“I’ve wanted to quit this industry a lot”: Before Being Rejected for James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy, Bridgerton Actress Nearly Quit Hollywood
Chris Van Heusen’s Bridgerton is most probably not in need of any introduction since the Netflix historical romance drama series has not lost its vice-like grip on fans ever since the release of the first season of the show. Having premiered on Christmas in 2020, the first season remains Netflix’s fourth-most-watched show of all time, with 929 million hours viewed.
At the center of this first season was Daphne Bridgerton’s, played by Phoebe Dynevor, romance with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, portrayed by Regé-Jean Page. Both Dynevor and Page were praised for their performances. However, one decision of the actress almost deprived her of her superstar status and the audiences of their perfect Daphne.
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Phoebe Dynevor Almost Did Not Star in Bridgerton
Phoebe Dynevor is most prominently for her work as Daphne Bridgerton, the fourth Bridgerton child and eldest daughter, who got married to Simon Basset in the first season of the show, which is based on Julia Quinn’s novel series. However, what many might not know is that she has been in the industry since much before.
Both of Dynevor’s parents are in show business as her mother Sally Dynevor is an actress and her father is a screenwriter. Not to mention that her paternal grandparents were also a part of the television industry. Even so, her interest in acting came from watching her mother play the role of Sally Webster in Coronation Street. The consequence? 14-year-old Phoebe Dynevor landed the role of Siobhan Mailey in the fifth season of Waterloo Road.
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The Colour Room actress appeared in several movies and shows before Bridgerton but wanted to quit her Hollywood career in 2019. Speaking of this in an interview with Variety, she said:
“I’ve wanted to quit this industry a lot. In hindsight, I know that hiatus from acting probably wouldn’t have lasted very long. It’s my only thing, really. There is no Plan B.”’
Dynevor’s decision to quit acting did not last long as she got a call to audition for the role of Daphne, often dubbed as the ‘diamond of first water’. She landed the role, and her rise to stardom followed.
Phoebe Dynevor Was Caught Off-Guard By the Fame
Hollywood is an industry that has the power to make or break a person. There is a need for a certain amount of level-headedness that is needed for an actor to withstand the media scrutiny that comes with the huge amount of fame they have. It is safe to say that Phoebe Dynevor has whatever it takes to be in Hollywood.
At one point Dynevor felt this too as she told Variety her exact thought process after all that she achieved with Bridgerton. She said:
“Post-‘Bridgerton,’ there was this feeling of ‘Am I meant to be here?’ When I got the success and fame, I wasn’t expecting it, and wasn’t prepared. I didn’t really have a voice or a sense of self, fully. It’s only in the past few years that I’ve been finding my voice and where I fit into this world.”
Thankfully, the Younger actress had her Fair Play co-star Eddie Marsan to help put things into perspective as he gave her some life advice that stuck with her.
