Regé-Jean Page isn’t as excited to watch himself on-screen as hisBridgertonfans are.
During the latest installment ofThe Hollywood Reporter’sEmmy Roundtable series, theBridgertonstar —who quickly became a fan favorite for his heartthrob character Simon Bassett (or the Duke of Hastings) — discussed what it was like to watch his steamy romance scenes during the breakout Netflix series and how he also prepared his family to view them.
Throughout the show, Page, 31, has several intimate scenes with costar Phoebe Dynevor who plays his love interest Daphne Bridgerton. Although proud of the show’s success, the actor revealed it was “overwhelming” to watch himself.
“No one was sufficiently prepared. I wasn’t sufficiently prepared, and I was there,” Page said with a laugh. “I think people were grateful for the intensity of the romantic aspects ofBridgerton; I’m not sure how grateful I was to watch it for myself. It was overwhelming. But I think people were looking to be overwhelmed.”
Regé-Jean Page.Jeff Spicer/Getty
Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor inBridgerton.Netflix
Dynevor, 26, recently opened up about theon-screen momentsshe shared with Page, telling Jimmy Fallon during an appearance onThe Tonight Showthat “it’s hard not to” have chemistry with her costar, noting that the believable romance was thanks to extreme eye contact.
“We both had dance rehearsals together, and we were both kind of nervous about the dancing part. I remember we had a few rehearsals and one of them got recorded so we got to watch it back and we were like, ‘Oh, eye contact really does a lot of the work,'“she saidon the late-night show.
Despite the success of his breakout role, the next season ofBridgerton, which has already started production, won’t include Page and his beloved character. The actor announced his exit from the series in April onhis Instagram. The official social media accounts for the show also shared the news.
“While all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings,” he said, calling the show the “ride of a life time.” “We’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of theBridgertonfamily.”
After the shocking news,Bridgertonproducer Shonda Rhimesexplained toVanityFairthat Page’s characterstill lives onand the show is moving on to the next “world-shifting romance.”
Earlier this year, Page wasannounced to starinDungeons & Dragons,the upcoming Paramount movie based on the popular role-playing game, oppositeChris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith.
source: people.com
