'Bridgerton' star speaks out on why she 'went home and cried' after filming sex scene

A Bridgerton star has opened up about why she "went home and cried" after filming a sex scene.

Ruth Gemmell, who plays Lady Violet Bridgerton in the hit Netflix period drama, said she was left stunned when she realized her character’s storyline would take a more physical turn in the latest season.

Despite the show’s reputation for steamy moments, the 58-year-old admitted she wasn’t prepared for what was ahead.

Season four sees Violet’s slow-building relationship with Lord Marcus Anderson, played by Daniel Francis, finally progress into a more romantic phase.

In an interview with Ciné-Télé-Revue, Gemmell revealed that she only learned about the intimate scene while preparing for filming.

"I was a little bit shocked. I was in a costume fitting, and I realized that I was being fitted for something that I had no idea was going to happen," she said.

The unexpected moment hit her hard, with the Fever Pitch actress admitting she “went home and cried” after filming.

But once the initial shock faded, she came to terms with how the scene had been approached.

"Thankfully, we tackled this one in a slightly different way to the kids of the show, because I don't think anyone would want to watch that really," she shared.

She also noted that production leaned on subtlety, with “a lot of low lighting” used during filming.

Finding Meaning in Violet’s Story

Gemmell said once the nerves settled in, she came to appreciate the importance of showing her character finding love again after loss.

"I think it is important," she said. "We don't die after a certain age, so it's quite nice to kind of represent that."

She added: "It's very lovely to see young love and love for the first time, but it's also very important and lovely to see somebody who has loved and lost and grieved and comes with a myriad of baggage, because everyone can identify with that, and I think that's important to show."

Behind the scenes, the EastEnders star expressed gratitude to the cast and crew for helping her feel at ease during filming.

"I have to be honest that when I knew it was going to happen, I was quite scared, but then it was very apparent that everybody got on board - costume, hair and makeup… which is about making you feel comfortable and confident," she told The Wrap in January.

"I lucked out on that whole score, so that was comforting, and the producers and the director - the crew, a big part of it, because it's like a family, and if you feel comfortable with those people, then you feel confident. And working with Daniel was a treat… It was a real laugh and a bit of a relief," she added.

Francis also admitted the experience came with its own awkward moments, saying: "You need to be comfortable and even with the comfort level, there's nothing that really prepares you for the moment that you step on set and there's a camera right by your a**.

"And then nothing prepares you for the moment that you're sitting there and you see your a** on the screen," he quipped.

What’s Next for Lady Violet?

Gemmell hinted that Violet’s journey may not be over just yet, with the character’s later-in-life romance opening the door for more storytelling.

Executive producer Shonda Williams has also teased the idea of a spin-off centered on the Bridgerton matriarch, saying: “That's an area that we're excited about and know that that could be really rich and really mined well.

"I’ve always said that I thought if we were going to do something like that, Violet would be a great person to tell the story about - the Bridgerton mom. So, yeah, that's a possibility," she added.

Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.

Featured image credit: Monica Schipper / Getty