연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-02-05 10:21:35
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- “Joining such a renowned cast and franchise was incredibly overwhelming.”
Ha Yerin, the lead of Netflix’s “Bridgerton 4,” which premiered on Jan. 29, said in an interview with Netflix that becoming part of the “Bridgerton” series felt like “a gift.”
According to Netflix’s official Tudum site on Thursday, “Bridgerton 4” topped the Netflix Top 10 chart in the English-language TV category during its first week of release, recording 39.7 million views.
“Bridgerton” is a Netflix global series first launched in 2020. Set in 19th-century England, it follows the eight siblings of the Bridgerton family as they navigate fierce courtship in high society and discover the true meaning of love. The series has gained worldwide popularity and earned multiple Emmy nominations in major categories.
The new season drew attention from the casting stage by placing Korean Australian actress Ha Yerin, the granddaughter of veteran Korean actress Son Sook, at the center of the story. The choice reflects the series’ ongoing commitment to racial diversity in casting. Featuring a Korean-descended actress in a traditionally conservative Western period drama clearly underscores the franchise’s modern reinterpretation of the genre.
Season 4 centers on Benedict Bridgerton, the family’s second son, played by Luke Thompson, and Sophie Baek, portrayed by Ha, who has spent most of her life working as a maid. As suggested by the original novel’s title, “An Offer From a Gentleman,” the storyline broadly follows a “Cinderella”-like arc.
Their fateful connection begins at a masquerade ball. Sophie attends the event in disguise, and she and Benedict fall in love at first sight. However, she leaves without revealing her name, causing the two to miss each other once again.
Ha pointed to the masquerade ball as the most magical moment in the series.
“When I first put on the mask and the full costume, I really felt the ‘Cinderella moment,’” she said. “It felt like the animated Cinderella had come to life.”
Sophie and Benedict later cross paths again by chance, but faced with the rigid barriers of class, Sophie suppresses her feelings once more. For Sophie, concealing her emotions is a survival strategy to protect herself as a maid.
“Sophie builds walls and pushes people away, but through meeting Benedict, Lady Bridgerton and others, she learns how to tear those walls down,” Ha said. “It’s a journey of realizing that accepting others brings joy and enriches life.”
Although Sophie is born an illegitimate child of a noble family and lives without recognition, she is not a passive character dreaming only of social advancement. Instead, she holds firmly to her own moral compass and shows resilience in refusing to change herself for others — a quality Ha said drew her to the role.
Ha portrayed Sophie’s class-based anxiety and inner conflict with nuanced facial expressions, adding depth to the character.
“I tried to capture not only Sophie’s boldness, but also her fragility and vulnerability,” she said.
Amid an undeniable attraction, Benedict and Sophie develop feelings that transcend the divide between nobleman and maid.
“Benedict is part of the aristocracy and Sophie comes from the lower class, but what’s beautiful about their relationship is that they see each other for who they truly are,” Ha said, describing their dynamic as “a genuine push and pull.”
She interpreted Sophie’s journey as one of discovering not only love from a partner or others, but also love for herself.
Ha’s performance has also drawn praise from overseas media. The Washington Post said, “Ha Yerin brings a distinctive firmness to Sophie, a character that could have felt flat, enriching her presence and giving her depth.”
Part 2 of “Bridgerton 4,” which continues the story, is set to be released on Feb. 26.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]