Casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry has revealed a surprising and somewhat troubling trend among aspiring actors hoping to land a role on the hit Netflix series, “Bridgerton.” In a recent podcast interview on “Should I Delete That?”, Hendry shared that she has been inundated with unsolicited NSFW audition videos from hopefuls eager to join the cast.
“I get the most unbelievable videos, unsolicited,” Hendry said. “It’s sex, basically. Not actual sex, but it’s quite punchy the stuff that comes through to me. Not nudie pictures, but not far off. It’s sad really.”
The influx of these explicit videos has become a significant issue for Hendry, with her inbox reaching nearly 90 percent capacity daily due to the volume of steamy tapes. While “Bridgerton” is known for its sensual and romantic scenes, Hendry emphasized that sending such explicit content is not the way to secure a role on the show.
The most recent season of “Bridgerton,” which was unveiled in two parts earlier this summer, featured plenty of sexy moments. Season 3 follows Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) as her longtime crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) comes to a head, just as he’s beginning to realize he might have feelings for his best friend. The two characters broke the internet with a sexy carriage hookup and then a full-on sex scene in front of a mirror.
“We wanted to keep it true and authentic to Colin and Penelope,” Newton previously told Entertainment Weekly of his intimate scenes. “So it wasn’t just sexy for the sake of it. It was real and honest, and we’ve seen these two characters grow up within the show, so we really wanted to portray that. We talked about it a lot. We had a group chat with the intimacy coordinator. We would discuss back and forth.”
Despite the explicit nature of some scenes in the show, Hendry stressed that the actors cast for these roles are chosen for their ability to portray the characters authentically and with depth. Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope, specifically requested to be “very naked” on camera to add authenticity to her character’s journey. During the filming of their central love scene, Coughlan and Newton even broke a piece of furniture due to the intensity of their performance.
“Our director asked us to up the ante and make it more passionate in the moment,” Newton said. “So we were giving our best Regency romance performance at this point, and went for it, and the leg of the chaise lounge that we were on completely snapped. We fell, it was wonky, and we burst into laughter.”
While Hendry may find some humor in the materials she receives, the trend of sending unsolicited NSFW audition videos is concerning. It highlights a misunderstanding among aspiring actors about what it takes to land a role on a show like “Bridgerton.” Authenticity, talent, and the ability to bring a character to life are far more important than explicit content.
Nicola Coughlan has also spoken about the challenges and empowerment she felt while filming intimate scenes for “Bridgerton.” During a Q&A event in Dublin, she addressed the bravery required to film such scenes, especially for women with her body type. “We don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough and I’m very proud as a member of the perfect breast community. I hope you enjoy seeing them,” she quipped.
Coughlan has been vocal about her desire to challenge body-shaming and has specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included in the latest season of “Bridgerton” as a response to the criticism she has faced. “There’s one scene where I’m very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest ‘fuck you’ to all the conversation surrounding my body,” she said, describing the sequence as “amazingly empowering.”
As “Bridgerton” continues to captivate audiences with its blend of romance, drama, and sensuality, it is essential for aspiring actors to understand that professionalism and talent are key to securing a role. Sending unsolicited NSFW audition videos is not only inappropriate but also unlikely to impress casting directors like Kelly Valentine Hendry.
Source: Entertainment Weekly, USA TODAY
