Penelope Feathearington's transformation in season three can be attributed to '90s romantic comedies. In Bridgerton Season 3, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) made a splash in the first episode, ditching her signature pastel colors, corsets and ballgowns , instead attending Lady Danbury's (Adjoa Andoh) annual ball in a dark, sexy look.
Showrunner Jess Brownell discussed some of her influences on season 3 in a recent interview with First for Women , revealing that a scene from the '90s movie "She's All That" inspired Penelope's transformation.
The scene Brownell refers to takes place when the character Lenny Boggs (Rachel Leigh Cook) first makes a dramatic statement to her friend Zach (Freddie Prince Jr.) During renovation.
"There was an iconic moment when Rachel Leigh Cook came down the stairs; she took off her glasses, put on her red dress and suddenly She added that her interpretation of the "She's All That" scene was adapted "for a modern audience."
"So Peng did undergo a makeover, but it didn't necessarily have the effect she imagined," she continued. "Because the change that needs to happen is more about her confidence than her external impression."
Bridgerton romantic comedy Inspo
Brownell also shared some of her inspirations for the new season in an interview with Shondaland, revealing that her love of romantic comedies can be felt in Bridgerton's third chapter.
Brownell cites Richard Curtis's "Notting Hill" as one of her favorite genres and noted that acclaimed writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron ( "When Harry Met Sally , You Got Mail , Sleepless in Seattle ) are all incorporated into the new series.
"I think you'll find an emotion in her work this season," she said. "Looking back, I also loved movies like 'Unforgettable , ' 'Roman Holiday , ' 'Bringing Up Baby' and 'Philadelphia Story .'"
Brownell added that in addition to "She's All That," several "movies that came out when I was a teenager," such as "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Clueless ," also "came out of nostalgia. ” inspires the new season.
