The stars of Bridgerton season 4 have confessed they were left stunned by the development of the series' latest notoriously intimate moment, set to rival the iconic carriage scene from last year.
A Shocking Successor to the Carriage Scene
In an exclusive interview with Metro, actors Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton) and Yerin Ha (Sophie Baek) played coy but admitted their own surprise at how the plot for the new season's most talked-about romantic sequence unfolds. "It's never the one you imagine," revealed Thompson, a series veteran since its 2020 premiere. His new co-star, Ha, emphatically agreed: "I was quite shocked. I really can't say anything. I was quite shocked. That's all I can say!"
Thompson offered a tiny hint, suggesting the scene in question has the potential to become "a thing", much like the unforgettable carriage encounter between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) that set fan forums alight in season three.
Diving Deeper into the 'Upstairs-Downstairs' Dynamic
The fourth season of the global Netflix phenomenon, which begins streaming on Thursday 29 January 2026, breaks new ground by exploring the rigid class structure of Regency London more intensely than before. This is driven by the central romance between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie, who works as a maid. Their story begins at a masquerade ball, where a disguised Sophie captivates Benedict, who remains unaware of her true identity and social standing.
Yerin Ha, known for roles in Dune: Prophecy and Halo, described this narrative shift as a "blessing". "I think it grounds it, makes it more realistic," she said. "It's less pretty and shiny and glamorous, which I think is quite nice. It's the fourth season now, so it's nice to have a change of energy and pace."
Embracing the 'Benophie' Legacy and Lead Role Pressure
The actors are stepping into the spotlight as the new leads of a series whose first season remains one of Netflix's most popular ever, with over 113 million views. They join a prestigious lineage of male leads including Regé-Jean Page and Jonathan Bailey. Thompson expressed gratitude for being able to learn from his predecessors, stating, "I've been in the corner, just taking notes."
Both found personal connections to their characters. Thompson noted a "blurred line" between himself and the artistic, searching Benedict. Ha, who is Korean-Australian, drew parallels with Sophie's sense of being between worlds: "For Sophie, it's like, 'Am I noble? Am I a maid?'... also my upbringing, being Korean, Australian. So bringing those experiences to her."
Ha also revealed that established stars Simone Ashley and Nicola Coughlan reached out with support after her casting was announced, offering advice. "It was always nice to know that I could fall back on them and rely on them if I needed to," she said.
Bridgerton season 4 volume 1 premieres on Netflix on Thursday 29 January 2026. Volume 2 will follow on Thursday 26 February 2026.
