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Bridgerton’s Ruth Gemmell excited to showcase different side of Violet Bridgerton in Queen Charlotte

Pic: Netflix

We’re returning to the world of Bridgerton yet again, but this time we won’t be focusing on the Bridgerton children.

No, Netflix’s latest take on the smash hit is a spin-off focusing on Queen Charlotte’s love story with her husband, King George.

But of course, it wouldn’t be Bridgerton without, well, a Bridgerton. VIP Magazine caught up with Ruth Gemmell who plays the head of the Bridgerton clan, Violet, as she shares her excitement about showing a different side to her character.

She chats about having a younger version of her on-screen, where we could see the matriarch in season three and what she loves about her character.

Pic: Netflix

Hi Ruth. Congratulations on Queen Charlotte. You got to explore your character Violet a bit more in this show, what would you like to see from he in the future?

Well, Queen Charlotte sits between the end of season two and the start of season three of Bridgerton. In the future, she needs to get her children married off! For love! [Laughs] I think it would be nice to have her re-enter society a little more, herself. I think she’s aware, after marrying a couple of children off for love and seeing them very happy, I think she’s aware of what she’s missing in her own life. 

Tell us your favourite part of Queen Charlotte.

I think what has been lovely for me is that I get to explore the friendship between Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton. That’s been really lovely to explore that.

We absolutely love the female friendships on-screen in the Bridgerton universe. Violet and Lady Danbury might be our favourite pairing. Is that something you were excited to sink your teeth into?

I’ve always been interested in understanding and seeing someone’s life. Quite often, an older woman gets overlooked. Whether that’s in real life or on screen. It’s quite nice to see that realised.

You play “current” Violet, but we also get flashbacks of Violet’s past. And you have a mini-you played by Connie Jenkins-Greig. Did you two collaborate?

I never met her! We crossed paths one day on set. But I think what Connie does and what she brings to the role of Violet is very beautiful. We didn’t collaborate. I feel very strongly that an actor has to find their own ways and not be constrained by someone else’s ideas really. It’s very lovely to watch the unfold on screen.

Young Violet Pic: Netflix

It must be odd, to see a younger version of you, no?

I’m very flattered that I look anything like Connie! It is strange when you have another storytelling the same character. But in terms of theatre, we are constantly doing the same plays and taking on roles that someone has done before. In some respects, it’s not new. I think if we had been working in tandem with one another then it might have been strange for the pair of us. But our paths didn’t cross, we were on our own journey.

What do you think viewers will be most surprised to learn about Violet, her past or her present?

I think with the books and the last season of Bridgerton, you know a little bit about Violet’s past. The surprise would be, well I spoke about her friendship with Lady Danbury, I think their discussions about life and love are something that is quite new for Violet. I think that will be quite surprising for viewers. After seeing her children being married off, she realises just how much she misses Edmund. She’s always known but I think it becomes startlingly clear. I think she realises that she wants to live again.

You mentioned about older women getting overlooked. This is the first time we see Violet apart from her children, was it exciting to play her as a person not just a mother?

It’s very strange not having the children around me. My scenes were predominantly with Adjoa [Andoh] as Lady Danbury you get to see a little bit more of who she is outside of the parameters of her as a busy-body mum. There are parts of her I get to explore that I can’t divulge!

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is now streaming on Netflix

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