Fans watching Bridgerton Season 3 are surprised to see Francesca Bridgerton looking very different from her appearances in Seasons 1 and 2. Accordingly, some are asking about the new actress who portrays Francesca and why the original actress Ruby Stokes was recast in the role. This is despite the character having only had a minor presence in the first two seasons, before securing a much larger role this season.
So why was Francesca recast for Bridgerton Season 3? Here’s everything you need to know.
Who plays Francesca in Bridgerton Season 3?
Hannah Dodd plays Francesca Bridgerton in Bridgerton in Season 3. She replaces original actress Ruby Stokes in the role.
Hannah Dodd is an English actress and model. She has garnered recognition for her roles in various film and television projects, including Find Me in Paris, Pandora, Fighting with My Family, Anatomy of a Scandal, and Enola Holmes 2.
Before pursuing acting, Dodd embarked on a successful career in modeling at the age of 16. She signed a modeling contract with Select Model Management, a global model and talent agency headquartered in London.
Why was Francesca Bridgerton recast in Season 3?
According to ScreenRant, Dodd replaced Ruby Stokes in the role of Francesca in Season 3 because Stokes had landed lead roles in two other shows, Lockwood & Co. and The Burning Girls.
Ruby Stokes faced scheduling conflicts when it came to her commitments towards Bridgerton, Lockwood & Co., and The Burning Girls. This situation forced her to drop out of Bridgerton as she had lead roles in the latter two series.
Lockwood & Co. got canceled after one season in May 2023. However, by that time, the role of Francesca had already been recast, and filming for Season 3 had been completed. Additionally, Ruby Stokes was committed to The Burning Girls, which reportedly filmed around the same timeframe as Bridgerton Season 3, and prevented Stokes from committing to the latter project.
