‘Bridgerton’: The Affluent Family Was Inspired by This Famous Political Family

Netflix’s Bridgerton literally swept fans off their feet when it debuted on Christmas Day in 2020. The series is set in the 19th-century, and season 1 followed Daphne (Phoebe Dynover), the eldest daughter of the affluent Bridgerton family, who has her debut on the marriage market. It followed her journey to find a love match and husband.

Though the series is based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels, one insider revealed that one very famous political family actually inspired the Bridgerton family.

‘Bridgerton’ is already filming season 2

Now that Daphne has found her love match with Simon, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), Bridgerton will move on to her eldest brother, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey).

Netflix’s renewal announcement read, “Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season. Season 2 will center on Quinn’s second Bridgerton novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me. The book description reads,

Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry — he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield — the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…

Season 2 is already filming in London and is set to air on Netflix in late 2021.

The Featheringtons in ‘Bridgerton’ were inspired by the Kardashians

Though the world of Bridgerton comes directly from Quinn’s novels, the writers and crew members used some real-life people to nail down some of the costumes, personalities, and textures of some of the main characters on the show.

Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington on the show, revealed that the Kardashians inspired the Featherington sisters. “As the world’s number one @bridgerton Stan does @KimKardashian know that the Kardashians were a massive inspiration for the Featheringtons, and we talked about them all the time during our fittings?” Coughlan tweeted. “Because I feel like she should know this.”

Coughlan specifically revealed that Khloé Kardashian inspired her character. Penelope is old-school Khloé,” she said in an interview with Glamour. “Remember Khloé used to say, ‘I’m the redheaded stepchild, and I have to do everything for everyone.’ I think that’s Penelope. But then, you know, Khloé came back and is flying high. Prudence and Philipa are terrible to her. And then Lady Portia Featherington is a true Kris Jenner—the ultimate ‘momager.’ She’s very ambitious for her girls.”

The Bridgertons were inspired by the Kennedys

While the Featheringtons might be inspired by the reality family that people love to hate, the “perfect” Bridgertons are also modeled after another very famous family, the Kennedys.

Bridgerton production designer Will Hughes-Jones told Glamour that the Bridgertons are like the Kennedys. Considering all of the drama that Daphene and her siblings dealt with in season 1, we can certainly see how that fits.