Hannah Dodd is the new Francesca Bridgerton in the hit Netflix series.
At long last, Bridgerton season 3 is upon us, and while the focus may very much be on her brother Colin (Luke Newton), the new season also focuses on Francesca Bridgerton and her quest for true love.
Making her debut in the Ton and in the series is Hannah Dodd, who has taken over the role from previous Francesca actress Ruby Stokes.
Dodd was initially announced as Francesca back in May 2022 and is taking on a pretty major role in season 3, as we dig into her blossoming romance with Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli). Describing joining the series, Dodd has said it’s been “pretty scary to join the show, but everyone’s been really, really supportive”.
Aside from Bridgerton, many may know Dodd from her previous roles in Enola Holmes 2 or Anatomy of a Scandal but naturally, many will be wondering more about the young actress as she steps further into the Bridgerton limelight.
Well, read on for everything you need to know about Hannah Dodd.
Who is Hannah Dodd?
Hannah Dodd is an English actress and model, having initially started out in her career in modelling and training as a dancer.
Born in Colchester, Dodd went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Dance from the London Studio Centre in 2017. In her time as a model, Dodd was signed to Select Model Management at the age of 16 and used the money she was paid from it to pay for her dance training.
In her modelling career, Dodd modelled for brands such as Primark, Topshop and Burberry, a 2014 campaign she did alongside Romeo Beckham.
Dodd was announced to join the Bridgerton cast as Francesca in 2022, taking over the role from Ruby Stokes who left the period drama to lead another Netflix production, Lockwood & Co.
How old is Hannah Dodd?
Dodd is 29 years old.
She was born on 17th May 1995.
What has Hannah Dodd previously starred in?
Straight out of drama school, Dodd went on to play one of the series leads in Find Me in Paris as Dorothea “Thea” Raphael, a role she held for three seasons of the teen sci-fi series. She then went on to star in Harlots in a recurring role as Sophia.
In 2021, Dodd went on to star in Marvel’s Eternals and then in 2022, starred in Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal as a younger version of Sienna Miller’s character, Sophie Whitehouse. Dodd then went on to have a leading role in TV series Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, an adaptation of the popular gothic novel.
In 2022, Dodd also starred opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes 2 in a supporting lead role as Sarah Chapman/Cicely.
What has Hannah Dodd said about joining Bridgerton?
Speaking about joining Bridgerton as one of the siblings in the close-knit family, Dodd has said: “It’s quite a weird feeling walking in and around the sets, and seeing everybody in their characters, but it’s been very exciting!
“Everyone’s been so welcoming and supportive, and we genuinely are a family on and off set, which I was quite nervous to try and step into. I didn’t know how they would feel about a new person stepping in, but they have all been so lovely and so supportive — especially Mama Ruth! She’s looked after me, but they all have, too. Claudia Jessie has really taken me under her wing, and the boys, I love them all.”
Speaking about what stood out to her in the role of Francesca, Dodd also said: “The pull was that it’s Bridgerton, and I’ve loved the show. And once I got cast, I read Francesca’s book and just loved that it was slightly different to the other siblings’ books, and the things that she goes through are tough.
“I just needed to get to know her a little bit, and a lot of what we’re exploring this season happens before her story. Hopefully people can relate to her in a slightly different way from how they do with the other siblings.”
Fans of the books will know that Francesca goes on quite the journey in her own story but in the new season of Bridgerton, Francesca is quite different from the rest of her siblings. Talking about what we can expect of Francesca in season 3, Dodd says: “She is a little bit different from her siblings, so how she responds to the marriage mart and what she’s looking for in a marriage might differ from some of the others.
“Francesca is slightly more introverted than her siblings, so she finds big events and meeting new people quite intimidating — but she’s quite confident with her family. She’s not after a dramatic love story, she’s really looking for a companion. And she understands that marriage is part of her life, marriage is what is expected of her, but I don’t think she romanticises the idea as much as her siblings.
“She’s very happy playing her music, reading a book, and enjoying the quieter side of life. It’s going to be a different experience watching her go through it. She does have the opportunity to meet lots of different people, but there’s one who is slightly different. We might meet a few familiar faces along the way.”
Is Hannah Dodd on Instagram?
She is! You can find her on @hannahfkdodd.
Recently, Dodd has been posting snaps of the Bridgerton press tour, some behind-the-scenes interviews and pictures from some of her previous productions.
Is Hannah Dodd on Twitter/X?
She is! You can find her on X, formerly known as Twitter, on @hannahfkdodd.
The account hasn’t been updated since 2022, though, so there’s no recent Bridgerton posts, but we’ll just have to keep our eyes peeled.
Bridgerton season 3 part 1 is now available to stream on Netflix, part 2 will then be released on Thursday 13th June. Seasons 1 and 2 are also streaming now on Netflix. You can buy the Bridgerton book series on Amazon.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.