBI: Most Wanted.” 

Mao was born in Beijing and attended boarding school in England, where she discovered her love for theatre. For her undergraduate degree, she pursued a Bachelor of Arts at the University of California, Berkeley. Mao then pursued an MA in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University back home in Beijing.