These Bridgerton Stars Look Totally Different In Real Life

Fans of the hit Netflix series "Bridgerton" watch the steamy show for so many reasons — the drama, intrigue, and costumes galore, just to name a few. As the book-turned-series is set in the Regency period, it has no shortage of corseted gowns, mile-high powdered wigs, and elaborate updos. Of course, the looks are quite a departure from our modern-day aesthetic, and the actors' transformations make it hard to guess what some of our favorite characters look like in real life.

Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, shared a time-lapse video on Instagram of her getting prepped to play the secret gossip writer, writing in the caption, "For anyone asking the whole process from very scruffy Nicola to Ball-Ready Penelope took about 2 hours." Many viewers may be surprised to learn that her character's bright-red hair isn't her natural color, but she's only one of the many "Bridgerton" stars who look unrecognizable when not decked out in full Regencycore fashion.

A show set in England has to have a queen, and Golda Rosheuvel gives Queen Charlotte the perfect haughty demeanor in "Bridgerton." As the ruler of her kingdom, Charlotte always slays in the most extra attire, and the costume department never disappoints. Her on-screen persona is never seen without a soaring wig, and they're so heavy that she sometimes has to wear a neck brace, as she explained on a Paley Center media panel last year. Getting Rosheuvel screen-ready takes over two hours, with the actor explaining on the panel, "That includes driving to set because the costume and the wig are too big to get changed in the trailer like everybody else does. So, there is a point where I have to be driven to set in a van. Sometimes I have to sit on the floor of said van because the wigs are too high" (via the Independent).

In real life, Rosheuvel's hair isn't as elaborate, although she does, like Queen Charlotte, like to play around with different 'dos. For example, the actor looked more futuristic rather than historical with a sculptural updo for an appearance on "The Morning Mashup," which she shared on Instagram last month. In another selfie, Rosheuvel showed off her makeup-free and looked completely stunning. And to show that she has the heart of a queen, the Guyanese actor promoted her co-star Nicola Coughlan's necklace collaboration with Choose Love, which aids refugees around the world.

One of the Featherington women's most distinct features is their flaming red hair. One fun behind-the-scenes tidbit is that Nicola Coughlan's locks are all thanks to custom-designed wigs that are styled in advance to save time, per Allure. During Season 3 of "Bridgerton," she wore seven different hairpieces made to blend in perfectly with her natural hairline, with each running up a tab of about $8,000.

Off the show, Coughlan has played around with different colors, even going strawberry blond in 2022. However, her natural hair color is really a buttery yellow shade, as she showed in a throwback pic of her toddler self on Instagram. The actor is also known to rock fierce red lipstick, which is always a good idea, although her character Penelope Featherington sticks to more natural pink shades. In a get-ready-with-me (GRWM) video for Vogue, Coughlan explained that she fills in her lips with a red pencil and then adds a layer of lipstick over it. We think that's definitely a foolproof method to keep your lips looking fresh for hours on the red carpet.

Of all the "Bridgerton" families, the Featheringtons are known for their loud, colorful fashion that's meant to look garish compared to other members of the Ton. Naturally, this style is a stark contrast to how Polly Walker, who plays Featherington matriarch Lady Portia, dresses in real life. "I'd like to be dressed a bit more like Lady Bridgerton or Lady Danbury instead of these fluorescent colors. But that's the Featheringtons for you. If I can do it, anyone can," she shared in a 2022 interview with Vulture. Off-camera, you can find Walker in black jeans and other, more muted colors than her character is known to wear, but she's admitted that wearing bright clothing aids in channeling Lady Featherington. "Being thrown in these bright colors is so alien, but it helps with the character," the star added to Vulture.

Walker's distinct hair and wardrobe on "Bridgerton" is so different than her off-duty look that she also doesn't get recognized in public often. "They have created this character that looks nothing like me and so I can go to Tescos and not get recognized. I dress in black, nothing like my character's choice of clothing but we do share some things in common; family, loyalty, and bravery," the "Rome" actor told Glamour. You won't find bright red hair on Walker, either. Her preferred color choice of late is a warm bronze brunette that elevates her dark locks to the next dimension.

Every show has a villain, and Jessica Madsen's depiction of Cressida Cowper is oh-so apt. As the sharp-tongued mean girl of the Regency era, Cowper's gaudy hair and wardrobe match her prickly personality, and her style only gets more ridiculous as the "Bridgerton" seasons go on. It turns out that there was a reason for her gigantic sleeves and ample embellishments. The show's costume designer, John Glaser, revealed to Elle this May that Cowper's fashion reflects her hopeless situation in which she's forced to marry. "We intentionally did want to make her bigger, and her armor got bigger as things got worse in her situation," he told the outlet.

Thankfully, Madsen is living in the 21st century and has the freedom to date whomever she wants and dress in more comfortable clothes — and her tastes are a lot more modern as well. "Most of the time, I'm drawn to an empowering yet elegant suit," she revealed to Harper's Bazaar last year. Madsen continued, "A suit is my usual go-to but, equally, it could be a long flowing dress. It really depends on the piece and whether I gravitate towards it." That said, her ultimate style secret is "surprising myself and exploring where my confidence lies." That's about as inspiring as it gets!

Although Genevieve Delacroix isn't one of the main characters of "Bridgerton," she is central to the plot, as she's the only person who knows Lady Whistledown's identity — at least in the beginning. Played by Kathryn Drysdale, the dressmaker is known for her corkscrew curls, frequently worn in an updo, and much simpler dresses, at least compared to her clients. In an Instagram post from June, Drysdale shared some insight into her character's carefully planned look and why she wears the same style all the time. "The creatives wanted Gen to have like a Chanel / Steve jobs / Karl lagerfeld type vibe. Also her job is to make the Ton feel beautiful never to steal the spotlight herself," she revealed. "Her hair in S3 is also always loosely tied up as if in a rush."

Out of character, Drysdale has more freedom to play with her look. In March, she shared her "Bridgerton" Season 3 press-day look, which included an elaborate twisted updo, red lips, and a sparkly black dress with billowed half sleeves. "What a bloody stunner you are! And THE best thing in Bridgerton! OBSESSED with your character! Absolutely brilliant! I think a spin off show with your character would be a HUGE hit!!!!" actor Collette Cooper gushed. We couldn't agree more.

Now that we've established which "Bridgerton" ladies look different off the screen, we recommend taking a look at Nicola Coughlan's best press-tour outfits for Season 3. You can thank us later.