Jessica Madsen on Francesca’s Future in “Bridgerton” and the Michaela Stirling Surprise

The actress was super bummed at first, but she’s since let it go 😉

WARNING: The following contains spoilers Bridgerton Season 3 and the Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn.

It felt like Bridgerton Season 3 tied everything up so nicely.

Colin and Penelope were going to live happily ever after, Eloise was going to Scotland, Anthony and Kate were going to have their first child in India.

But wait, why is Francesca looking at John's cousin like that?

Fans of the OG Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn will know in the novels, Francesca marries John but after he passes away, she falls in love with his cousin Michael.

Except in Season 3 of Bridgerton Michael has become Michaela and we’re gearing up for a queer love story in a future season of Bridgerton.

Jessica Madsen on why she loves this change.

While some fans are disappointed we won’t get a Michael, Jessica Madsen who plays Cressida Cowper, told us she loved the Michaela decision.

“I was super happy, bit bummed it wasn’t me but that’s alright I’ve let it go,” she told Student Edge.

“Yeah, I think, that a wonderful thing about Shondaland is, they're really up for including everything that we see in today's world. And I think it needs to happen.

“We make a show that's reflective of today's world [and] has the history element to it as well. So I'm really happy about it.”

In June, Jessica also posted Pride-related images to her Instagram in support of the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month.

In the caption she wrote, “In Love with a woman, loud about it and proud about it!”

Jessica first came out as bisexual during Pride month in 2023 when she wrote in another IG caption “Bi the way…Happy Pride Month.” We can’t help but stan 🙌

What have the writers revealed about Francesca and Michaela?

We don’t know much yet, but Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed to Deadline, Francesca is in fact queer.

“When I read [Francesca’s] book, I, as a queer woman, really related to her book,” she said.

“Maybe in a way Julia Quinn didn’t intend, but a lot of Francesca’s book is about feeling different from her family and from the world around her and not really knowing why.

“In the book, I think it’s mostly just about being introverted. But I think for a lot of queer people, not every queer person, but a lot of queer people, that sense of feeling different from the time you’re young, is part of our stories.”

And will Cressida get her happily ever after?

Jessica hopes there is a redemption arc for Cressida. And she hopes, more than finding just love, her character can make amends with the other women on the show.

“I hope they can patch things up and form a sort of group of women. I think that’s what we need to see,” she told us.

“We see them sort of against each other in some ways, and I think it’d be nice to see it come back around and them all to be friends.”

If you can’t wait for Season 4, you’ll probably be crying into your pillow tonight because they haven’t started filming yet.

Filming has been delayed to mid-September this year which means a later release date.

*sigh* at least there are three seasons to rewatch right?

Header Image: Nextflix, Jessica Madsen Instagram.