'Bridgerton' star Yerin Ha reveals suffering from severe skin infection after 7-hour bathtub scene: 'Hives all over my body'

As 'Bridgerton' Season 4 continues to dominate the global streaming charts in early 2026, fans are finally getting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Benedict and Sophie’s most talked-about moments. However, for Yerin Ha, who plays Sophie Baek, the filming of this much-discussed "bathtub scene" was less about romance with a post-shooting medical emergency.During a recent press appearance on Capital Breakfast on February 25, 2026, Ha revealed that she developed a severe case of folliculitis after spending nearly seven hours submerged in water with co-star Luke Thompson.The scene, which has been praised by critics for its "female gaze" and poetic storytelling, took an entire production day to capture. According to Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), the pair remained in the tub for six to seven hours.Yerin Ha explained that the irritation was likely caused by a DIY hack gone wrong. In an effort to make the "intimacy tape" and modesty garments stick to her skin more effectively, she applied a significant amount of baby powder before getting into the water.“The next day after the bathtub, I got hives all over my body and got folliculitis and needed steroid cream! I blame myself... it was a combination of baby powder and the bath water," Ha admitted. Despite the physical toll, including a separate instance where a staircase scene had to be rescheduled because she caught the flu, Ha defended the show’s intimate direction.Ha told PEOPLE that the scenes in Season 4 feel like an "extension of the storytelling" rather than being there "just for the sake of it." For Ha, it was the vulnerability of Sophie and Benedict's relationship is what makes the physical moments purposeful.This season, the spotlight shifted onto the second-eldest brother, Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. Despite his previous resistance to settling down, Benedict finds himself captivated by a mysterious woman at his mother’s masquerade ball. This season introduces Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha who is a resourceful and spirited young woman forced into a life of domestic servitude under a demanding stepmother.