- Netflix's hit "Bridgerton" recently premiered its third season.
- Rumors are circulating that a few of the stars are actually dating in real life.
- Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict Bridgerton, is reportedly dating one of the Featherington actors.
On "Bridgerton," love is always in the air. And apparently, some of that romance may have transferred off-screen, too.
Amid the recent premiere of the Netflix hit's third season, which focuses on the love story between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), fans have been wondering about the actors' connections in real life.
While Newton and Coughlan definitively shut down rumors that they were dating (that carriage scene is just really good acting, sorry), there are actually a few other "Bridgerton" stars who may have connected romantically off-screen.
Luke Thompson and Harriet Cains are rumored to be dating
One rumored pair is Luke Thompson, who plays the second-oldest Bridgerton sibling Benedict, and Harriet Cains, who plays Penelope's dim-witted sister Philippa Featherington. The two were first linked when they appeared together at Vanity Fair's EE Rising Star Party for the BAFTA Awards in January.
While the "Bridgerton" stars haven't addressed the romance rumors (the reps for both actors didn't respond to our requests for comment), fans did unearth this Instagram post Cains made about Thompson back in 2021. It is very friendly, if not downright flirty:
View this post on InstagramThompson's character Benedict is a fan favorite, and the fact that his love story (which happens in the third installment of the book series) was skipped over in favor of Colin and Penelope's rubbed some fans the wrong way.
But if he's found real love in the Ton, that might take the burn off a bit.
Sam Phillips and Bessie Carter are also rumored to be dating
Cains and Thompson aren't the only rumored "Bridgerton" couple. Season three newcomer Sam Phillips, who plays Penelope's suitor Lord Debling and briefly rivals Colin for her affection, was recently linked to Bessie Carter. Carter plays Penelope's other sister, Prudence Featherington.
The two have been seen attending several events together, including a few with Carter's mother, who just so happens to be "The Crown" star Imelda Staunton, and her father Jim Carter, aka Mr. Carson from "Downton Abbey."
They also haven't clarified their relationship status publicly (reps for Phillips and Carter also didn't immediately respond to our requests for comment). But personally, I'm still reeling from the revelation that Carter is the daughter of British period drama royalty.
"Bridgerton" season three, part two premieres June 13 on Netflix.
Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.
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