‘Bridgerton Season 4’ stars Katie Leung on feeling seen, ‘I was the ingénue 20 years ago’

‘Bridgerton Season 4’ stars Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha and is already winning praise for its Cinderella-like storytelling. The new season leans into fantasy and class tension, while keeping romance at its core. Adding to the buzz is an interview with Katie Leung, best known for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films, whose casting has sparked conversations.For years, Katie Leung has been seen as forever young. Between 2005 and 2011, she played teenage Cho Chang, a role that shaped public perception. So when she auditioned for Season 4, she was asked to read not only for Sophie, but also for Araminta Gun. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she said “People thought I’d be offended at being asked to play Araminta,” she says. “And I thought, ‘No – I feel seen, for once!’ I was the ingénue 20 years ago.” As Araminta, also known as Lady Penwood, Leung avoids the wicked stepmother trope. She plays a woman driven by survival and love for her daughters. “The beauty of Bridgerton is that all the characters are complex,” she explains. “At the beginning, the show-runners emphasised how important it was to find Araminta’s humanity, to include her past struggles. She has a real sense of purpose, and the decisions she makes are out of love and protection in a world where marriage is all.”To shape Araminta’s presence, Katie Leung looked to classic cinema. She drew inspiration from Maggie Cheung’s performance in In the Mood for Love, admiring the quiet elegance and emotional restraint. “There’s something romantic about the way she floats about. I wanted Araminta to glide,” she explains.Season 4 introduces the first East Asian family in the series, marking a cultural milestone. Rather than isolating one character, the show presents a full household with distinct personalities. Leung stresses why this matters. “It’s imperative that we see a whole family on a show this big and, as part of that, four individuals with different personalities- rather than one token Asian – because that’s how the characters resonate with viewers. Family dynamics are universal.” The inclusion extends behind the camera too, with Asian creatives shaping the narrative and subtle cultural details.She added, “We were asked if we wanted to speak a line of Cantonese as part of the story. The offer wasn’t forced, but was there if we wanted it. Those little nods make all the difference.”Season 4 follows Benedict Bridgerton, the second son, as he falls for the mysterious Lady in Silver at a masquerade ball. She later reveals herself as Sophie Baek, a clever maid working under Araminta Gun. Their romance challenges class, fantasy, and reality. Season 4 adapts ‘An Offer From a Gentleman’ by Julia Quinn.Luke Thompson leads as Benedict, with Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek. Katie Leung headlines the East Asian family alongside Isabella Wei and Michelle Mao.Returning cast includes Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Luke Newton, Ruth Gemmell, Claudia Jessie, Simone Ashley, Hannah Dodd, Florence Hunt, Will Tilston, Golda Rosheuvel, and Adjoa Andoh.