When it became clear season three of Bridgerton would focus on Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), social media was flooded with concerned (mostly female) viewers worrying that Newton wouldn’t be able to stack up against previous male leads in terms of his hotness. By then, the series had earned a reputation for delivering very attractive male leads and catering for the female gaze – and many felt that Newton’s appearance, while pleasant, couldn’t compete with actors like Rege-Jean Page and Johnathan Bailey, whose faces (and bodies) were more chiselled. Nicola Coughlan takes the romantic lead in Bridgerton season 3.
Credit: Netflix Shortly after, images began circulating of Newton with some clear differences in his “look” – a sharper jawline and cheekbones, fuller lips, a new hairdo – that were more in line with masculinity standards dictated by the fans. While some speculated plastic surgery, others seemed convinced it was just “the Bridgerton effect”, where the show’s excellent hair and makeup department had worked their magic. Regardless of how it came about, Newton’s transformation confirmed one thing: to be a Bridgerton man, you have to look like you could convincingly grace the cover of a romance novel.
And if you don’t, you’re simply not hot enough. In contrast, the series has been lauded for breaking beauty standards for women; casting female actors from different cultural backgrounds, wit.