Bridgerton’s Hannah Dodd Interview: Francesca’s “Pinnacle” Meaning

Hannah Dodd experienced the pinnacle of awkwardness while prepping for Bridgerton.

The actress—who plays Francesca Bridgerton on the Netflix drama—shared what it’s really like when the cast gets together for a table read of the steamy scripts, including those season four scenes in which Francesca uncomfortably asks her family about orgasms.  

“The table read for some of those scenes, I was red in the cheeks—like, so embarrassed,” she told E! News’ Will Marfuggi in an exclusive interview. “I definitely had secondhand embarrassment, but I think they’re written in a way that’s so clever as well, that they were so much fun to do, and her innocence is so fun to play with.”

Dodd, 30, knew right away that it was “going to be hilarious” to see Francesca awkwardly talk to mom Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), sister-in-law Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and husband John Stirling (Victor Alli) about what to expect during her sexual “pinnacle.”

And while nothing may sound more embarrassing than a mother-daughter sex talk, Dodd noted that her scenes with Gemmell were actually the opposite, “because she’s too funny that I just was literally in hysterics.”