Lady Violet star faced a surprising challenge while filming ‘Bridgerton’

Ruth Gemmell has shared the emotional reaction she had when she learned she would be filming a sex scene on Bridgerton.

The 58-year-old, who plays Lady Violet Bridgerton, said she “went home and cried” after discovering the intimate moment during a costume fitting with co-star Daniel Francis, who portrays Lord Marcus Anderson.

“I was a little bit shocked,” Gemmell told Ciné-Télé-Revue. “I was in a costume fitting, and I realised that I was being fitted for something that I had no idea was going to happen. I went home and cried.”

Despite her initial shock, Gemmell said the scene was handled thoughtfully, with “low lighting” and the support of the crew, including an intimacy coordinator.

She praised her colleagues, noting that feeling safe and comfortable on set allowed her to approach the scene with confidence.

Gemmell also emphasized the importance of portraying love later in life.

“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… everyone can identify with that,” she said.

Francis, 43, admitted that even with preparation, filming intimate scenes is still challenging.

“Nothing 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 said.

The candid reflections from Gemmell and Francis shed light on the complexities and care involved in portraying romance on screen, especially for characters navigating love later in life.