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‘Bridgerton’ Season 3: Hannah Dodd Is Replacing Ruby Stokes as Francesca

There’s some drama brewing in the Ton, and it all revolves around one Bridgerton sibling: Francesca.

Netflix is making a major switcheroo ahead of the show’s third season and replacing the actress who originally played Francesca in Bridgerton, Ruby Stokes. (FYI, she’s set to star in an all-new series Lockwood & Co. and, therefore, backing out due to a scheduling conflict.)

As a result, Hannah Dodd (Eternals, Find Me in Paris) is taking over the role of Francesca and sharing exclusive details about what it’s like to join the Bridgerton cast. “I’m so excited,” she told TVLine. “Everybody’s been so lovely. I just want to do a good job.”

hannah dodd bridgerton season 3
Dave Benett/Getty Images

Unlike the first two seasons, Bridgerton season 3 will focus on the love story between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan). Dodd revealed that she read Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series when she landed the role of Francesca.

“I really enjoyed Colin and Penelope’s story,” she said. “I am really looking forward to seeing how that pans out in our version.”

bridgerton colin penelope
Liam Daniel/Netflix

Although her character isn’t highlighted until the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, Dodd skipped ahead for scene study purposes. “I didn’t know what I’d got myself in for, but I needed to read that as soon as possible,” she explained. “It’s such a beautiful book, and she’s such a beautiful character. I can’t really believe that I get to play her.”

If Lady Whistledown gets her hands on this news…

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