“She is someone who has chess moves”: Bridgerton showrunner teases Sophie Baek’s character in Season 4

Bridgerton Season 4 is going to bring Benedict Bridgerton to the center stage. The second eldest sibling in the royal family, who has so far played a supporting character, will have his own love story as a woman named Sophie Baek enters his life.

The upcoming season will explore the theme of class divide as Sophie works as a lady’s maid. However, that is not what defines her character. Co-showrunner Jess Brownell has explained how Sophie’s arc is going to be a twist on the classic Cinderella trope as she is a smart girl who carefully plans her moves. Brownell said at the Bridgerton Season of Love 2025 Virtual Fan Event:

“Sophie, she is based in a Cinderella trope but she is no damsel in distress, she is someone who has chess moves, who is always thinking two, [or] three steps ahead so she is absolutely going to throw Benedict for a loop.”

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Jess Brownell teases Sophie Baek’s character arc in Bridgerton Season 4

Yerin Ha has joined the cast of Bridgerton Season 4 as Sophie Baek opposite Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict. Sophie is a maid who meets Benedict at a masquerade ball and sparks fly between the two.

At the Season of Love Virtual Fan Event, showrunner Jess Brownell talked about how Yerin and Luke are the perfect casting for the fourth season’s leads, and how Sophie is a dynamic character who changes the course of Benedict’s routine life:

“Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha could not be better cast in these roles. Benedict is a character who we have all been rooting for years. We're completely invested in his story, it's been really exciting to try and shake him out of his normal routine and I think the only way we were able to do that is with a character as dynamic as Sophie.”

Further discussing how Yerin has brought various shades to the character, Brownell said:

“Yerin just brings this incredible feistiness, humor, and vulnerability to the role. She is the only person who could play this role and we are so lucky to have her.”

Based on Julia Quinn’s eponymous novel series, the show presents an alternate history and focuses on the love story of a different royal family member in every season. The release date for Season 4 has not been announced as of now.

Apart from Yerin and Luke, the upcoming season also stars Jonathan Bailey as Anthony, Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley, Victor Alli as John Stirling, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope.

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Bridgerton seasons 1 to 3 are currently streaming on Netflix.