With London’s marriage mart set to resume on Netflix May 16, Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), and Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton) sat down with FIRST for Women to spill the tea about what to expect from Bridgerton Season 3.

According to the queen and her ladies, wallflowers are in bloom this season – with Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington (a.k.a. Lady Whistledown!) and Luke Newton’ Colin Bridgerton at the center of it all.

Ahead of Bridgerton‘s Season 3 premiere, Queen Rosheuvel previews how Charlotte feels about year’s new crop of young ladies, Dowager Gemmell opens up about playing widow, and all three matriarchs preview fabulous fashion.

And it can’t be a surprise, dearest gentle readers, to read that our best marriage mart dish comes from Lady Andoh, whose character has her finger on the pulse of the ‘ton!

Lady Andoh teases a ‘snappier’ new energy in Bridgerton Season 3

“Bridgerton” (2022)

Since creator Chris Van Dusen brought Julia Quinn’s book series to life for Netflix, Bridgerton has lured viewers in with its unbridled opulence, steamy romance and delicious gossip. When it came time for a juicy prequel, Shondaland’s own queen, Shonda Rhimes, stepped in to bring the magic to Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Now, with Jess Brownell anointed as Bridgerton show runner for season 3 and 4, we hear the ‘ton is about to get even more fabulous!

“After Chris Van Dusen’s amazing first two seasons, Jess is bringing her own energy into the story,” Andoh previews. “Things are snappier, punchier, slightly more fragmented. More people are going awry and having to get back on track – and being surprised by what comes at them!”

As our favorite members of high society come back together in London, Bridgerton Season 3 promises to bring new friendships, unexpected family, a newly tapped lord and lady, and some surprising flirtations – not to mention extravagant events and looks!

Wallflowers like Penelope are in bloom in Bridgerton Season 3

Nicola Coughlan in “Bridgerton” (2023)
Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2023
Central to the shift in the energy of the ‘ton is young Penelope, who throws herself into the marriage mart action and onto the dance floor – and it turns out, she’s not the only wallflower shaking things up.

“We’ve had fabulous and beautiful shiny characters finding love,” explains Andoh. “Now we have slightly more understated characters getting their moment in the sun. We’re asking, ‘When do you step away from the wall and get into the middle of the dance floor?’ I think there’s something in that journey that lots of us will identify with.”

Cast of “Bridgerton” (2023)
Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2023
With so many of her kids on the market, Dowager Bridgerton will have her hands full managing some of those journeys.

As she tries to usher Francesca and Eloise toward the proverbial dance floor and keep her eye on her boys, the widow will also finally find herself on the other side of mourning her beloved husband.

“I’m quite pleased that Violet’s getting to dip her toe back into society and embrace life again,” teases Gemmell, who is only 56 years old. “That’s exciting, because ‘Dowager’ is quite heavy. And it makes me feel quite old!’”

Penelope & Colin: Will they or won’t they in Bridgerton season 3?

Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton in “Bridgerton” (2024)
Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2024
The talk of Bridgerton Season three is, of course, lifelong pals Penelope and Colin. Still smarting from overhearing Colin telling the guys he’d never be with her, Penelope is decidedly over her crush at season’s start. In fact, while the rest of the ‘ton swoons over Colin’s newfound swagger, Penelope will remain unimpressed.

Desperate to win back her friendship, Colin offers to help her find her own swagger and land a husband… but it isn’t long before he starts to reconsider his decision to put Penelope in the friendzone!

“It’s a climax of three seasons – of Bridgerton, with a bit of Queen Charlotte origin story slotted in – for these two,” says Andoh. “The audience has been watching their friendship go backwards and forwards and wondering, will he finally get what she feels? And, when does your friend become your possible lover? So people are hungry and ready for this. We’re ready for it!

“And for the actors, it’s fantastic,” she adds. “Because Nic and Luke are brilliant and fabulous. They’ve developed a friendship over two seasons, and that’s now in full pelt in season 3!”

The ladies of Bridgerton talk ‘ramped up’ wardrobe and wigs

Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh and Golda Rosheuvel in “Bridgerton” (2024)
Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024
Amid the buzz and twirl of the marriage mart, the ladies of Bridgerton reveal costume designer Jon Glaser has also taken the series’ sumptuous fashion to a whole new level for season 3.

“With his ramp-up of all those costumes, they’ve taken another twist and another crank up,” teases Gemmell. “And they are extraordinary!”

Playing the busy mom of the trio, however, Gemmell admits she has the easiest time getting into costume and while she’s waiting for everyone else to get ready, she pins up her gown to protect it.

“I look like I’m wearing a huge nappy!” Gemmell laughs. “Then when I get to set, it comes down and everything falls into place because of the weight of the dress, your deportment, the way you look – everything suddenly feels very different. And then other people show up and the world is created.”

How long does it take to become Bridgerton divas Queen Charlotte and Danbury?

Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh in “Bridgestone” (2024)
Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024
For Queen Charlotte, who is a true royal diva, getting into character is a two and a half our journey – literally!

“It happens in stages,” explains Rosheuvel. “It starts in the makeup trailer, then on the move to my own trailer, and then on the move to a tent that is by wherever we’re shooting – because I can’t get into my costume away from set, because it’s too difficult to move around in.

“I don’t become the queen until the costume and all the jewelry gets put on – and the motor is switched on,” she adds with a laugh. “It’s a real full-stop moment when I look in the mirror, and there she is!”

At three and a half hours, the divine Lady Danbury takes the longest to get into character – and it’s all because Andoh has close-cropped hair in real life.

“I’m not the hair and makeup’s friend, with my hair,” she confesses. “They had to develop a 360-degree wig because for most people there’ll be some bits of your hairline or fringe coming down the back, but Danbury’s hair is generally up. So it’s taken a few seasons to work out what works.”

While these ladies of the ‘ton spend a long time getting ready, it certainly pays off – and hey, there is nothing more lady like than being dressed by a team of experts!

Queen Charlotte portrayer Rosheuvel talks Lady Whistledown and the marriage Mart

While Bridgerton viewers are anxious to see Penelope and Colin’s story play out in season 3, locals of the ‘ton are more concerned with who the queen’s new diamond will be. Unfortunately, the queen’s heart is just not in it when this season’s marriage mart begins.

“We find her in the land of boredom,” sighs Rosheuvel. “She’s a little bit fed up with what has gone on before and how people have been presenting themselves. She’s searching for something a little bit new, something a little bit more inspiring.”

Queen Charlotte is also hoping that little gossip who has stolen her spotlight the last few seasons doesn’t start writing, again.

“Yes, the queen has the Lady Whistledown intrigue going on,” Rosheuvel teases. “Will that come to a head? Will that not come to a head? You will have to watch to find out.”

With the first episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 debuting on Netflix May 16 and the final batch landing on June 13,  FIRST for Women can tell you this much: As Penelope becomes a key player in the marriage mart and grapples with her relationship with Colin, it will only make Lady Whistledown’s secret harder to keep!