Queen Charlotte cast on Shonda Rhimes’ empowering storytelling

The cast of the ‘Bridgerton’ spinoff, ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ recently attended the official Netflix screening for the spinoff series at London’s Leicester Square, and only had words of praise for creator Shonda Rhimes.

The screening was entirely ‘Bridgerton’ themed, with the cast and crew dressed up in theme, including Golda Rosheuvel, who plays the titular Queen Charlotte, with her hair done up to resemble a crown.

The red carpet was adorned with red roses and saw guests sipping on tea.

Golda Rosheuvel humbled by fans’ excitement

“It’s a really humbling experience – you always want your work to be received well by people,” Rosheuvel told the PA News Agency.

“And for Queen Charlotte to be a fan favorite and then for Shonda Rhimes and Netflix to want to do a deeper dive into this character, it’s great. I feel very proud.”

‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ follows how a younger Queen Charlotte, played by India Ria Amarteifio, manages her royal duties, her love life, and the societal shift that occurred when she married King George.

Rosheuvel is joined by her ‘Bridgerton’ co-stars reprising their characters as adults, with Adjoa Andoh playing Lady Agatha Danbury, her younger version played by Arsema Thomas, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, the younger version played by Connie Jenkins-Greig, and Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, with his younger counterpart played by Sam Clemmett.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Shonda Rhimes says that she has no idea what it is that makes her stories so special with audiences.

“I know we really try hard to make shows that we want to watch, things that we’re passionate about… I am always amazed that other people like them too.”

Rhimes does not focus on the actual royal family

On the ‘Queen Charlotte’ spinoff, Rhimes has said, “I think there’s a lot about her that feels like women today and what happens when they become successful,” she told The Guardian.

“It was exciting to me to go backwards and figure out how she got to be this amazing, powerful woman. What were her hopes and dreams? How did she make this journey into power?”

And despite the spinoff being based on the real royal family members Queen Charlotte and King George, Rhimes says she does not base her storytelling on reality, especially in regard to Meghan Markle, who, like Rhimes’ Queen Charlotte, is a royal mixed-black woman.

“I didn’t think about Meghan Markle when I was writing this. That didn’t enter into the equation for me,” she said, adding, “I’m not necessarily interested in whatever is going on [with the royal family] now.”

‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ is set to premiere on May 4, 2023, exclusively on Netflix.